What do they do?

Teach courses in sociology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Also known as:

Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Faculty Member, Instructor, Lecturer, Professor, Social Science Instructor, Social Science Professor, Sociology Instructor, Sociology Professor

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, more slowly than average compared to all occupations.

Projected Employment For All United States

No Data Available
  • 3.3%

    Change

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    1,200

    Job Openings

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (47%)
  • Master's degree  (31%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (15%)
  • Associate's degree  (2%)
  • Some college, no degree  (2%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (2%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (1%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary

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People in this career often have these skills:

  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
  • Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
  • Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
  • Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Evaluate student work.
  • Guide class discussions.
  • Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress.
  • Prepare tests.
  • Teach social science courses at the college level.
  • Develop instructional materials.
  • Stay informed about current developments in field of specialization.
  • Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge.
  • Research topics in area of expertise.
  • Write articles, books or other original materials in area of expertise.
  • Evaluate effectiveness of educational programs.
  • Develop instructional objectives.
  • Maintain student records.
  • Supervise student research or internship work.
  • Advise students on academic or career matters.
  • Supervise laboratory work.
  • Select educational materials or equipment.
  • Order instructional or library materials or equipment.
  • Serve on institutional or departmental committees.
  • Direct department activities.
  • Compile specialized bibliographies or lists of materials.
  • Write grant proposals.
  • Support the professional development of others.
  • Advise educators on curricula, instructional methods, or policies.
  • Advise others on career or personal development.
  • Promote educational institutions or programs.
  • Perform student enrollment or registration activities.
  • Plan community programs or activities for the general public.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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