Occupation Details
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$62,590.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$102,240.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$137,830.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
3,810
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
4,350
+54 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
427
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.1%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
More School - Graduate or advanced degree
Experience Requirements
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Education Requirements
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Training Details
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, physician assistants, and veterinarians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Innovation
Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Atomic absorption AA spectrophotometers
- Atomic emission spectroscopes
- Automated polarimeters
- Benchtop muffle furnaces
- Benchtop orbital shakers
- Benchtop ultracentrifuges
- Capillary electrophoresis systems
- Carousel slide projectors
- Chemiluminescence analyzers
- Cold rooms
- Compact digital cameras
- Compact disk CD players
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Conference telephones
- Cryoloops
- Cryopumps
- Crystallization plates
- Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA synthesizers
- Desktop computers
- Differential scanning calorimeters
- Digital calculators
- Digital storage oscilloscopes
- Digital video cameras
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Drop plates
- Electron capture detectors ECD
- Flame ionization detectors
- Fourier transform infrared FTIR spectrometers
- Gas chromatograph mass spectrometers GC-MS
Technology
- Auto3DEM
- Blackboard Learn
- CCP4
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
- DOC Cop
- Desire2Learn LMS software
- Email software
- Google Docs
- IHRSR++
- Image scanning software
- Learning management system LMS
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- adhere to safety procedures
- maintain educational records, reports, or files
- prepare educational reports
- evaluate student performance
- advise students
- advise governmental or industrial personnel
- make education presentations
- direct and coordinate scientific research or investigative studies
- encourage group participation
- understand properties of gases or liquids
- write research or project grant proposals
- record student progress
- compile bibliographies of specialized materials
- design classroom presentations
- collect academic research data
- analyze chemical experimental, test, or analysis data or findings
- conduct laboratory research or experiments
- conduct standardized qualitative laboratory analyses
- conduct standardized quantitative laboratory analyses
- conduct research on work-related topics
- use chemical testing or analysis procedures
- use chemical processing emergency procedures
- use hazardous materials information
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use pollution control techniques
- use scientific research methodology
- follow safe waste disposal procedures
- use teaching techniques
- use public speaking techniques
- use quantitative research methods
- use library or online Internet research techniques
- use knowledge of metric system
- write scholarly or technical research papers
- present research papers or dissertations on physical science issues
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve educational data
- convert information into instructional program
- develop instructional materials
- organize educational material or ideas
- teach college level courses
- develop course or training objectives
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.
- Establish, teach, and monitor students' compliance with safety rules for handling chemicals, equipment, and other hazardous materials.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory performance, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise students' laboratory work.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- 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.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
- Select, order, and maintain materials and supplies for teaching and research, such as textbooks, chemicals, and laboratory equipment.
- Perform administrative duties, such as serving as a department head.
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Write letters of recommendation for students.
- Prepare and submit required reports related to instruction.
- Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
- Clean laboratory facilities.
- Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
- Serve on committees or in professional societies.
- Participate in campus and community events.
- Act as advisers to student organizations.
- Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
- Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Teachers-postsecondary
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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