Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Philosophy and Religion Professor
What philosophy and religion professors actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a philosophy and religion professor?
Teach intro to ethics. From there, the day usually includes teach philosophy or religion courses, lead discussions, and teach applied ethics. Teaching and research with flexible hours.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a philosophy and religion professor working full time.
- Teach intro to ethics.
- Hold office hours.
- Write a journal article.
- Teach world religions.
- Teach logic.
- Serve on an ethics committee.
- Grade essays.
Where philosophy and religion professors work
Faculty work in classrooms, offices and libraries.
Hours and schedule
Teaching and research with flexible hours.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Teach philosophy or religion courses
- Lead discussions
- Teach applied ethics
- Research and publish
- Mentor students
- Develop courses
- Serve on committees
Tools you’ll use every day
- Library databases
- Learning management systems
- Citation managers
- Logic software
- Discussion platforms
- Presentation tools
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Explore deep questions
- Teach critical thinking
- Flexible schedule
- Ethics teaching across programs
What’s hard
- Very competitive job market
- Small departments
- Grading load
- Many adjunct roles
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love big questions
- I enjoy arguments
- I respect many views
- I like close reading
- I want to teach
- I’m willing to compete for jobs
Not sure? Take the free Philosophy and Religion Professor fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Keep discussions respectful
- Protect student privacy
- Respect diverse beliefs
- Follow campus safety