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Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

SOC 25-1053.00Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers postsecondary environmental science instruction, graduate mentorship, curriculum development, field and laboratory supervision, scholarly research, and academic leadership within doctoral-granting and research-intensive university environments.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Course syllabi and homework assignments — draft and format under faculty guidance for introductory environmental science courses at a research university.
  2. Student laboratory work — supervise and monitor basic procedures under senior faculty direction in a departmental teaching laboratory.
  3. Assigned readings and current environmental literature — review and summarize to support course preparation in a postsecondary academic setting.
  4. Classroom discussions on foundational environmental topics — facilitate with structured prompts under the mentorship of experienced instructors.
  5. Student assignments and short papers — evaluate and grade using established rubrics provided by the supervising course coordinator.
  6. Academic advisement sessions — conduct for undergraduate students on curriculum requirements under departmental advising guidelines.
  7. Word processing and document management software — use to organize course handouts, lecture notes, and assignment materials for distribution.
  8. Professional conferences and departmental colloquia — attend to begin building awareness of current developments in environmental science.
  9. Undergraduate field excursions — assist in supervising student data collection activities under the direction of a lead faculty member.
  10. Geographic information system tools — apply at a basic level to support course exercises introducing spatial analysis of environmental data.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Course materials including syllabi, handouts, and lab manuals — prepare and revise independently for mid-level environmental science courses in a four-year institution.
  2. Student laboratory and field work — supervise with routine oversight, ensuring safety protocols and data quality standards are met in departmental research settings.
  3. Undergraduate and graduate student papers and lab reports — evaluate and grade consistently, applying discipline-specific assessment criteria across a full course load.
  4. Classroom discussions on environmental systems and policy — initiate and moderate, drawing on active listening and questioning techniques to deepen student engagement.
  5. Academic and vocational advising — provide to undergraduate students on course sequencing, graduate school preparation, and environmental career pathways.
  6. Current peer-reviewed literature in environmental science — read and synthesize regularly to incorporate emerging findings into course content and lectures.
  7. Course content and instructional methods — evaluate periodically and adjust based on student performance data and departmental learning objectives.
  8. Computer-based training and cloud-based data sharing tools — integrate into course delivery to support collaborative student learning in hybrid or in-person settings.
  9. Undergraduate research projects — supervise with reduced oversight, guiding students through literature review, methodology selection, and preliminary data collection.
  10. Professional development activities including conferences and peer networks — participate in actively to maintain currency in environmental science education practices.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Full course curricula for environmental science programs — plan, evaluate, and revise autonomously to align with disciplinary standards, accreditation requirements, and emerging field developments.
  2. Graduate student teaching assistants and research interns — supervise and mentor across complex laboratory, field, and independent research assignments at a doctoral-granting institution.
  3. Non-routine student assessment challenges including academic integrity cases and remediation plans — address independently using professional judgment and institutional policies.
  4. Advanced classroom discussions integrating systems analysis and complex problem solving — facilitate across diverse student populations in upper-division and graduate seminars.
  5. Peer-reviewed literature, conference proceedings, and interdisciplinary science — synthesize critically to inform both teaching content and active research programs.
  6. Graduate student dissertations and thesis projects — advise and evaluate across the full research cycle from proposal to defense in environmental science disciplines.
  7. Geographic information systems, CAD software, and scientific databases — employ proficiently in instructional design and independent research to model and analyze environmental phenomena.
  8. Academic and career advising for graduate students — deliver with depth, addressing funding opportunities, publication strategies, and professional network development.
  9. Interdisciplinary course content spanning biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental policy — develop and deliver autonomously to meet the needs of diverse academic programs.
  10. Grant proposals and research reports — write and submit independently to federal agencies and foundations to secure funding supporting both research and educational innovation.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Departmental or school-wide environmental science curricula — lead the design, strategic revision, and implementation across multiple degree programs at the institutional level.
  2. Faculty hiring, mentoring, and professional development — direct within an academic department or research center to build a high-performing environmental science instructional team.
  3. Institutional research priorities in environmental science — set and champion by cultivating interdisciplinary collaborations, external partnerships, and multi-investigator grant portfolios.
  4. Graduate program standards and accreditation processes — oversee and guide departmental efforts to meet national disciplinary benchmarks and institutional quality assurance requirements.
  5. Emerging trends and grand challenges in environmental science — synthesize and translate into curricular innovation and public scholarship that advances the field at a national or international scale.
  6. Complex organizational decisions on resource allocation, program development, and faculty policy — exercise judgment as a department chair, dean, or center director within a research university context.
  7. Professional scientific societies and editorial boards — lead or serve in governance roles, shaping disciplinary norms and knowledge dissemination across the environmental science community.
  8. Undergraduate and graduate student learning outcomes at program scale — evaluate systematically using institutional assessment frameworks and drive continuous improvement across the full department.
  9. Public and policy-facing communication on environmental issues — lead as a credentialed expert voice, translating scientific knowledge for legislative bodies, media outlets, and community stakeholders.
  10. Cross-institutional and international research consortia — initiate and lead, coordinating faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students to address large-scale environmental science questions.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Adjunct Professor · Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · College Faculty Member · College Professor · Conservation Educator · Conservation Science Teacher · Educator · Energy Conservation Educator · Environmental Educator · Environmental Engineering Professor · Environmental Science Management and Policy Professor
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Reading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingLearning StrategiesInstructingActive ListeningWritingScienceActive LearningMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisMathematicsSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationService OrientationTime Management
Knowledge domains
English LanguageEducation and TrainingBiologyChemistryMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsGeographyEngineering and TechnologyAdministration and ManagementPhysicsCommunications and Media
Abilities
Oral ExpressionWritten ComprehensionSpeech ClarityInductive ReasoningWritten ExpressionDeductive ReasoningOral ComprehensionNear VisionSpeech RecognitionProblem Sensitivity
Work styles
Intellectual CuriosityDependabilityInnovationAchievement OrientationSocial OrientationIntegrity
Technology
Document management softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareComputer based training softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareWord processing softwareInformation retrieval or search softwareElectronic mail softwareGeographic information systemCloud-based data access and sharing softwareOptical character reader OCR or scanning software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
  2. Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  3. Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
  4. Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
  5. Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  6. Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  7. Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
  8. Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
CIP education codes
03.010303.010413.131626.130726.131026.139930.330130.410130.430130.440140.0509

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.