Career Overview
Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also Known As
- Associate Professor
- Geography Instructor
- Geography Professor
- Professor
Alternate Job Titles
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Cartography Professor
- Cartography Teacher
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
- Cultural Geography Faculty Member
- Geographic Information Systems Faculty Member (GIS Faculty Member)
- Geographic Information Systems Professor (GIS Professor)
- Geography Faculty Member
- Geography Instructor
- Geography Professor
- Geomatics Professor
- Geospatial Instructor
- Human Geography Faculty Member
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- English Language
- Geography
- Education and Training
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Writing
- Speaking
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Complex Problem Solving
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Social Orientation
- Achievement Orientation
- Innovation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Google Docs
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Mozilla Firefox
Tools & Equipment
- Carousel slide projectors
- Cathode ray tube CRT projectors
- Compact digital cameras
- Compact disk CD players
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Computer projectors
- Conference telephones
- Data loggers
- Desktop computers
- Digital calculators
- Digital video cameras
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Digitizers
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
Work Environment
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $49,990 |
| Median | $86,730 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $164,350 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 3,290
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $101,390
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $95,770
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $82,540
History Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $81,500
Geographers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $97,200
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.