Teaching Assistant Professor in Production for Social Media

The Film and Media Studies Program in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences (DSAS) and the College of General Studies (CGS) at the University of Pittsburgh invite applications for an Assistant Teaching Professor position outside the tenure stream in the Production of Social Media for the academic year 2025-2026, pending budgetary approval. The initial contract runs from August 15, 2025, through May 15, 2027. Note that Fall Term classes start on or after August 25, 2025. The teaching load in the first year is five 3-credit courses per year, and then it is six 3-credit courses per year after that. This is a renewable contract with the opportunity for promotion in the appointment stream. We especially welcome applications from candidates of underrepresented groups, whose backgrounds, experience, and approaches contribute to our aims for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Film and Media Studies Program has an expanding and successful film and media production major that has grown out of the program’s longstanding critical studies major. Over the past five years, the program has seen an over 100% increase in majors and course enrollments. We have strong teaching, mentoring, and filmmaking collaborations with high schools in underserved areas of the city and strong partnerships with a burgeoning local film industry. Our production major offers hands-on professional training in the context of a broad liberal arts education.

This position is a joint hire with the College of General Studies that serves non-traditional students who need the flexibility of asynchronous online education. Approximately four courses per year will be taught for CGS in an asynchronous online delivery mode, while two will be taught in person in Film and Media Production and/or Critical Studies. The colleague must be based in Pittsburgh.

We seek candidates who have a background in production and the study of social media and who have experience in online asynchronous instructional design and delivery. Our new colleague will teach a variety of introductory and advanced courses in social media from a production perspective that teaches filmmaking for the specific formats and affordances of these platforms and from a critical studies perspective that emphasizes theoretical, historical, and cultural aspects of contemporary social media. The new colleague will help design new courses in these areas, including online asynchronous courses that will be developed in conjunction with CGS’s instructional design team.

Minimum requirements:

· Training and experience in best practices for asynchronous online course design and delivery

· MFA or Ph.D. in film and media studies, film and media production, or a related field

· Demonstrable experience working in production for social media

Preferred requirements in addition to the above:

· At least 1 year of teaching filmmaking or critical studies in a post-secondary setting

Apply by uploading a letter of application, a current CV, a diversity statement, evidence of teaching effectiveness if applicable (e.g., student surveys, peer and supervisor reviews, syllabi, and sample lesson plans), links to creative work or a sizzle reel, and the names and email addresses of three references. Candidates who advance to the second round of consideration will be invited to submit a ten-minute teaching demo video.

The diversity statement should address your contributions to diversity through creative work, teaching, service, and/or community engagement. Applicants should share how their past, planned, or potential contributions or experiences relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion will advance the University of Pittsburgh’s commitment to inclusive excellence.

Review of dossiers will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For additional information about the position, contact David Pettersen, Director of the Film and Media Studies Program, at .