Affiliate Instructor | URBDP 405/505: Urban Form

Position Overview

School / Campus / College: College of Built Environments

Organization: Urban Design & Planning

Title: Affiliate Instructor | URBDP 405/505: Urban Form

Position Details

Position Description

Position Description

The Department of Urban Design & Planning at the University of Washington, Seattle, is seeking an Affiliate Instructor to teach URBDP 405/505 Urban Form. URDP 505 is a 3 credit, core course in the Department’s Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program and is required for all first year MUP students. The course also counts toward the graduate-level Urban Design Certificate. There is also an undergraduate section (URDP 405) integrated with URDP 505 that primarily serves students in the Urban Planning Minor and the Community, Environment and Planning (CEP) major. The total enrollment of both sections combined is around 55 students. The term of employment is Autumn Quarter, Sept 16, 2021- Dec 15, 2021.

The Affiliate Instructor will serve as the primary instructor for this course and is responsible for shaping the course content; developing and delivering lecturers and/or other instructional activities; assessing student work and assigning grades; responding to student requests and concerns; and performing other duties normally associated with an instructional role of this nature. It is expected that the instructor will also hold office hours outside of the regularly scheduled class time. As per University policy, this position will include non-voting faculty status in the Department. This course will be supported by a full time teaching assistant (20 hrs/week) who can assist with course development, website support, grading, and limited classroom instruction.

Course Overview

This courses introduces students to the concept of urban form as a fundamental element of urban planning and design. Urban form derives from land patterning, land uses, buildings and open spaces. Its shaping is influenced by landform, natural features, population demographics (employment, housing, transportation, land values) and cultural as well as lifestyle preferences. All these are essential for design and planning professionals to understand, as their work expects them to shape new urban areas or reimagine existing ones to fit contemporary needs. In addition, urban design and planning professionals must also develop an understanding of common building practices and the roles of different actors (municipalities, builders, land owners, developers, bankers, policy makers, politicians and others) in city building. They must also be familiar with the products of their actions and how they collectively shape spaces at different times and locations within the city. In short, urban designers and planners need to know what social, economic, and institutional forces shape the city, and how these forces eventually manifest themselves in the physical city. The class will familiarize students with the elements that structure urban form and the principles that shape their development and contribute to the urbanization process. City building is an iterative process that unfolds both gradually and abruptly so creation of the urban form is an on-going process.

The course reviews common land patterning practices and typical building forms from different times and places. The course also studies the impact of natural settings and the relationship between built and unbuilt parts of the city, using examples worldwide but with a special focus on the Puget Sound Region and the city of Seattle particularly, where students locate their assignments and projects.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree or above in urban planning or a discipline related to the subject matter
• Advanced knowledge of urban form; its history and evolution and elements
• Demonstrated ability as an instructor or facilitator

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion as outlined in the departmental diversity plan UDP Diversity Plan
• Experience working with professional planners or in a planning-related context
• Experience teaching at the graduate or undergraduate level
• Ability to communicate effectively within multiple cultural environments
• Knowledge of University student support and academic services
• Knowledge of UW policies and procedures

The Department especially encourages people of color and others who are under-represented in the urban planning or historical preservation fields to apply.

Instructions

Application Instructions

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but preference will be given to applications received by May 31. Applicants should submit the following:

• Cover letter describing their knowledge of the field and teaching experience
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of teaching philosophy, including how issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion are incorporated
• Sample of representative teaching materials, if available
• Three letters of recommendation ( if needed)

Questions pertaining to the application process, position, or disability accommodations can be addressed to Larissa Maziak la0@uw.edu

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All
qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed,
religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information,
gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.