Postsecondary Geography Teachers
Overview
Geography teachers at colleges and universities help students explore how the world works by teaching about places, environments, and human interactions with the planet. They create course materials, grade assignments, conduct research on topics like climate change or urban development, and publish their findings in academic journals. These educators use modern technology like GIS mapping software, virtual field trips, and hybrid online-classroom teaching methods to make geography come alive. They also mentor students, serve on committees, and collaborate with colleagues to design degree programs that prepare the next generation of geographers, urban planners, and environmental scientists.
Did you know?
Tenure-track positions in geography are extremely limited, with many qualified Ph.D. graduates competing for few openings at colleges and universities.
At a Glance
Median Wage
$89,646.77 Avg/yr
Growth
Stable
Top Skill
Learning Strategies
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as urbanization, environmental systems, and cultural geography.
- Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
- Participate in campus and community events.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
- Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
- Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Perform spatial analysis and modeling using geographic information system techniques.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
- Maintain geographic information systems laboratories, performing duties such as updating software.
- Act as advisers to student organizations.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
Career Considerations
Highly Competitive Academic Job Market
Tenure-track positions in geography are extremely limited, with many qualified Ph.D. graduates competing for few openings at colleges and universities.
Dual Teaching and Research Expectations
Most postsecondary geography positions require excellence in both classroom instruction and scholarly research publication, particularly at research universities.
Technology Integration Requirements
Modern geography education demands proficiency in GIS software, remote sensing tools, and digital mapping technologies that are increasingly central to the discipline.