Psychology Professor

Also called: Abnormal Psychology Teacher, Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Adjunct Psychology Faculty Member, Applied Psychology Professor

Varies

estimated salary

Psychology teachers, Postsecondary teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as abnormal psychology, cognitive processes, and work motivation.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  • Recruit and hire new faculty.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
  • Develop and use multimedia course materials and other current technology, such as online courses.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
  • Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
  • Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Write letters of recommendation for students.
  • Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
  • Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
  • Supervise students' laboratory work.
  • Supervise the clinical work of practicum students.
  • Provide clinical services to clients, such as assessing psychological problems and conducting psychotherapy.
  • Review books and journal articles for potential publication.
  • Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
  • Act as advisers to student organizations.
  • Participate in campus and community events.
  • Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
Work Context
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 98% responded "Every day".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 90% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Electronic Mail — 97% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 83% responded "Every day".
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 67% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Contact With Others — 50% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Public Speaking — 48% responded "Once a week or more but not every day".
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Work Activities
  • Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Create technology-based learning materials.
  • Supervise student research or internship work.
  • Evaluate scholarly materials.
  • Hire personnel.
  • Recruit personnel.
  • Evaluate student work.
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Knowledge

Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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.
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Skills

Learning Strategies
  • Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Instructing
  • Teaching others how to do something.
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Abilities

Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software
  • Minitab Hot Technology
  • IBM SPSS Statistics Hot Technology
  • SAS Hot Technology
  • The MathWorks MATLAB Hot Technology
  • Multivariate Software EQS
  • Psychology Software Tools E-Prime
  • Psychology Software Tools MRI Simulator
  • Psychophysics Toolbox
  • Scientific Software International HLM
  • Qualtrics Research Suite
  • PsyScript
  • PsyScope
  • Millisecond Software Inquisit
  • Cedrus SuperLab Pro
  • Empirisoft DirectRT
  • Empirisoft MediaLab
  • FreeSurfer
Electronic mail software
  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology
  • Email software
Object or component oriented development software
  • R Hot Technology
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