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Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Overview
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Education

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Job Training

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Examples

These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.

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

Salary Salary

Salary at 10th Percentile: $53K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $75K
Median Salary: $107K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $152K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $208K

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as econometrics, price theory, and macroeconomics.

Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.

Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.

Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.

Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.

Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.

Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.

Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.

Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.

Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.

Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.

Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.

Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.

Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.

Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.

Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.

Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.

Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.

Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.

Participate in campus and community events.

Act as advisers to student organizations.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Analytical or scientific software
The MathWorks MATLAB
Calendar and scheduling software
Calendar and scheduling software
Computer based training software
Sakai CLE
Data base user interface and query software
Microsoft Access
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Financial analysis software
JessX
Information retrieval or search software
iParadigms Turnitin
Internet browser software
Web browser software
Object or component oriented development software
R
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Optical character reader OCR or scanning software
Image scanning software
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Web page creation and editing software
Facebook
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Audio and visual presentation and composing equipment
Overhead data projectors
Communications Devices and Accessories
Multi-line telephone systems
Components for information technology or broadcasting or telecommunications
Universal serial bus USB flash drives
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Computer data input scanners
Consumer electronics
Handheld microphones
Data Voice or Multimedia Network Equipment or Platforms and Accessories
Conference telephones
Office machines and their supplies and accessories
Laser facsimile machines
Photographic or filming or video equipment
Webcams
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Mathematics
91%
Importance

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Education and Training
87%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Economics and Accounting
85%
Importance

Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

English Language
83%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Administration and Management
58%
Importance

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.

Computers and Electronics
58%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Law and Government
58%
Importance

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Sociology and Anthropology
56%
Importance

Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Customer and Personal Service
51%
Importance

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.

Personnel and Human Resources
51%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Top 10 Skills
Speaking
83%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening
80%
Importance

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.

Instructing
80%
Importance

Teaching others how to do something.

Reading Comprehension
80%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Writing
80%
Importance

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Critical Thinking
78%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Learning Strategies
78%
Importance

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Active Learning
75%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Judgment and Decision Making
68%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Complex Problem Solving
65%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Top 10 Abilities
Oral Expression
83%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Oral Comprehension
80%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Speech Clarity
80%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Written Comprehension
80%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Written Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Deductive Reasoning
78%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Inductive Reasoning
75%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Speech Recognition
73%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Near Vision
70%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Mathematical Reasoning
68%
Importance

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Top 10 Work Activities
Getting Information
95%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Training and Teaching Others
89%
Importance

Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
88%
Importance

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Thinking Creatively
87%
Importance

Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
86%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Interacting With Computers
85%
Importance

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Analyzing Data or Information
84%
Importance

Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
83%
Importance

Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Processing Information
79%
Importance

Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
76%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Detailed Work Activities

Teach social science courses at the college level.

Develop instructional materials.

Research topics in area of expertise.

Write articles, books or other original materials in area of expertise.

Stay informed about current developments in field of specialization.

Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge.

Evaluate student work.

Evaluate effectiveness of educational programs.

Develop instructional objectives.

Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress.

Prepare tests.

Maintain student records.

Guide class discussions.

Supervise student research or internship work.

Advise students on academic or career matters.

Select educational materials or equipment.

Order instructional or library materials or equipment.

Direct department activities.

Promote educational institutions or programs.

Perform student enrollment or registration activities.

Compile specialized bibliographies or lists of materials.

Serve on institutional or departmental committees.

Write grant proposals.

Advise educators on curricula, instructional methods, or policies.

Plan community programs or activities for the general public.

Work Context
Electronic Mail

How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

Freedom to Make Decisions

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

Structured versus Unstructured Work

To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Spend Time Sitting

How much does this job require sitting?

Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Deal With External Customers

How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?

Public Speaking

How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job?

Education
Majors
Major
Agricultural Business and Management
Economics and Computer Science
Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
Mathematical Economics
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Economics
Political Science and Government
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
Business/Managerial Economics
Interests
Social
100%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Investigative
77%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Artistic
53%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Enterprising
48%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Conventional
43%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Realistic
15%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Top 10 Work Styles
Analytical Thinking
95%
Importance

Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Achievement/Effort
92%
Importance

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Integrity
88%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Dependability
86%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Independence
85%
Importance

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Attention to Detail
84%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Initiative
82%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Persistence
80%
Importance

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Innovation
77%
Importance

Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Self Control
77%
Importance

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Work Values
Achievement
86%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Independence
81%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Recognition
77%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Working Conditions
74%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Relationships
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Support
39%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.