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Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

SOC 25-1054.00Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers postsecondary physics instruction from initial faculty roles through department leadership, spanning undergraduate and graduate teaching, laboratory supervision, research mentorship, curriculum design, and institutional governance at research universities and colleges.

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 organize under faculty mentorship for introductory undergraduate physics courses.
  2. Lecture content on foundational topics such as classical mechanics and optics — prepare and deliver with structured guidance in a supervised classroom setting.
  3. Student class work and lab reports — evaluate using provided rubrics and grading criteria under close faculty oversight.
  4. Examinations covering core physics concepts — administer and grade following departmental protocols established by senior instructors.
  5. Office hours — maintain on a scheduled basis to respond to undergraduate student questions with support from supervising faculty.
  6. Classroom discussions on introductory physics principles — facilitate using prepared prompts and structured formats in small undergraduate sections.
  7. Student attendance records and grade entries — maintain accurately in departmental learning management systems following institutional guidelines.
  8. Analytical or scientific software tools — apply to prepare course demonstrations and problem sets under direction of experienced teaching faculty.
  9. Scientific literature and textbook chapters — read and synthesize to support accurate content delivery in assigned undergraduate courses.
  10. Undergraduate laboratory sessions — assist in supervising, ensuring students follow safety protocols and proper experimental procedures.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Course materials including syllabi, problem sets, and handouts — independently design and refine for undergraduate courses across multiple physics topics.
  2. Lectures on intermediate topics such as electromagnetism and thermodynamics — prepare and deliver autonomously to undergraduate students with minimal oversight.
  3. Student assignments, examinations, and laboratory work — compile, grade, and return with substantive written feedback in a timely manner.
  4. Examinations aligned with course learning objectives — construct and administer, delegating specific grading tasks to teaching assistants as appropriate.
  5. Office hours and one-on-one advising sessions — conduct regularly to support diverse undergraduate learners navigating challenging physics concepts.
  6. Undergraduate research projects and internship activities — supervise, providing periodic structured feedback to guide student progress.
  7. Active learning strategies — integrate into physics lectures and recitation sections to increase student engagement and conceptual retention.
  8. Grade books, attendance data, and institutional reporting records — maintain with accuracy using departmental software and calendar management tools.
  9. Classroom discourse on topics such as quantum mechanics — initiate and moderate, encouraging critical questioning and evidence-based reasoning among students.
  10. Interdisciplinary connections between physics, mathematics, and engineering — draw upon and communicate clearly during course delivery to mixed-background student cohorts.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Advanced graduate-level lectures on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and statistical mechanics — design and deliver autonomously, adapting depth and pace to diverse graduate student needs.
  2. Comprehensive course curricula spanning introductory through graduate levels — develop independently, incorporating current research findings and pedagogically sound sequencing.
  3. Complex student assessments including research papers, qualifying-style problems, and laboratory projects — evaluate with expert judgment, providing detailed diagnostic feedback.
  4. Graduate student research and thesis work — supervise end-to-end, guiding experimental design, data analysis, and scholarly writing toward publication-ready outcomes.
  5. Seminar and graduate classroom discussions on non-routine theoretical and experimental physics problems — facilitate with intellectual depth, drawing out student reasoning and synthesis.
  6. Independent study plans and academic advising pathways — construct for individual graduate students, integrating departmental requirements with each student's research trajectory.
  7. Analytical and scientific software environments — employ proficiently to model physical systems, create simulations, and design data-driven course activities.
  8. Examination and assessment systems at the course level — design, administer, and continuously improve using student performance data and evidence-based assessment principles.
  9. Original physics research alongside teaching responsibilities — conduct and integrate into coursework, exposing students to current discoveries and methodological rigor.
  10. Teaching effectiveness — monitor through systematic self-assessment, peer review, and student feedback analysis, implementing targeted improvements each academic term.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Departmental physics curriculum — lead comprehensive review and redesign, aligning learning outcomes with national disciplinary standards and institutional strategic goals.
  2. Junior faculty and postdoctoral instructors — mentor in pedagogical best practices, research integration, and professional development within the postsecondary physics context.
  3. Large-scale or multi-section course reforms — direct, deploying evidence-based instructional innovations such as active learning frameworks and technology-enhanced laboratories.
  4. Graduate program admissions, qualifying examination standards, and degree requirements — establish and periodically revise to reflect evolving disciplinary and workforce demands.
  5. Externally funded research programs — lead, integrating graduate and undergraduate students as co-investigators and authoring publications in high-impact physics journals.
  6. Institutional policies on academic integrity, grade appeals, and assessment equity — shape and advocate for at faculty governance and administrative levels.
  7. Interdisciplinary collaborations with engineering, chemistry, and computer science departments — initiate and steward, creating joint courses, research initiatives, and shared laboratory resources.
  8. Departmental teaching culture and professional norms — model and reinforce through exemplary classroom practice, public scholarship on physics education, and faculty hiring decisions.
  9. Strategic vision for physics instruction and research — articulate to institutional leadership, accreditors, and external funding agencies, securing resources to advance departmental priorities.
  10. National and international professional communities in physics education — contribute to by presenting innovative findings, serving on editorial boards, and shaping disciplinary teaching standards.

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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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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Acoustics Teacher · Adjunct Instructor · Adjunct Physics Instructor · Adjunct Physics Professor · Adjunct Professor · Aerodynamics Professor · Aerodynamics Teacher · Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Astrophysics Professor · Astrophysics Teacher · Atomic Physics Professor
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
InstructingScienceSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingLearning StrategiesActive ListeningWritingActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingMathematicsMonitoringTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationPersuasionService OrientationManagement of Personnel Resources
Knowledge domains
MathematicsPhysicsEducation and TrainingEnglish LanguageComputers and ElectronicsChemistryEngineering and Technology
Abilities
Oral ExpressionWritten ComprehensionOral ComprehensionWritten ExpressionInductive ReasoningSpeech ClarityProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningMathematical ReasoningNear Vision
Work styles
Intellectual CuriosityDependabilityAchievement OrientationIntegrityInnovationAttention to Detail
Technology
Computer aided design CAD softwareComputer based training softwareDevelopment environment softwareObject or component oriented development softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareWord processing softwareInformation retrieval or search softwareDesktop communications softwareElectronic mail softwareAnalytical or scientific 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. Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  4. Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
  5. Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  6. Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  7. Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  8. Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
CIP education codes
13.131613.132940.029940.050840.080140.080240.080440.080540.080640.080740.080840.080940.081040.089940.110151.2205

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.