Description
The University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture invites applications for a 9-month tenure track faculty in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin August 2026. Based in Norman, a lively college town within the Oklahoma City metropolitan area which was recently ranked the “No. 1 Best Big City to Live In” by U.S. News & World Report, the Regional and City Planning program positions faculty to help shape the future of planning education and practice. This position is part of OU’s university-wide trajectory to join the nation’s top public research institutions, fueled by growth in faculty excellence, research innovation, and cross-sector partnerships.
Application review will begin November 12, 2025.
Who We’re Looking For
Successful candidates should demonstrate a robust research agenda and the ability to teach courses in the Master’s of Regional and City Planning degree program (MRCP) (http://rcpl.ou.edu) with the potential to contribute to other allied programs. Candidates should have a specialty in urban design, physical planning, extreme weather/hazards planning, and/or real estate development and be able to teach courses in GIS and/or visualization applications. The position offers the following notable opportunities:
• Work with inspired leadership and nationally recognized faculty committed to creative and innovative approaches to planning education,
• Develop teaching and research collaborations across the College that include nationally recognized architecture, construction, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design disciplines, and
• Contribute to the College’s interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Planning, Design, and Construction degree.
What We Offer
The Regional and City Planning program and Gibbs College provide robust faculty support through:
• Mentorship programs
• Research and travel funds
• Teaching and research assistants, supported by the Gibbs Endowment and other resources
About the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design, and the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture
The Regional and City Planning program at the University of Oklahoma was founded in 1947 and is one of the oldest planning programs in the United States. The program offers a PAB-accredited Master of Regional and City Planning Degree. For more information, please see http://rcpl.ou.edu. The Regional and City Planning program is administratively housed in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design (PLAD), which includes graduate degree programs in landscape architecture and urban design and an undergraduate degree in environmental design.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture brings together more than 1,100 students across seven disciplines: Architecture, Construction Science, Environmental Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Regional and City Planning, and Urban Design. The College serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration and public impact, hosting the national Placemaking Conference and supporting community partnerships across Oklahoma. Learn more at architecture.ou.edu.
About the University of Oklahoma and Norman
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Carnegie R1 Institution with $416.6 million in annual research expenditures and more than 34,000 students across three campuses in Norman, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. OU is advancing an ambitious vision to shape the future through discovery, creativity, and innovation, as outlined in the Lead On, University Strategic Plan at ou.edu/leadon/strategic-plan.
Norman offers the atmosphere of a vibrant college town within the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The region combines affordability with cultural vitality, strong K–12 schools, and nationally recognized works of architecture and landscape architecture. Home to the 2025 NBA champions and a host site for events during the 2028 Olympics, Oklahoma City reflects a growing international profile. Oklahoma’s 39 Native Nations shape a context where faculty and students engage in collaborative work that links design/construction to place, culture, and community.
Visit ou.edu/facultyrecruitment for more information about what OU and the local communities have to offer.
Required Qualifications
• A doctorate in urban and regional planning or an equivalent degree in a related field (e.g. landscape architecture, architecture, geography)
• Demonstrated ability to teach within the professional curriculum of the Master’s of Regional and City Planning degree program (MRCP) evidenced by syllabi and evaluations of teaching either as a teaching assistant or instructor of record
• Demonstrated ability to develop high quality research agenda evidenced by peer reviewed publications and/or funded research
Salary
Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Application Instructions
Interest candidates should submit the following materials via Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/176112
• a cover letter
• a 2-page research plan that outlines the candidate’s research agenda
• a 2-page teaching portfolio that outlines the candidate’s teaching interests
• academic CV
• contact information of three references
Please submit questions to:
Charlie Warnken cwarnken@ou.edu |
