Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Geography Professor
What geography professors actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a geography professor?
Teach world regional geography. From there, the day usually includes teach geography courses, teach GIS and mapping, and lead field courses. Teaching, research and service with flexible hours.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a geography professor working full time.
- Teach world regional geography.
- Run a GIS lab.
- Analyze satellite imagery.
- Meet a city planning partner.
- Teach urban geography.
- Advise students on GIS internships.
- Write a paper.
Where geography professors work
Faculty work in classrooms, computer labs and field sites.
Hours and schedule
Teaching, research and service with flexible hours.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Teach geography courses
- Teach GIS and mapping
- Lead field courses
- Conduct research
- Mentor students
- Publish research
- Serve on committees
Tools you’ll use every day
- ArcGIS and QGIS
- Remote sensing software
- GPS units
- Statistical software
- Learning management systems
- Field gear
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Teach in-demand GIS skills
- Interdisciplinary research
- Fieldwork
- Flexible schedule
What’s hard
- Few positions
- Competitive tenure track
- Grant dependence
- Long training
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love maps and places
- I enjoy GIS
- I like teaching
- I want to research
- I enjoy fieldwork
- I’m willing to earn a doctorate
Not sure? Take the free Geography Professor fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Plan for field safety
- Protect sensitive location data
- Protect student privacy
- Follow campus safety