Visiting and Full-time Faculty Positions

The College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) invites applications for visiting and full-time faculty positions in the Department of Architecture, which includes degree programs in both architecture and interior design. The visiting position is a 10-month, appointment while the full-time position is a rolling-track appointment (similar to a tenure-track appointment at other institutions) with a three-year contract.

Teaching in the Department of Architecture includes a broad range of focus areas, including beginning design, architectural design, interior design, urban design, fabrication, integrated design, building technology and computation. Demonstrated experience and flexibility in teaching across multiple design disciplines and the ability to teach design studios at various levels of an undergraduate curriculum, especially beginning design and core studio curriculum courses, will be considered an asset. In addition to teaching, faculty are expected to participate in service activities for the department, college and university in line with their rank.  Faculty in full-time, rolling track appointments are expected to engage in scholarship.

AUS offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including on-housing and a generous retirement contribution.

Qualifications

For positions in architecture, a terminal degree, typically a Master of Architecture (or equivalent), is required. Licensure and a thorough knowledge of design history, theory and practice are desirable. For positions in interior design, a degree in interior design (MFA, MID, MA or equivalent) and professional experience in interior design is required. Applicants who have academic experience with the North American model of studio-based design education are preferred. Applications received by January 5, 2026 will be guaranteed review by the Search Committee.  Applications received later may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Successful candidates are expected to assume duties in August 2026.

CAAD and AUS

The Bachelor of Architecture at CAAD was the first program outside of North America to receive full accreditation through the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). It offers a progressive, coeducational curriculum serving a highly diverse student body that is 75 percent female. The department has a tradition of faculty-led study abroad programs in Europe and East Asia, as well as a fall semester studio based in Milan. Our programs are committed to balancing core disciplinary competence in the design of buildings with advanced studios focused on full-scale fabrication, contemporary urbanism and environmental sustainability. The faculty and students in both architecture and interior design are internationally recognized for scholarship and work produced across a range of studios and courses. In the past 10 years, our Design Build studios alone have been recognized with 10 AIA Regional Awards, three ACSA Design Build Awards, an ACSA Collaborative Practice Award and have been featured in two JAE articles.

Website:  www.aus.edu/caad-arch

CAAD has established a reputation as a leader in design education in the region, with AUS ranking number one in the UAE and among the top 260 universities globally for architecture and the built environment, and for art and design (QS World University Subject Rankings, 2025). Faculty have the opportunity to grow and contribute to a dynamic and diverse environment with students from approximately 100 nationalities. Our graduates regularly continue their studies at top universities worldwide and have established themselves as key contributors to design and creative industries across the region. CAAD offers five undergraduate programs leading to bachelor degrees (architecture, interior design, graphic design, new media and film, and design management) and a Master of Urban Planning degree. The curriculum is based on the North American model with liberal arts and sciences integrated with a professional education. All courses are taught in English.

AUS is a leading comprehensive university in the Gulf, serving more than 6,000 students from the United Arab Emirates, neighboring countries in the region, and around the world. In addition to CAAD, the university comprises the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and School of Business Administration. Among the top 18 percent of ranked universities in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2026), AUS is consistently among the top 10 universities in the Arab region (QS Arab Region University Rankings, 2025). AUS is fully committed to equal opportunity at all levels without discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, age, disability, family status or national origin.

AUS is licensed and its programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. AUS has been accredited in the United States of America by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801 USA) since June 2004.

The campus is located in the heart of the Gulf Region, a short driving distance from downtown Dubai, and centrally situated for travel to Africa, Asia and Europe. Our extensive campus library system is complemented by the new House of Wisdom designed by Sir Norman Foster, located adjacent to and within walking distance of the AUS campus. Abu Dhabi and Dubai were recently ranked by The Economist as the Arab world’s two top-ranked most livable cities, offering a rich cultural and physical environment featuring beaches, mountains and spectacular desert landscapes.

Interested applicants should submit the following documents as a single PDF file that can be downloaded without a password (50 pages / 50MB Max):

1. a letter of application that describes your fit with this position description and provides the names and contact information of three referees
2. a curriculum vitae
3. a digital portfolio of scholarly/professional/teaching activities

Submit applications in confidence by visiting https://tinyurl.com/mrxvr5nu.

(To apply, you must have a Google account).