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Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

SOC 25-1121.00Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers postsecondary art, drama, and music instruction from initial faculty appointment through senior leadership, spanning studio teaching, graduate mentorship, curriculum design, scholarly engagement, and departmental administration in accredited higher education institutions.

Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Artistic techniques in foundational disciplinesdemonstrate and explain under faculty mentorship within undergraduate studio or performance classroom settings.
  2. Course syllabi and basic instructional handoutsprepare and distribute following departmental templates and curriculum guidelines at a postsecondary institution.
  3. Student attendance records and grade entriesmaintain accurately using institutional learning management systems under supervisory review.
  4. Classroom discussions on art history or music fundamentalsinitiate and facilitate with structured prompts in an introductory undergraduate course.
  5. Prepared lectures on acting techniques or visual arts conceptsdeliver to small undergraduate cohorts using provided curriculum frameworks.
  6. Student class work and introductory assignmentsevaluate against established rubrics with guidance from senior faculty in a postsecondary arts program.
  7. Current literature and professional journals in the fine artsread and summarize to stay abreast of field developments during initial faculty appointment.
  8. Document management and calendar scheduling softwareuse to organize course materials, track deadlines, and coordinate student communications in an academic department.
  9. Students preparing for entry-level performances or studio critiquessupport through structured rehearsal guidance and assignment scaffolding under departmental supervision.
  10. Active listening and social perceptivenessapply when responding to diverse student needs and questions in a postsecondary arts classroom environment.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Artistic techniques across multiple media or performance stylesexplain and demonstrate independently to undergraduate and early graduate students in studio, lab, or rehearsal settings.
  2. Lectures on music theory, art history, or drama fundamentalsprepare and deliver to undergraduate and graduate courses with minimal oversight, adapting content to class proficiency levels.
  3. Grading and formative feedback on student projects, papers, and performancesconduct routinely using self-developed rubrics aligned to departmental learning outcomes.
  4. Student preparation for recitals, exhibitions, or academic assessmentsfacilitate through individualized coaching sessions and structured rehearsal cycles in a postsecondary context.
  5. Classroom discussions integrating critical theory, cultural context, and interdisciplinary perspectivesmoderate with confidence across familiar course topics in an arts department.
  6. Course materials including syllabi, assignment sequences, and multimedia handoutsdevelop independently using desktop publishing and document management software.
  7. Video creation, music editing, or graphics softwareintegrate into instructional design to enhance student engagement in technology-supported arts courses.
  8. Professional conferences and collegial dialogueparticipate in actively to incorporate emerging disciplinary developments into course content and pedagogy.
  9. Student attendance, grade distributions, and required academic recordsmanage with full compliance to institutional policy using learning management and scheduling systems.
  10. Learning strategies tailored to varied artistic skill levelsselect and apply to improve student outcomes across studio, lecture, and ensemble course formats.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Advanced artistic techniques in specialized performance, studio, or compositional practicedemonstrate and teach autonomously to graduate-level students in a research-intensive postsecondary environment.
  2. Complex, non-routine student performance challenges and creative blocksdiagnose and resolve through individualized mentorship and evidence-based instructional strategies.
  3. Graduate seminars and upper-division lectures on topics spanning art history, philosophy of aesthetics, and communications theorydesign and deliver with scholarly depth and pedagogical rigor.
  4. Comprehensive assessment of student theses, capstone performances, and professional portfoliosevaluate using self-constructed, discipline-specific criteria that reflect current field standards.
  5. Sustained Socratic and discipline-specific discourseinitiate and moderate in graduate seminars, pushing students toward original critical and creative thinking across full course sequences.
  6. Multisemester curriculum sequences and program-level learning outcomesdesign and refine independently, integrating fine arts knowledge with cross-disciplinary perspectives in psychology, sociology, and media.
  7. Peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and active professional networksengage with regularly to sustain scholarly currency and incorporate evolving artistic practices into teaching.
  8. Web platform, CAD, computer-based training, and multimedia production toolsdeploy strategically to create immersive, technology-enhanced learning environments for arts students.
  9. Inductive and deductive reasoning in artistic problem-solvingmodel explicitly for students navigating ambiguous creative or interpretive challenges in studio and performance contexts.
  10. Judgment and decision-making in complex student evaluation scenariosexercise with full autonomy, balancing artistic standards, equity considerations, and institutional accountability requirements.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Departmental curriculum vision and program-level artistic identityestablish and champion across faculty governance structures, aligning postsecondary arts programs with national disciplinary standards and institutional mission.
  2. Faculty hiring, mentorship, and professional developmentlead within an arts department, cultivating a culture of pedagogical innovation and scholarly excellence among emerging and mid-career instructors.
  3. Institutional assessment frameworks for fine arts programsarchitect and implement, guiding accreditation processes and translating outcomes data into systemic curriculum improvements.
  4. Cross-departmental and interdisciplinary academic initiativeslead in collaboration with colleagues across communications, humanities, and social sciences to advance integrated arts education at the institutional level.
  5. Strategic partnerships with professional arts organizations, industry stakeholders, and community institutionscultivate to create experiential learning pipelines and post-graduation pathways for students.
  6. Original scholarly or artistic research at the leading edge of the disciplineproduce and disseminate through peer-reviewed venues, positioning the institution as a center of creative and intellectual excellence.
  7. Departmental technology strategy for arts instructionset and oversee, directing adoption of advanced multimedia, CAD, and web platform tools to keep the program aligned with evolving professional practice.
  8. Complex ethical and equity dilemmas in student assessment, faculty relations, and academic freedomnavigate and resolve, modeling principled judgment and transparent decision-making for the entire arts faculty.
  9. National and international professional conferences and discipline-shaping bodiesrepresent the institution within, contributing to field-wide conversations that influence postsecondary arts education policy.
  10. Long-range enrollment, resource allocation, and program sustainability plansdevelop and execute for arts disciplines, integrating systems analysis and institutional data to ensure enduring program viability.

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Adjunct Art Instructor · Adjunct College Instructor · Adjunct Graphic Design Instructor · Adjunct Instructor · Adjunct Lecturer · Adjunct Music Instructor · Adjunct Music Professor · Adjunct Professor · Art Educator · Art History Professor · Art Instructor · Art Professor
RAPIDS apprenticeships
O*NET skills
SpeakingInstructingLearning StrategiesActive LearningActive ListeningReading ComprehensionWritingMonitoringTime ManagementCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingCoordinationSystems Analysis
Knowledge domains
Fine ArtsEducation and TrainingEnglish LanguageCommunications and MediaPsychologyHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyComputers and ElectronicsSociology and Anthropology
Abilities
Oral ExpressionWritten ExpressionWritten ComprehensionSpeech ClarityOral ComprehensionOriginalityNear VisionSpeech RecognitionInductive ReasoningDeductive Reasoning
Work styles
InnovationSocial OrientationDependabilityIntellectual CuriosityEmpathyCooperation
Technology
Document management softwareVideo creation and editing softwareMusic or sound editing softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareDesktop publishing softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareComputer based training softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareWeb platform development software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Explain and demonstrate artistic techniques.
  2. Evaluate and grade students' class work, performances, projects, assignments, and papers.
  3. Prepare students for performances, exams, or assessments.
  4. Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  5. Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as acting techniques, fundamentals of music, and art history.
  6. Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  7. Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  8. Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
CIP education codes
13.130213.131213.132450.010150.010250.020150.030150.030250.039950.040150.040450.040650.040750.040950.041050.050150.050250.050450.050550.050650.050750.050950.051050.051150.051250.059950.060150.060250.060550.060750.069950.070150.070250.070350.070550.070650.070850.070950.071050.071150.071250.071350.071450.079950.090250.090350.090450.090550.090650.090750.090850.091050.091150.091250.091350.091450.091550.091650.091750.099950.100150.100250.100350.100450.109950.110150.9999

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.