The Landscape Architecture (LA) Department in the College of Architecture & Environmental Design at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, is seeking applicants for a full-time lecturer position beginning August 17, 2026. The position requires a commitment for one academic year of full-time teaching. Salary and teaching assignments will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The Department seeks candidates who share our commitment to teaching excellence within a comprehensive landscape architecture curriculum and who are grounded in professional experience.
Required qualifications:
1. A master’s or doctoral degree in landscape architecture or a related and complementary field. Where the master’s or doctoral degree is in a related or complementary field, the candidate shall have an undergraduate or master’s degree in landscape architecture and shall have evidence of experience in landscape architecture practice and/or teaching.
2. Evidence of potential for excellence in university-level teaching.
3. Evidence of potential for ongoing professional development that will keep the faculty member current with the profession of landscape architecture.
4. Demonstrable commitment to universal student success.
Preferred Qualifications:
1. Three years or more of professional experience relevant to the teaching areas for which the candidate is applying.
2. Landscape Architecture License or demonstrated progress in the licensure process.
Primary responsibilities will be to teach in one or more of the following core subject areas:
- Lower division design fundamental studios and upper division topic studies
- Introductory graphics (hand drawing and drafting), digital graphics (2D and 3D), GIS and/or AutoCAD
- Site engineering, construction documentation, materials and/or implementation strategies for introductory and/or upper division courses
- Lecture courses in landscape architecture history, cultural landscape, professional practice and/or landscape ecology
- Activity courses in resilience, social equity, climate change, planting design, and/or implementation
A full-time teaching assignment may include design studios, activity courses, and/or lecture courses, including large lecture format, for beginning and/or upper division courses.
Rank and salary for lecturer faculty are based on professional experience and educational background and are determined by the hiring department. As of July 2024, the classification salary ranges for the respective ranks are:
Lecturer A: $5,507-$6,677
Lecturer B: $6,221-$13,224
Lecturer C: $6,825-$14,523
Lecturer D: $8,593-$15,211
Anticipated hiring range: $77,604 - $79,008 per year
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.
Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.
For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.
In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. It is also expected that faculty establish an on-campus presence to fulfill their responsibilities.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The Landscape Architecture Department at Cal Poly provides the highest quality educational experience for its students. We recognize that the profession of Landscape Architecture is changing and calling on professionals to play a more active leadership role in designing and managing numerous aspects of our environment. Our five-year first professional Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) and recognized by the Landscape Architects Technical Committee of the California Board of Architectural Examiners. With a learning-centered educational approach, Cal Poly students develop the professional skills and knowledge needed to make valuable contributions to a changing global society. Through the faculty’s commitment to excellence in teaching and the core values of the profession, students develop an appreciation for life-long learning and an interdisciplinary approach to landscape architectural design.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1901, Cal Poly is one of only five comprehensive polytechnic universities in the nation. It has approximately 21,000 undergraduate, 800 post-baccalaureate/graduate students. U.S. News and World Report has ranked Cal Poly #1 among public master's universities in the western United States for 26 consecutive years. A primarily undergraduate university, Cal Poly offers academically focused students 65 baccalaureate degrees and 39 master's degrees. Operating on the quarter calendar system, Cal Poly takes pride in its "Learn by Doing" approach to teaching and learning, which has characterized Cal Poly since its founding. One of the 23 campuses of the California State University system, Cal Poly has a statewide mandate as a polytechnic university. Situated on 1,321 acres, 155 of which make up the campus core, Cal Poly is one of the largest land-holding universities in the nation and uses all of its land holdings in active support of its educational programs.
Cal Poly is located in historic San Luis Obispo, a city of 47,500, just twelve miles from the Pacific Ocean and midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on California's scenic Central Coast. With excellent public education resources, recreational facilities and an expanding dedication to the arts, the area is known for its scenic landscapes, extraordinary temperate climate, and an abundance of outdoor activities.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.
Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, and is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates must attach
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae.
- Unofficial transcripts at the time of application (official transcripts are required for appointment).
- Statement of teaching philosophy including approaches to teaching studio and lecture courses, and to incorporating knowledge and/or practices relevant to design for equitable and inclusive environments into the classroom.
- List of any courses previously taught and/or courses requesting consideration to teach.
- Course evaluation results (required for applicants who have taught previously).
- A portfolio with examples of teaching and/or professional practice projects (15 pages and 30MB file size limit).
- Universal student success statement. Cal Poly is a public, student-centered university that serves the diverse constituents of the state of California and has a strong emphasis on the teacher-scholar model. Please detail your approach to teaching and learning at the collegiate level, including evidence of experience with inclusive, accessible, and intentional teaching, to a wide variety of students and a description of how you will continue to develop this expertise at Cal Poly. Service or scholarship related to skills developed in these areas might also be included here. Please consider using the following questions to prepare the statement:
a. What pedagogical practices would you use to foster an inclusive learning environment for our student population? Activities may include curriculum, pedagogy, or climate, and teaching that occurs outside the classroom setting.
b. How have your experiences prepared you to advance our institution’s commitment to universal student success?
c. What are some of the ways you strive to make students from all backgrounds feel included through your teaching and mentoring?
Please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the online faculty application. References will not be contacted without the prior knowledge and approval of the candidate.
Review of applications will begin January 30, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.
Cal Poly’s ability to sponsor employment-based visas will depend on institutional priorities, budget availability, and current federal regulations. Cal Poly does not commit to providing visa sponsorship for this position, and applicants should not expect that such sponsorship will be offered.