Part-time lecturer in Urban Studies

Description

Position Description:

 

NYU London is currently recruiting for a part-time lecturer to teach an Urban Studies course called "The City," sponsored by the College of Arts & Science at New York University. Teaching commences in the Spring term (Jan-May 2026). 

Course Description:

 

This course provides a broad, multidisciplinary introduction to the field of urban studies. The modern capitalist city is by its very nature a complex, multifaceted and politically contested social space. The study of the city cannot be confined to a single discipline. To examine the multiple contours and  contradictions of modern urban life we will read works by a wide range of  writers, including sociologists, geographers, historians, anthropologists,  political scientists, economists, planners, and architects. To understand  urban life is by necessity intersectional. We will consider questions of class,  race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion. We will examine politics,  policies, and social movements, as they shape the form of cities, give  meaning to places, and reshape communities and cultures. 

Over the semester, students will explore the historical geography of capitalist urbanization since the first industrial revolution through the present day. Among the major topics covered in this course are: the racialization of space; the spatialization of gender and sexuality; the history
of suburbanization and urban economic restructuring; the creation and maintenance of inequalities; the processes of globalization, gentrification, immigration and empire, informality, the environmental impact of urbanization, and urban governance.

 

Upon completion of this course, students will:

• have learned various methodological approaches within the social sciences to investigate the urban experience
• students will evaluate processes of migration, globalization, and development of diverse political economies
• developed their understanding of urban theories through a critical reading of a range of key thinkers and ideas
• gained an understanding of the main urban developments shaping the contemporary world

Expectation of Hours:

This is a 4-credit class, which calls for total contact hours equaling about 35 hours. The semester is 15 weeks (14 weeks of teaching plus an exam week) and there are 2.5 hours of classroom instruction each week. In addition to the time required for course preparation, classroom instruction, and marking, the instructor is required to hold a minimum of one set 60-minute “office hour” at NYU London per week, during which time they will be available to meet with students.

Teaching information: 

Instructors are encouraged to use a variety of pedagogical techniques. This typically includes a combination of lecture- and discussion-based class sessions, as well as the use of student activities, such as debate exercises, flipped classroom environments, and experimental simulations.

 

In addition to exams, instructors may use a variety of assignments to assess student comprehension of the course material. These may include online weekly homework, writing assignments, short student presentations, and in-class multiple-choice quizzes. Instructors may select the mix that is more appropriate to their teaching methodology.

 

Instructors should be prepared to teach in-person and simultaneously to be prepared for remote instruction should circumstances require it. NYU uses Zoom as its primary platform for remote instruction.

About NYU and NYU London:

Founded in 1831, New York University is the largest private university in the United States. The University has degree-granting campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai and operates 14 global academic centers and research programs in more than 25 countries. NYU London is an undergraduate study abroad program of exceptional quality with teaching strengths across the curriculum. Our UK faculty, drawn mainly from local universities, has an excellent record in teaching and research. Classes are held at the NYU London centre at 265 Strand, London, WC2R 1BH. If you would like to learn more about our program please visit NYU London.

Qualifications

We are seeking candidates with a PhD in Urban Studies, Sociology, Geography, City Planning, Anthropology, History, or other closely aligned specialist areas. It is expected that the post-holder will ideally have 2 to 3 years of experience teaching at the university level; experience teaching undergraduates studying at a US university is helpful.

The successful cand