What Do Philosophy and Religion Professors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Philosophy and Religion Professors teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. They also evaluate and grade students’ class work, assignments, and papers.

Other tasks include:

• Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
• Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.
• Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
• 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.
• Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.

We asked Philosophy and Religion 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, Philosophy and Religion Professors initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions. They keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.

A typical day for a Postsecondary Philosophy and Religion Teacher will also include:

• Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
• Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
• Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
• Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.
• Write articles and books.

We asked some Philosophy and Religion 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?	30% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	34% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	54% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	29% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	33% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Philosophy and Religion Professors also serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues. They may also participate in campus and community events.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Philosophy and Religion Professors Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues. They might also Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.

In addition, they Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Evaluate and grade students’ class work, assignments, and papers.

To some Philosophy and Religion Professors, it is also their responsibility to Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Postsecondary Philosophy and Religion 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 forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

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

http://www.cgsnet.org/

https://www.acteonline.org/

http://www.teach.org/