Well, I'd say as a general disposition if you are worried about sharing ideas then you probably don't want to be involved in teaching, because that's what we do. We share ideas in as public as a manner as possible, so that good, rich, complex, and subtle ideas have a chance to see the light of day. We do it in the lecture hall, and in journals, and from time to time, in books.

More pragmatically however, It's possible, of course, that the head in question is going to take an idea you share, one that he thinks you couldn't deliver on, and pass it to one of his peers. It could even be to some friend of his who lacks in pedagogical imagination. But even if that's what the head looking to do, you should give it a shot -- because if it turns out well enough, he's likely to remember at some later date and give you a shot at some other idea.

If your proposal involves running a design/build studio where the students redesign and remodel your house, that idea is already taken, it's mine, I thought of it first, you can't have it.

Anyways, the way I see it, it's as if I didn't want to show my professor my final building design because they might steal my concept for themselves. Odds are if they like a proposal, and they want it taught in their school, they're going to pick the person who planned it, as opposed to taking the idea and giving it to someone else. Any school that can't think of their own good program ideas, well, would you really want to work there anyway?

not a general disposition, just a hesitance when discussing ideas with someone I never met halfway across the country who doesn't owe me anything....in that sense, I think its safe to be concerned as to how much to give away and how much to hold back....like with a potential client

milwaukee once I have a house, I'm starting that studio!

you are not only being too protective you are being paranoid. send the stuff out there and if it turns out it is all picked up and used then so what? when you do the same studio in a different university will it really be a bad thing? if it is ridiculously original no one but you will be able to pull it off, and if its just clever then probably it isn't going to be something you can copyright or anything (teaching is about students not the syllabus). so what's the fear for?


it is an odd idea that a dept head of architecture school is going to be interested in stealing your ideas to begin with. unless you are talking about a seriously low-class operation it is unlikely.


not sharing is maybe more a signal of your miserly disability to trust colleagues and points to you being in the business for yourself and no one else. all things otherwise being equal why would a dept head want to bring you on board? sounds like you are more trouble than you are worth. unless you are rem koolhaas. in which case go ahead and be flaky. totally cool.

There are sooooo many possible courses that could be taught, but are not because of limited resource. Most professors have a dozen ideas of courses that they want to teach, but don't have time to do so. A department chair will not be fishing for a half-baked 'proposals' to rip off to pass along, but is looking for a passionate expert with a hook that will captivate the students into learning something new. So what do you have to loose?

Why on earth would somebody else want to "steal" and execute YOUR idea for a studio? I can't imagine that would lead to a profitable experience for either the new professor or the poor students. The point is that you pick a subject you are passionate about and educated about. If this is your thing, you're into it and you're knowledgeable about it, how could anyone else co-opt it? And why would a dept. head want that? Somebody else is not going to be passionate and knowledgeable about your idea. Why would you want a teacher teaching something they aren't into, because you thought it was a good idea when someone ELSE had it...? In arch. studios the curriculum is more closely linked with the actual professor's interests and motivation. You couldn't just take "an idea" , sever it from the thinker who had it, and expect a different person to pick up the mantle and teach it well. That would be absurd, and I can't imagine any dept. head wanting to do that.

And if for some reason you don't get hired, find out why and fix that aspect of your approach. Be humble - if you haven't taught before, you have a lot to learn... you can have the greatest course idea in the world and if you don't know how to teach it well, it will be a waste of everyone's time. Don't assume that this one curriculum idea is all you need to make a successful studio. The department heads interviewing you will be looking for more than just an idea.

Your feelings as expressed in the original post alone make me wonder whether you are truly teaching material. To teach you have to give, give, give. I fully agree with jump above. Think again if you want to teach and this is your attitude.

Some people need to get a grip.

I was just asking a question to better understand the protocols and politics of proposing courses in academia,not to say I have the greatest idea in the world that must be copyrighted, but I was doing what many people do on this site, ask more experienced peers for advice and insight.

it was a simple question, a simple answer would be, no, you're being crazy, just propose the course ideas, that's a normal thing to do. If you'd rather use this site to be obnoxious and condescending, then you've served your purpose.

thanks anyway

I started this post because a friend who's been in academia for years warned me not to just send it, as I was planning.

And honestly, confusing ability to teach students and skepticism of politics in academia betrays more of your inability to understand a simple question than my desire to teach.