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College professor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Margaretha Rudstrom,

Dr. Christina Fisanick

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical college professor skills. We ranked the top skills for college professors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 30.7% of college professor resumes contained curriculum development as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a college professor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 college professor skills for your resume and career

1. Curriculum Development

Here's how college professors use curriculum development:

Assist with curriculum development instructional strategies and lesson planning.
Worked with the department chair on curriculum development, design and review.

2. Classes Taught

Here's how college professors use classes taught:

See Summary of Classes taught on

3. Mathematics

Here's how college professors use mathematics:

Assisted Campus Mathematics Laboratory staff and tutoring sections.
Prepared Mathematics and Statistics assignments and exams.

4. Syllabus

Here's how college professors use syllabus:

Designed functional syllabus supporting classroom and teaching philosophies within university guidelines.
Administered instructional aligned with the collegiate level syllabus.

5. Semester

A semester is a calendar that divides an academic year into sections of fifteen to eighteen weeks. The time system adopted by schools and countries differ. While the half system divides the academic year into two sessions, the quarter system divides the academic year into four sessions.

Here's how college professors use semester:

Associate Professor in the Business and Computer Science Department, responsible for teaching a 3 semester hour credit Computer Essentials Class.
Tenured Responsible for teaching 15-17 semester units of composition and literature courses.

6. Anatomy

Anatomy is the comprehensive study of the internal structure and functions of a thing (living or nonliving). In the body, it's referred to as human anatomy which is the study of the body's internal structure and how they function with one another. There's also plant anatomy and animal anatomy for studying the structures of both.

Here's how college professors use anatomy:

Qualified in teaching courses in areas such as: Human Biology and related biological subjects Anatomy & Physiology.
Served as an Adjunct College Professor for Human Anatomy & Physiology and Nutrition for undergraduate students.

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7. Physiology

Physiology is a branch of biology focused on studying living things, other parts, and the functions of these parts. It studies the functions of living things, especially the human body, and the effects of different processes and actions on the well-being of the body.

Here's how college professors use physiology:

Developed courses in immunology and research ethics, and developed super laboratory courses in cellular physiology and molecular biology.
Lectured in Biochemistry, Biology and Anatomy & Physiology, and conducted laboratory sessions for Biology and Anatomy/Physiology courses.

8. Undergraduate Courses

Undergraduate courses usually refer to the first studies undertaken at university.

Here's how college professors use undergraduate courses:

Full time basis, taught undergraduate courses in business, math, Spanish and professional development.
Teach Microcomputer Application and Business/Management undergraduate courses

9. Literature

Here's how college professors use literature:

Surveyed literature pertaining to health consequences in the disruption of biological rhythms, with particular emphasis on fatigue.
Analyze writings to initiate thematic, multicultural comprehension/interpretation of literature

10. Ethics

Ethics is a branch of knowledge that involves recommending, defending, and systemizing aspects of right and wrong behavior.

Here's how college professors use ethics:

Instruct graduate & undergraduate: *Management Information Systems *Project Management *Marketing Management *Management Principles *E-Marketing *Ethics *Global Marketing *Organization Theory & Design
Educate students in dosage calculations, medical terminology, medical ethics, pharmacy procedures, brands/generics and Anatomy and Physiology.

11. PowerPoint

Here's how college professors use powerpoint:

Instructed 150 students in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and the Internet.
Developed syllabus, PowerPoint presentations on the disease model of alcoholism, physiology and pharmacology of addictive drugs and introduction to counseling

12. Sociology

Sociology is the study of human behavior through societies, groups, and larger developments. Sociology encompasses virtually every aspect of human interaction, from crime to religion to marriage rituals. This study also looks at how humans divide one another, including race, political, and wealth classes.

Here's how college professors use sociology:

Presented and presided over sessions at several regional sociology conferences, including the Southern Sociological Society and Mid-South Southern Sociological Society.
Prepared course material and taught Sociology and Parenting Education courses to college students in an accelerated Baccalaureate Social Service program

13. Economics

Here's how college professors use economics:

Achieved Senior Adjunct Professor while providing leadership teaching Introduction to Business and Economics, Marketing, and Management classes.
Created and taught lessons about business management, business procedures, economics, finance, and religion

14. Exam

Here's how college professors use exam:

Prepared assignments, study material, and exam question papers for the students 1.
Designed exams relevant to material covered up to exam date.

15. Public Speaking

Public Speaking or oration, as it is sometimes known, is the act of any one person speaking live in front of an audience. Although in the past the audience was only a physical one, nowadays oration might be done on an online video call, at a digital conference, at an online class, or elsewhere. The art of public speaking is very old, drawing its first established roots from Ancient Greece and likely from before, too. It is an important skill and asset in many industries.

Here's how college professors use public speaking:

Facilitated public speaking and interpersonal communication courses
Facilitated sections of public speaking, business communications, and group dynamics for both traditional and non-traditional and adult students.

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What skills help College Professors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What college professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Margaretha Rudstrom

Lecturer, University of Minnesota Crookston

I am taking this from the perspective of an agribusiness major.

If a student isn't able to land a position within their field of study, I would suggest they work on their people skills and stay up to date with what is happening in the markets, ag policy, and agriculture. Staying up to date means following the popular press in the areas you have a career interest in. That could mean following the news from places like Drovers, local and national producer associations, or congressional or senate ag committees. This will help keep you up to date on what's happening in the areas you have an interest in or are looking for a career.

I seem to be harping on the people skills piece. Get experience in working with customers, customer service, customer complaints. These experiences will help you develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and communication skills sought after by employers.

What type of skills will young college professors need?

Dr. Christina Fisanick

Associate Professor of English, California University of Pennsylvania

College graduates in 2021 and beyond need all of the skills that English programs have to offer: critical thinking, effective communication, creativity, and flexibility. New hires need to be able to adapt to workplace changes quickly and with aplomb, which requires critical thinking and problem solving and the ability to communicate those solutions to a diverse audience clearly and effectively. Those skills are refined and practiced regularly in English programs.

Do you want to know more?

List of college professor skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a college professor resume and required skills for a college professor to have include:

Curriculum Development
Classes Taught
Mathematics
Syllabus
Semester
Anatomy
Physiology
Undergraduate Courses
Literature
Ethics
PowerPoint
Sociology
Economics
Exam

Public Speaking
Organizational Behavior
Chemistry
Healthcare
Political Science
Business Administration
Professional Development
Computer Applications
Business Management
Database
Business Law
Learning Environment
Blackboard
Course Curriculum

Course Materials
Social Science
Courses Taught
Architecture
III
Seminar
ESL
Pharmacology
Graduate Courses
Strategic Management
International Business
American Government
Entrepreneurship

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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College Professor Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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