Geography Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Department of Geography, Environment and Society in the College of Liberal Arts occasionally needs teaching specialists or lecturers to teach courses on a variety of topics that cannot be staffed by regular faculty or graduate students. Openings of this kind sometimes occur for teaching evening and summer session courses, as well as day courses and courses offered through Independent and Distance Learning.
This does not constitute a posting for vacancies but establishes a pool of applicants should openings occur during the 2026/27 academic year. Applicants will be selected from this pool on an as-needed basis through the academic year. Appointments are part-time and may be renewable based on need, funding, and performance.
The teaching specialist or lecturer may be responsible for all aspects of teaching, including course design, lectures, laboratory exercises, and grading. Applicants will be selected from this pool on an as-needed basis for appointments for the 2026/27 academic year (fall and/or spring terms) and/or Summer 2027.

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS in Geography or related field;
• Knowledge of Geography principles and technology;
• Some specialized knowledge related to Geography, Urban Studies, and/or GIS.

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.A. or Ph.D. in Geography or related field. Teaching (e.g., training workshops, short courses, college/university) and/or professional experience.
• Applicants with a B.A. or M.A. will be appointed at the Teaching Specialist level; those with a Ph.D. will be appointed at the Lecturer level.          
• Candidates must possess excellent oral and written communication skills, and be capable of delivering high-quality instruction to a diverse student body.

The Department of Geography, Environment and Society at the University of Minnesota is a top-ranked, nationally and internationally recognized department that includes programs in Geography, Urban Studies, and Geographic Information Science. Studies in Geography offer an integrative perspective on the relations among social, political, economic, and physical phenomena in space and place, and provides a methodological emphasis in Geographic Information Science. Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that focuses on the conceptual and analytical frameworks and specialized skills needed for professions focused on urban change or development in public agencies, non-profits, or private business, or for graduate study in urban planning, law, social welfare, public affairs, or the social and environmental sciences. The MGIS program, first of its type in the U.S., is a professional degree program that provides a comprehensive GIS degree that balances work in the theoretical/conceptual, technical, and application domains of GIS; delivers course work at times convenient for students employed full time; and emphasizes societal impacts of GIS technologies.  The Department provides up-to-date computing, cartography/GIS, and physical geography laboratories, support for tree-ring analysis, soil characterization, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and one of the nation's finest libraries supporting all undergraduate, graduate, and professional research and training programs.
FFI: http://www.geog.umn.edu/

About the College of Liberal Arts
Home to the arts, social sciences and humanities disciplines and programs, the College
of Liberal Arts is the largest college in the University of Minnesota and comprises 31
academic departments, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and
administrative/support units. CLA has over 1,300 faculty and staff spanning research,
teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over
twenty buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA
enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate students, over 40% of the undergraduate
enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, 1,400 graduate students, and has an annual
all-funds budget of $290 million.

CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to
making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for
everyone. That foundational commitment begins in our CLA Constitution. CLA is
committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students,
diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff,
and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and
viewpointsso that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need
to understand and respect differences.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in CLA 
Working in CLA
The Benefits of Working at the U
 

Pay Range:

Teaching Specialists: $2,400 - $11,000 per undergraduate credit/course; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Lecturers: $2,400 - $14,000 per undergraduate credit/course; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications.  Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume or CV.

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail jobcentr@umn.edu.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission.  The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  To learn more about diversity at the U:  http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.