JOB DESCRIPTION

Urban Planning

Assistant Professor of Urban Planning

Ball State University

The Department of Urban Planning in the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning is hiring a tenure track Assistant Professor of Urban Planning, starting August of 2027.

We are seeking a teacher-scholar committed to the advancement of research, education, the discipline and practice of urban planning, and service to the university and community.

Destination 2040: Our Flight Path establishes Ball State University’s ambitious goals for our second century:

• We pledge to provide a premier educational experience for every student.
• We pledge to partner with the community to improve the lives of our neighbors.
• We are dedicated to having a lifelong presence in the lives of our alumni.

And when we complement these promises with our commitment to our enduring values, we define that which makes our University and its culture distinctive.

Our faculty are collegial, collaborative, innovative, inclusive, and adaptive, both within and beyond one’s home unit. These attributes include commitments to collaborative discourse, interdisciplinary inquiry, and enterprising learning practices.

Our faculty are expected to be innovative, adaptive, engaging teachers across modalities; producers of impactful creative and/or scholarly work; leaders in meaningful service activities to multiple communities. We seek faculty members who are strategic thinkers, engaging our dynamic communities. We are committed to student and faculty success, impact, and access, within an environment that prioritizes inclusive excellence. We inspire each other to be critical thinkers and responsible citizens, so that we can pursue fulfilling careers and meaningful lives.

Ball State University lives the values of Beneficence. We invite you to be part of our community.

At Ball State University, inclusiveness and freedom of expression are a part of our enduring values and inform all of our efforts. We encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with our Inclusive Excellence Plan to learn more about our commitment and to identify how you might contribute to these efforts.

Position Function: Core areas of teaching and research specialization may include but are not limited to economic development topics (workforce development, firm retention and attraction) and community development (community development corporations, organizing, neighborhood-based revitalization).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The production of scholarly contributions adequate for advancing a significant research agenda in the fields of community development or economic development.
• Teaching core undergraduate and graduate lectures, seminars, and studios on either community development planning, or economic development planning as well as electives in areas of faculty specialty.
• Service to the community, university, college and department.

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in Urban Planning or an allied field. ABD will be considered provided all degree requirements are met by date of appointment.
• Demonstrated research and teaching focus in community-economic development as evidenced by statements of research and teaching. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of excellence teaching lecture, seminar and studio courses at the undergraduate and master's levels.
• Strong research and scholarly agenda that is commensurate with requirements for tenure. 
• Research or teaching interest in planning in small cities, and/ or legacy cities. 
• Interest in teaching in the ECAP interdisciplinary design-focused first-year undergraduate program. 
• AICP certification.

Employer will consider sponsorship.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 12/4/2026. at 12:01 a.m.

(Applications will continue to be accepted after the full consideration date, until a sufficient applicant pool has been achieved or the position is filled. The closing date is subject to change without notice to applicants.)

Apply online at BSU Careers. Include the following documents with your application: Curriculum Vitae and in support of your application for this position, please prepare and submit a cover letter that describes how your qualifications and experiences align with the elements of the position description (or leadership profile). In your cover letter, please also describe how you have demonstrated a commitment to our University’s enduring values, including inclusiveness, which we define as a commitment ‘to respect and embrace equity, inclusion, and diversity in people, ideas, and opinions.’

The option to upload transcripts is available. Original, official transcripts showing the highest related degree earner is required at the time of hire (even if obtained at BSU). Degree verification will be conducted.

Ball State is a great place to work! In fact, Forbes has ranked Ball State University as the fourth-best midsized employer—and the only recognized education institution—in the State of Indiana

Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana, on an attractive campus 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Approximately 20,000 graduate and undergraduate students enroll in one of eight academic colleges that offer 270+ undergraduate and graduate programs. Many of our master’s, doctoral, certificate, and specialist degrees rank among the best in the nation. We engage students in educational, research, and creative endeavors that empower our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives enriched by lifelong learning and service, while we enhance the economic, environmental, and social vitality of our community, our state, and our world.

The Ball State way is rooted in the Beneficence Pledge – a commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarship, honesty and integrity, social responsibility, gratitude and valuing the intrinsic worth of each member of our community. Ball State students, faculty and staff are empowered in a culture that believes in them and demands they believe in themselves. They are partners in an innovative, immersive approach to education. They are supported by living and learning facilities that enable intellectual curiosity. We graduate scholars who are changing the world, and we’ve dedicated our University to do the same.

Ball State University is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, genetic information, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, protected veteran status, or any legally protected status.