Instructors (Part-Time), Professional and Continuing Education – Certificate in Photography

UW Continuum College expands the reach of the University of Washington by delivering educational programs that meet the needs of learners at all phases of their lives. Were focused on removing obstacles to relevant educational opportunities by addressing geographic financial length of commitment and time constraints increasing access to knowledge for more people. By looking ahead and experimenting with new approaches were creating new educational opportunities to help people thrive in a world of change.

UW Continuum College (UWC2) has an outstanding opportunity for 1-2 part-time instructors in the Professional & Continuing Education (PCE) Certificate in Photography program. Applicants will be considered for two courses occurring July 2026 through early December 2026 across summer and autumn quarters. For these courses the instructor teaches advanced photography skills with a focus on conceptual and creative development technical skills digital workflow marketing photography in the current industry climate and the production of cohesive multi-image personal projects.

We are hiring an instructor to teach the second and third courses in the Photography certificate program for a newly offered spring start section of the program. The program curriculum content is already developed and will mirror what is taught in the autumn start section of the program. The first course for the spring start section is filled. Although for continuity we would prefer to hire someone who could teach in summer and autumn quarters we will consider applicants who may only want to teach one of the courses.

Instructors serve a key role in certificate programs engaging with students serving as subject matter experts presenting learning content and assessing whether learners have achieved course competencies. PCE students consistently say that the instructor is the single most important element of their course.

The pay range for these instructor positions is $2000 - $2500 per CEU* per course commensurate with experience and qualifications. *Continuing Education Credits (CEU) information for individual courses may be found on our website. Each course in the Photography certificate program is 3 CEUs.

Professional and Continuing Education Instructors...

• Teach to a set curriculum plan with clear learning outcomes and competencies
• Customize course content and lesson slides while aligning with learning objectives set for the course they are scheduled to teach; Instructors are encouraged to personalize the curriculum to their teaching style and experience
• Prepare a course syllabus in advance of the course start date (will mirror syllabi from autumn start section of program)
• Ensure that lesson plans and presentation materials for the full course are relevant and current
• Teach all class sessions at the scheduled time
• Respond to student inquiries and provide feedback on student assignments in a timely manner
• Coordinate with other instructors and instructional assistants in the certificate program to ensure curriculum continuity across courses and sections
• Adapt instructional techniques based on feedback from students and the Program Manager and implement sound pedagogical practices
• Complete instructor onboarding relevant learning technology training and other training as required
• Observe FERPA HIPAA and other privacy laws and policies.
• Participate in 1-2 instructor meetings and information sessions per year outside of instructor onboarding and training

Core Responsibilities specific to the Photography Instructor position(s) also include:

• Research and write new assignments
• Coach students through creative blocks idea development portfolio refinement and photo project execution
• Lead instruction in composition lighting camera technique and visual storytelling
• Provide honest constructive critique of student work
• Source interview and coordinate professional photographers as guest speakers who will provide insight on their photography craft career and creative philosophy
• Resource and train individuals for instructional assistant roles as needed

PCE courses are generally 10 weeks in duration and align with the UW academic quarter calendar. The Photography certificate program is delivered entirely online using Zoom. Classes meet in the evenings 6-9pm PST once per week. Information on the PCE Photography certificate program may be found at

UWC2 Extension Lecturers / Instructors are Academic Staff not faculty. These are part-time temporary positions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum five years of professional experience relevant to the course topics
• Proven experience completing personal or commercial photographic projects
• Prior teaching or mentoring experience in Photography particularly with adult learners including conducting portfolio reviews and providing feedback
• Experience coaching students through uncertainty risk-taking and artistic growth
• Excellent interpersonal oral and written communication skills
• Ability and desire to successfully work with individuals from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Willingness to teach with minimal supervision while maintaining high standards of professionalism punctuality and content relevance for adult students from different backgrounds
• Legal authorization to work and receive compensation in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship

REQUIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Strong command of photographic fundamentals and lighting both natural and artificial
• Working knowledge of formal color theory and its application to photography and post-processing
• High proficiency with modern camera systems; menus settings connectivity and lighting integration
• Solid knowledge of macOS and proficiency in Adobe Lightroom Classic Photoshop Firefly Acrobat and Keynote (or PowerPoint/Google Slides)
• Strong digital file organization abilities and competency with robust backup strategies (Cloud Services Time Machine off-site storage)
• Experience with color profiles monitor calibration and use of grey cards for white balance in on-location or studio photography
• Comfortable using AI tools for research and instructional support
• Experience using social media to market photography

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior experience teaching/presenting Photography in an online environment
• Familiarity with leading photography podcasts and YouTube channels
• Strong understanding of current photography business realities industry evolution and organizations that support professional growth and online learning (e.g. Phlearn Adobe ASMP PPA NANPA etc.)