What Do Computer Science Professors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Computer Science Professors teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. They also prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.

Other tasks include:

• Compile, administer, and grade examinations or assign this work to others.
• Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as programming, data structures, and software design.
• Evaluate and grade students’ class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
• Direct research of other teachers or of graduate students working for advanced academic degrees.
• Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
• Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.

We asked Computer Science Professors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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83% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 83% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Computer Science Professors maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records. They evaluate and grade students’ class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.

A typical day for a Postsecondary Computer Science Teacher will also include:

• Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
• Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as programming, data structures, and software design.
• Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
• Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
• Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.

We asked some Computer Science Professors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	6% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	28% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	59% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	27% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	9% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	41% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Computer Science Professors also maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students. They may also serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Computer Science Professors Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as programming, data structures, and software design. They might also Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.

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

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Supervise students’ laboratory work.

To some Computer Science Professors, it is also their responsibility to Participate in campus and community events.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Postsecondary Computer Science Teacher, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/education-training-and-library/career-and-technical-education-teachers.htm

http://www.acteonline.org/

http://www.careertech.org/career-clusters

http://www.teach.org/