Careers · Explore one path
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Other titles employers use
Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Geography Instructor · Geography Professor · Human Geography Instructor · Human Geography Professor · Instructor · Lecturer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as urbanization, environmental systems, and cultural geography.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and creative work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Writing
- Speaking
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
Subjects to know
- English Language
- Geography
- Education and Training
- History and Archeology
- Mathematics
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.7 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.5 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.8 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 1.9 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 91%
- A master's degree 9%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Analytical or scientific software
- Word processing software
- Geographic information system
- Internet browser software
- Electronic mail software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 290
- Job openings each year
- 20
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 11.5%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 290 | 20 | 11.5% |
| Illinois | 260 | 20 | 4.0% |
| Colorado | 210 | 20 | 23.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 200 | 10 | 5.3% |
| North Carolina | 180 | 20 | 12.5% |
| Wisconsin | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| Maryland | 140 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Michigan | 140 | 10 | 7.7% |
| Ohio | 140 | 10 | — |
| Tennessee | 140 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Oregon | 130 | 10 | 8.3% |
| Utah | 130 | 10 | 18.2% |
| Virginia | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Minnesota | 80 | 10 | — |
| New Jersey | 70 | 10 | — |
| Washington | 70 | 10 | — |
| Arizona | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Indiana | 60 | 10 | — |
| Missouri | 50 | 0 | — |
| Florida | 40 | 0 | — |
| Vermont | 40 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Nebraska | 30 | 0 | — |
| Idaho | 20 | 0 | — |
| Maine | 20 | 0 | — |
| Kentucky | 10 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
- Degrees each year
- 389
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Virginia Commonwealth University
- Degrees each year
- 392
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 114
- Admit rate
- 64%
- Annual cost after aid
- —
Kennesaw State University
- Degrees each year
- 241
- Admit rate
- 69%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
- Degrees each year
- 141
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
Brigham Young University
- Degrees each year
- 219
- Admit rate
- 69%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of Kentucky
- Degrees each year
- 285
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 214
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000