Health Sciences Professors
Overview
Health Sciences Professors teach college students about various health-related topics like nursing, physical therapy, or medical technology. They create course materials, grade assignments, and help students plan their academic paths toward healthcare careers. These professors use both traditional classroom methods and modern online platforms to deliver lessons, often collaborating with other faculty to design degree programs. Many also conduct research in their specialty areas and publish their findings to advance knowledge in healthcare fields.
Did you know?
Most positions require a master's or doctoral degree in the specific health specialty, along with teaching credentials or experience in American higher education institutions.
At a Glance
Median Wage
$101,569.41 Avg/yr
Growth
Fast Growing
Top Skill
Active Learning
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
- Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Participate in campus and community events.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as public health, stress management, and work site health promotion.
- Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
- Supervise laboratory sessions.
- Act as advisers to student organizations.
Career Considerations
Advanced Degree Requirements
Most positions require a master's or doctoral degree in the specific health specialty, along with teaching credentials or experience in American higher education institutions.
Professional Licensure and Certification
Many health specialties teaching positions require current professional licensure or certification in the field being taught, as mandated by U.S. accreditation bodies.
Growing Job Market Demand
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects strong growth for postsecondary health specialties teachers due to increasing enrollment in health programs driven by America's aging population and healthcare workforce shortages.