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Career Details

25-1042.00 - Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary


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


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
64,300
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
74,800
Estimate
Change in Employment
+10,400
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+16.2%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as molecular biology, marine biology, and botany.
  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Supervise students' laboratory work.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
  • Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  • Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
  • Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
  • Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
  • Prepare materials for laboratory activities and course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Assist students who need extra help with their coursework outside of class.
  • Provide students course-related experiences, such as field trips, outside the classroom.
  • Review papers for publication in journals.
  • Maintain or repair lab equipment.
Supplemental
  • Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
  • Act as advisers to student organizations.
  • Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
  • Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
  • Participate in campus and community events, such as giving presentations to the public.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Biology
  • 100%
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 English Language
  • 88%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Mathematics
  • 83%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Chemistry
  • 82%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Education and Training
  • 81%
    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
  • 75%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Clerical
  • 64%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Medicine and Dentistry
  • 63%
    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
 Communications and Media
  • 61%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Geography
  • 60%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
 Physics
  • 59%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 58%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Psychology
  • 57%
    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.
 Administration and Management
  • 53%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 52%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Laboratory environmental conditioning equipment
  • Anaerobic growth chambers
  • Environmental growth chambers
 Gas analyzers and monitors
  • Carbon dioxide analysis equipment
  • Oxygen test meters
 Projectors and supplies
  • Carousel slide projectors
  • Liquid crystal display LCD projectors
  • Multimedia projection equipment
  • Opaque projectors
  • Overhead data projectors
  • Projector screens
 Chemical evaluation instruments and supplies
  • Chemiluminescence imaging systems
 Cameras
  • Compact digital cameras
  • Digital video cameras
  • Webcams
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Compact disk CD players
  • Digital video disk DVD players
  • Handheld microphones
  • Liquid crystal display LCD televisions
  • MP3 digital voice recorders
  • Television monitors
  • Wireless microphones
 Computer data input devices
  • Computer data input scanners
  • Interactive whiteboard controllers
  • Student response systems
  • Wireless learning calculator systems
 Computer printers
  • Computer laser printers
  • Poster printers
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Tablet computers
 Viewing and observing instruments and accessories
  • Field emission scanning electron microscopes
  • Fluorescence microscopes
  • Laser scanning microscopes
 Computer displays
  • Interactive whiteboards
 Duplicating machines
  • Laser facsimile machines
  • Photocopying equipment
 Laboratory cooling equipment
  • Low temperature freezers
 Spectroscopic equipment
  • Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization MALDI mass spectrometers
 Personal communication devices
  • Multi-line telephone systems
 Media storage devices
  • Universal serial bus USB flash drives
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Aipotu
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • Image analysis software
  • Modeling software
  • PLOS Computational Biology
  • SASHOT
  • Sound pressure analysis equipment
  • Statistical software
  • The Gene Explorer
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • The Mathworks SimBiology
  • The Protein Investigator
  • The Virtual Genetics Lab
 Educational or reference software
  • Blackboard Learn
  • Course management system software
  • Desire2Learn
  • Learning management system LMS
  • Moodle
  • Sakai CLE
 Data management and query software
  • Blackboard software
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • DOC Cop
  • iParadigms Turnitin
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Calendar and scheduling software
  • Collaborative editing software
  • Google DocsHOT
  • Graphics creation software
  • Image scanning software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software
 Information exchange software
  • Email software
  • Geographic information system GIS softwareHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Development software
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Wytheville Community College