College of Architecture, Art and Design

Faculty positions for College of Architecture, Art and Design

To view the the Department of Architecture, Faculty Search as a PDF please click here
To view the the Department of Design, Faculty Search as a PDF please click here

Department of Architecture

The College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) invites applications for full-time continuing and visiting teaching positions in the Department of Architecture. The initial contracts for continuing faculty will be for a three-year duration with an attractive salary and benefit package that includes housing, and places the candidate on the equivalent of a tenure-track position which translates to a full-time, four-year rolling contract at AUS.

All Architecture and Design Degree Programs at the College of Architecture, Art and Design are accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (USA) and are licensed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The Bachelor of Architecture program is fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), and is the first and only program to receive this designation outside North America. The Interior Design Program may advance towards Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), and accreditation experience is desirable. All of the programs at CAAD are growing, and we are looking for new colleagues to join our efforts to expand capacity and content.

At a minimum, a Master's degree in Architecture / Interior Design is required as well as significant academic and professional experience. Licensure in the field is desirable when applicable and available. Interest and experience in interdisciplinary design education and global practice are highly desirable. A thorough knowledge of design history, theory, and practice, combined with digital skills and visual literacy, a record of professional practice, and outstanding communication skills are required.

The ideal candidate should demonstrate evidence of excellence (or the potential of, if at the level of Assistant Professor) in teaching, scholarly work and professional practice. The candidate will be expected to teach core curriculum and elective studios/classes, mentor students through an established advising process, engage in scholarship and research, and participate in service activities for the school, university and community.

Assistant | Associate | Full Professor (Multiple Positions)

Architecture | Department of Architecture

The Department of Architecture seeks multiple full-time faculty to teach design studios, required core classes, and elective offerings. Successful candidates will be expected to teach at all levels of the Architecture program (and possibly within the Interior Design studio sequence and CAAD's first-year Foundation Program), as well as in related technical, representational, historical and/or theoretical areas. Interest and experience in interdisciplinary design education and global practice are highly desirable; outstanding communication skills are required.

The emphasis of these positions is in design studio teaching at the undergraduate level, and possibly at the graduate level in the near future. Candidates must possess exemplary design experience, and demonstrate outstanding research (or strong research potential at the Assistant Professor level). Beyond normative research and scholarship, recognition is given towards creative work, which may include built work, theoretical explorations, competitions, publications, or exhibitions. A professional degree in Architecture (Master of Architecture or equivalent) is required. In addition to a primary strength in design studio teaching, the Department is particularly interested in candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas: environmental technology + sustainable building systems, tectonics, digital design + fabrication, landscape, architectural history + theory, design foundations.

Assistant | Associate | Full Professor

Interior Design | Department of Architecture

The successful candidate will be expected to teach at all levels of the Interior Design studio sequence, as well as in related technical, representational, historical and/or theoretical areas. Particular focus in at least one of the following areas is also required: comprehensive design studio, competition and degree project studio, technical/material/building systems, professional practice, visual communication/representation skills and processes, or history + theory courses.

A terminal, professional degree in Interior Design (typically the Master's in Interior Design) or related field is required. Demonstrated teaching, research, and professional experience (including licensure, if applicable) in the field are highly desirable. Interest and experience in interdisciplinary design education and global practice are highly desirable; outstanding communication skills are required.

Assistant | Associate | Full Professor

History + Theory + Criticism | Department of Architecture

The successful candidate will be expected to teach introductory survey courses, plus core and elective courses in specific focus areas. Expertise in contemporary theory and practice, history and theory of landscape architecture, history and theory of interior design, non-western architectural history, and/or the architecture, art and design culture in the Middle East region are particularly welcome.

A terminal degree, typically at the Doctorate level, is required. Demonstrated excellence (or the clear potential for, if at the Assistant Professor rank) in teaching, research, and scholarship in the field is required. Interest and experience in interdisciplinary design education and the MENA region are desirable.

Assistant | Associate | Full Professor (Visiting)

Architecture and Interior Design | Department of Architecture

The duration of this position would typically be for one academic year, but could possibly range from a semester to two-years. The Visiting Faculty Program at CAAD is an important dimension to the college, and directly addresses those with a deep interest, and deep experience/expertise, wishing to engage the department and college outside of a three-year, "tenure-track" arrangement. Please consider the above descriptions as viable options, but not necessarily limiting possibilities.

Associate | Full Professor | Director of Foundations

The Foundations Program at the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) is an autonomous one-year curriculum that supports the common educational requirements for all majors within the College. As such, the program provides the fundamentals of design education and prepares students to function on appropriate practical, theoretical and critical levels in their sophomore (second) year. All first-year CAAD students, presently numbering about two-hundred, are required to successfully complete the foundations year to be considered for advancement to the second year of their chosen major.

The successful candidate will collaborate with the Dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Design, the Heads of the Departments, and the faculty on strategic planning, curricular facilitation and development, and will also be responsible for effectively managing human, fiscal, and physical resources. The ideal candidate for this position will articulate a vision regarding the future of the current foundations program, develop new or revised curricular programs and pedagogical models, and demonstrate the ability to lead a diverse group of professionally and academically active faculty toward the common goal of educational excellence.

This is a 12-month administrative/teaching appointment. The successful candidate will be expected to teach twelve to fifteen credit-hours per year in the first year foundations program as well as in related technical or theoretical areas, engage in scholarship and research, and participate in service activities for the school, university and community.

Existing or developing Degree Program at CAAD include Architecture, Interior Design, Multimedia Design, Visual Communication, Design Management at the undergraduate level. In graduate education, there is a Master of Urban Planning degree program. Work is underway on new BFA and MFA degrees in studio arts, and in other areas of undergraduate and graduate education.

Qualifications include a Master of Architecture, Design or Art (MFA), or Doctorate degree in an existing or related area, as well as significant academic, professional, and administrative experience. Interest and experience in interdisciplinary design education, opportunities of design education in the rich and culturally diverse context of the United Arab Emirates, and global practice are highly desirable; outstanding communication skills are required.

CAAD Search e-mail: caadsearch@aus.edu

For All Positions:

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) is a leading comprehensive coeducational university in the Gulf, serving students from the United Arab Emirates, neighboring countries in the region, and around the world. In addition to the College of Architecture, Art and Design, the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, and School of Business and Management are the constituent academic units of the University. AUS is fully committed to equal opportunity at all levels without discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, age, family status, or national origin. Website: www.aus.edu

The College of Architecture, Art and Design at the American University of Sharjah currently has five undergraduate programs leading to degrees in Architecture, Interior Design, Visual Communication, Multimedia Design, and Design Management, plus a Master's Degree in Urban Planning; additional minors and majors are being planned at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The curriculum is based on the North American model with liberal arts and sciences integrated to professional education. All undergraduate students begin their first year studies in the College's highly effective Foundation Program. All courses are taught in English.

Application material must be packaged in a single PDF file clearly labeled with the applicant's name. Incomplete applications will not be considered and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Preference may be given to applicants who have academic experience with the North-American model of studio-based design education.

Salary is commensurate with qualification and experience, and an attractive benefit package with housing is included. The successful candidates are expected to assume duties on September 1, 2012.

The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications immediately. Interested applicants should send a Letter of Interest outlining areas of teaching, practice, research/scholarship, and service. A Curriculum Vitae, contact information for three references, a digital portfolio of professional work and examples of student work must be submitted in confidence to "Architecture Search Committee" at the following email address: arcsearch@aus.edu. The positions, subject to change and funding, will remain open until filled.

Department of Design

The College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) invites applications for full-time continuing and visiting teaching positions in the Department of Design. The initial contracts for continuing faculty will be for a three-year duration with an attractive salary and benefit package that includes housing, and places the candidate on the equivalent of a tenure-track position which translates to a full-time, four-year rolling contract at AUS.

All Architecture and Design Degree Programs at the College of Architecture, Art and Design are accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (USA) and are licensed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The Bachelor of Architecture program is fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), and is the first and only program to receive this designation outside North America. At some point in the future, programs in Design and Art may pursue accreditation through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), and accreditation experience is therefore desirable.

At a minimum, a Master's degree in Design, as articulated below, is required as well as significant academic and professional experience. Interest and experience in interdisciplinary design education and global practice are highly desirable. A thorough knowledge of design history, theory and practice, combined with digital skills and visual literacy, a record of professional practice, and outstanding communication skills are required.

Associate | Full Professor | Department Head

Head of Department | Department of Design

The successful candidate for the Head of the Department of Design will collaborate with the Dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Design and the faculty on strategic planning and curriculum facilitation and development. The Head of Department (HOD) will also be responsible for effectively managing human, fiscal, and physical resources, promoting the visibility of the programs, and building collaborative educational partnerships within GCC design organizations and the larger professional community. The ideal candidate should have demonstrated leadership, excellent communication skills, plus strong administrative skills and experience.

The successful candidate shall hold the minimum of a terminal degree (Master or Doctorate) in an existing Degree Program at CAAD (Design Management, Multimedia Design, and Visual Communication) or within related areas, such as Product/Industrial Design and/or History/Theory/Criticism. Additionally, Initial work is underway on new BFA and MFA degrees in studio arts, and in other areas of undergraduate and graduate education. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to, and experience with, teaching at all levels of the studio sequence and related theoretical areas in Design. The ideal candidate for this position could articulate a vision regarding the future of current programs, develop existing and new curricular programs and pedagogical models, and demonstrate the ability to lead a diverse group of professionally and academically active faculty toward the common goal of educational excellence.

This is a twelve-month administrative/teaching appointment; the successful candidate will be expected to teach nine to twelve credit-hours per year at all levels of the design studio sequence, as well as in related technical or theoretical areas, engage in research/scholarship, and participate in service activities for the school, university and community. Significant academic, professional, and/or administrative experience is necessary. Interest and experience in interdisciplinary design education, opportunities of design education in the rich and culturally diverse context of the United Arab Emirates, and global practice are highly desirable.

Qualifications include: Master of Design, Master of Fine Art, or Doctorate degree in a related area, as well as significant academic, professional, and administrative experience. Interest and experience in interdisciplinary design education and global practice are highly desirable; outstanding communication skills are required.

Design Search e-mail: dessearch@aus.edu

Assistant | Associate | Full Professor

Design Management | Department of Design

The successful candidate, with a minimum of a Master's degree in Design Management or an equivalent degree, will demonstrate a commitment to, and experience in, teaching theory, methods, innovation and practice aspects in the core curriculum of design management as well as related areas of business management, system/service design, design thinking and strategic design. Candidates should also bring extensive knowledge in one or more of the following areas; design, communication, research, operations and production management, organization and human resource management, branding, strategic design and design thinking. Knowledge of Arabic would be considered an asset, but is not essential; a thorough knowledge and solid background in the discipline of design management, theory and practice combined with significant business competency, a record of professional practice, and outstanding communication skills are required. Interest and experience in interdisciplinary design education and global practice is highly desirable.

Design Search e-mail: dessearch@aus.edu

Assistant | Associate | Full Professor

Product Design | Department of Design

The successful candidate, with a minimum of a Master's degree in Product Design, Industrial Design or Product-System-Service Design, will demonstrate a commitment to, and experience in, teaching at all levels of the studio sequence and related technical and/or theoretical areas in a Product Design Program. Candidates should also bring extensive knowledge in one or more of the following areas: Digital Fabrication, Material Research and Experimentation, History/Theory of Design, Design Research, Design Management, Foundations Program, Communication/Representation Skills and Processes, Sustainability, Interactive and Experience Design, and/or emerging practices and trends in the discipline/profession.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach in, and contribute to, all levels of a developing undergraduate degree program, as well as in related technical, representational, and/or theoretical areas. A Minor in Product Design already exists at the college, and beyond an undergraduate degree program, Product/Industrial Design and Product-Service-System Design is anticipated to play a major role in an upcoming Master of Design (MDes) degree program.

Professional and research experience in the field is desirable. The candidate should have demonstrated leadership skills and experience, plus an excellent record of teaching and scholarship (or the potential for, if at the Assistant Professor rank). Interest and experience in interdisciplinary design education and global practice is highly desirable; outstanding communication skills are required.

Design Search e-mail: dessearch@aus.edu

Assistant | Associate | Full Professor

History + Theory + Criticism | Department of Design

The successful candidate will be expected to teach introductory survey courses including the possibility to be part of CAAD's first-year, inter-disciplinary Foundation Program), plus core and elective courses in specific focus areas. Expertise in contemporary theory and practice, plus the history, theory and criticism of design are desired. Western and non-western history, including theory and criticism in design and art culture and practice are welcome, particularly with interest and experience in global education/practice, and in the MENA region.

A terminal degree, typically at the Doctorate level, is required. Demonstrated excellence (or the clear potential for, if at the Assistant Professor rank) in teaching and research/scholarship in the field are required. Interest and experience in interdisciplinary design education are desirable; outstanding communication skills are required.

Design Search e-mail: dessearch@aus.edu

Assistant | Associate | Full Professor (Visiting)

Design and Art | Department of Design

Associate | Full Professor | Director of Foundations