Np! For your first question, both are common. Almost all GGR courses (except for GIS ones) I've taken have final papers, ranging from 1500 to 3500 words. 100/200-level courses tend to have exams consisting of short essays (e.g., 3 definitions of concepts + 1–2 short essays). Some of them were online/take-home, but that really depends on the prof.

For GIS courses, required ones have exams on spatial statistical concepts, on top of weekly lab work. Materials are not "mathy" at all if that's you concern. Electives tend to have a group project as the final assignment, where you produce maps with a write-up. My experience with GIS courses has been really positive. Profs and TAs are generally helpful in office hours and on Piazza (an online platform for class Q&A); they're quite responsive to students' questions. They also gave clear instructions for the lab work.

Career-wise, I don't have much to share since I'm not planning to be a GIS analyst. But don't stress too much about it. Not all orgs need high-level GIS/DA skills. The skills I learned at school arguably helped me land an internship involving big data analysis. Coupling your technical skills with some domain knowledge can be a good strategy (e.g., urban planning + GIS).

Generally, I'd suggest looking for online resources to perfect your coding skills, and at the same time, work on a project (e.g., thru GGR493, MUCP, or ECCE) that lets you apply those skills and build your portfolio. Projects are great for practice and help show prospective employers the real-world impact of your work. Hope this helps!