Assistant Professor - Joint Appointment in City and Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture

Clemson University; Clemson (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Clemson University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in a joint appointment between City and Regional Planning (CRP) and Landscape Architecture (LA) within the Richard A. McMahan School of Architecture.

The role emphasizes teaching across CRP and LA, developing a robust research program linking planning and landscape architecture, and contributing to community-focused scholarly work in the Upstate of South Carolina.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Architecture, Environmental Design and Planning, Geography, or a related field is required by appointment time.
• Accredited BLA/MLA and/or licensure is preferred.
• Demonstrated potential for teaching excellence in lecture and design studio.
• Strong interdisciplinary communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience integrating city/regional planning and landscape architecture in teaching and research.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in CRP and LA, in both studio and seminar formats.
• Foster interdisciplinary collaboration between CRP and LA through courses, workshops, and research.
• Maintain an active research agenda with publications and external funding.
• Engage in service within the School of Architecture and professional/community outreach.

Skills

Teaching ability

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Communication skills

Education

PhD in City and Regional Planning or related field

Tools

GIS

Job description

Assistant Professor - Joint Appointment in City and Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture

Clemson University: College of Architecture, Art and Construction: School of Architecture

Location: LEE III(001279) BLDG001279 FL01 RM131

Open Date: Oct 21, 2026

Description

Clemson University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in a joint appointment between the City and Regional Planning (CRP) and Landscape Architecture (LA) programs, both housed in the Richard A. McMahan School of Architecture within the College of Architecture, Art and Construction. This position seeks a dynamic scholar and educator with expertise in design (e.g., regional, community, etc.) urban planning, and landscape architecture. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to both academic programs through innovative teaching, research, and service that bridges planning and landscape architecture. Their research agenda should expand and fortify the footprint of the CRP and LA programs in the Upstate of South Carolina and the lower Appalachian region, supporting Clemson's land-grant mission, with an anticipated start date of August 15, 2027.

• Teaching: The preferred candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in both CRP and LA and will be comfortable delivering instruction in both studio and seminar environments. Advising responsibilities include CRP terminal theses, BLA capstone studio projects, and MLA terminal projects. The position also offers opportunities to engage with the Design and Built Environment (DBE) doctoral program, including advising doctoral students pursuing interdisciplinary approaches to urban planning and environmental design.
• Collaboration: The candidate will foster collaboration between the two programs by contributing to the development of interdisciplinary courses, workshops, and research initiatives that address pressing urban and environmental issues.
• Research: The successful candidate will maintain an active research agenda in a relevant field, including but not limited to sustainable urban development, landscape ecology, or climate and urban resilience. They will publish in high-impact journals and secure external funding to support this work.
• Service: The candidate will contribute to the academic life of both programs by participating in the Richard A. McMahan School of Architecture and program meetings, advising students, and engaging in professional service, which may include university committee work and outreach to professional and community organizations.

About the Program, School, College, and University

Clemson's City and Regional Planning (CRP) and Landscape Architecture (LA) programs are based in the Richard A. McMahan School of Architecture on Clemson University's main campus in Clemson, South Carolina. The programs prepare students to address regional design, community development, and environmental planning challenges across the Upstate, the lower Appalachian region, and the I-85 corridor. The School itself, part of the College of Architecture, Art and Construction, offers degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, and City and Regional Planning to more than 500 students, supported by more than 70 faculty and staff, and participates in the College's interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Design and the Built Environment.

In 2025, the School was renamed in recognition of a transformative gift from the late Richard "Dick" McMahan '54, HD '06, and his wife, the late Mary "Dinky" McMahan. The newly formed College of Architecture, Art and Construction's (CAAC) portfolio consists of the School of Architecture, the Department of Art, and the Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development. With its five undergraduate majors and ten graduate programs as well as nine centers and institutes the college aims to prepare over 900 undergraduates and 300 graduate students to transform, enhance and sustain the built environment and to excel in their fields by combining practical knowledge with hands‑on experiential learning.

Supported by the outdoor Experiential Learning Yard and Fluid Campus in Genoa, Italy, Barcelona, Spain, and Charleston, South Carolina, students learn how to translate their education into lifelong success.

Clemson University is a Carnegie R1 research university, a classification reaffirmed in 2025, enrolling more than 29,500 students with an endowment exceeding $1.2 billion and $334 million in research and development expenditures in the most recent fiscal year. U.S. News & World Report ranks Clemson 36th among public universities nationally (2026); Forbes ranks it 33rd nationally among public colleges and first in South Carolina. Founded in 1889 as South Carolina's land grant institution, Clemson is executing Clemson Elevate, a strategic plan built on three goals: delivering the nation's number one student experience, doubling research expenditures by 2035, and transforming lives across South Carolina and beyond.

Key Dates for This Search Cycle

Applications received by December 1, 2026 will receive full consideration. Anticipated start date of August 15, 2027.

Qualifications

A Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Architecture, Environmental Design and Planning, Geography, or a related field is required by the time of appointment. The successful candidate will bring significant experience or expertise in landscape architecture or a related discipline, including an accredited BLA or MLA and/or licensure. Candidates should demonstrate evidence of teaching excellence or a demonstrated potential for teaching effectiveness in both lecture and landscape architecture design studio courses, including a commitment to innovative pedagogy. A robust research agenda that addresses critical urban, environmental, and/or landscape issues is required, with evidence of scholarly work or potential for transformative contributions to the field. Candidates must also demonstrate strong interdisciplinary communication and collaboration skills, and the ability to engage students in both the City and Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture programs.

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in city and regional planning and/or landscape architecture practice, and the ability to integrate these fields into a cohesive teaching and research agenda. Additional value will be placed on knowledge of current trends in sustainability, climate adaptation, urban resilience, landscape ecology, related technologies (i.e., GIS), or artificial intelligence; experience in community-based research, participatory planning, or urban design processes; and an established or emerging record of publications in top‑tier academic journals or significant contributions to the field. Candidates should also bring experience working with different communities and environments and a commitment to fostering a positive learning environment that supports multiple perspectives.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Clemson University is an EEO/AA employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to characteristics protected by applicable law including disability and protected veteran status.