Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
O*NET files this work under Geography Teachers, Postsecondary: people who teach courses in geography. Its interest code is SIA. Social leads at 6.8 out of 7, so expect helping, teaching or caring for people, with Investigative next at 5.7. The preparation level is extensive preparation, typically graduate school and often five years or more of related experience. O*NET’s skill data points to writing, speaking, and instructing as the ones to build. Expect to prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts. The job can ask you to prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as urbanization, environmental systems, and cultural geography. People who want helping, teaching or caring for people usually fit better here than those who need leading, persuading and making business decisions.
What they do
Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Main tasks
- 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.
Skills
- Writing
- Speaking
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You get energy from helping other people move forward.
- You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
- You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
- You are comfortable relying on writing and speaking.
May not suit you if
- You find a full day of dealing with people draining.
- You want to be working in the field within the next few years.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code SIA takes the three highest, and Social comes first here.
Preparation
Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Doctoral Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Geography Instructor
- Geography Professor
- Human Geography Instructor
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.