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Career Details

25-1054.00 - Physics Teachers, Postsecondary


Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. 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
17,700
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
20,400
Estimate
Change in Employment
+2,700
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+15%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Supervise students' laboratory work.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
  • Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
  • Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
  • Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
  • Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
  • Maintain and repair laboratory equipment.
Supplemental
  • Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
  • Act as advisers to student organizations.
  • Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
  • Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
  • Participate in campus and community events.
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.
 Mathematics
  • 96%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Physics
  • 90%
    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.
 Education and Training
  • 88%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 English Language
  • 84%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 78%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Chemistry
  • 68%
    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.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 66%
    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.
 Mechanical
  • 58%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 57%
    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.
 Clerical
  • 56%
    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.
 Design
  • 55%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Administration and Management
  • 52%
    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.
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 centrifuges and accessories
  • Analytical ultracentrifuges
 Projectors and supplies
  • Carousel slide projectors
  • Liquid crystal display LCD projectors
  • Multimedia projection equipment
  • Opaque projectors
  • Overhead data projectors
  • Projector screens
  • Video projectors
 Spectroscopic equipment
  • Circular dichroism CD spectrometers
  • Stopped-flow fluorimeters
 Cameras
  • Compact digital cameras
  • Digital video cameras
  • Webcams
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Compact disk CD players
  • Digital video disk DVD players
  • Global positioning system GPS receivers
  • 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
 Computer printers
  • Computer laser printers
  • Poster printers
 Mirrors
  • Concave mirrors
  • Convex mirrors
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Tablet computers
 Light and wave generating and measuring equipment
  • Far infrared FIR lasers
  • Laser systems
  • Optically pumped molecular lasers
 Wave and sound physics materials
  • Holography equipment
  • Non linear effects equipment
 Computer displays
  • Interactive whiteboards
 Duplicating machines
  • Laser facsimile machines
  • Photocopying equipment
 Personal communication devices
  • Multi-line telephone systems
 Nuclear physics materials
  • Nuclear counting equipment
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
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Computer aided design CAD softwareHOT
  • Geant4
  • GIPSY-OASIS
  • GNU Octave
  • Gnuplot
  • Gravitation software
  • Maplesoft Maple
  • Mathsoft MathcadHOT
  • OriginLab Origin
  • Synergy Software KaleidaGraph
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • VASP Data Viewer
  • Wolfram Research Mathematica
 Educational or reference software
  • Blackboard Learn
  • Course management system software
  • Desire2Learn
  • Learning management system LMS
  • Sakai CLE
 Development software
  • C
  • C++HOT
  • FFTPACK
  • FFTW
  • Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
  • LAPACK
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
  • Pascal
  • plotutils
  • PLplot
  • Practical extraction and reporting language PerlHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Calendar and scheduling software
  • Collaborative editing software
  • Google DocsHOT
  • Image scanning software
  • LaTeX
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Visual Molecular Dynamics VMD
 Data management and query software
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • DOC Cop
  • iParadigms Turnitin
 Network applications software
  • Edmodo
  • Web browser software
 Information exchange software
  • Email software
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
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