Philosophy and religion teachers at the postsecondary level lead discussions, interpret complex ideas, and help students think critically about meaning and belief. You'll need a doctoral degree and a passion for your subject.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
You teach philosophy and religion courses to college and university students. Your work involves designing curricula, preparing lectures, leading seminars, and grading assignments. You interpret difficult texts and ideas for students, help them develop critical thinking skills, and guide them through creative problem-solving. You also stay current in your field by reading scholarship, thinking deeply about new developments, and making decisions about how to present material in ways that engage learners.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,260 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 2,000 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You'll need a doctoral degree in philosophy, religion, theology, or a related field. This typically follows a bachelor's degree and a master's program. During your doctoral studies, you'll develop expertise in your specialization while often teaching undergraduate courses as part of your training. Many programs require you to write a dissertation. After completing your degree, you'll apply for faculty positions at colleges and universities, where hiring committees evaluate your research, teaching experience, and scholarly contributions.
The path to teaching philosophy and religion at the college level requires doctoral study, which is a significant commitment. If you're weighing different doctoral programs or wondering how to prepare your application, Pathly can map the philosophy and religion teacher, postsecondary path that fits you and work through it with your counselor to build a realistic timeline.
You're drawn to this work if you enjoy helping others learn, value deep conversation, and want to shape how students understand the world and their place in it.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).