Assistant Professor of Instruction, Music Theory

The School of Music, at the University of South Florida, is searching for a creative and collaborative music theorist who has an established record as an instructor at the University level. The successful candidate, in line with the expectations of an R1 AAU institution, will work toward the rank of Professor of Instruction, which entails maintaining an active record of high- impact teaching and service.

The non-tenure earning, Assistant Professor of Instruction in Music Theory, is a 9-month, full- time position, which contributes to the teaching and service missions of the University of South Florida. Anticipated start date is August 2026, or earlier depending on the availability of the successful candidate and the needs of the school. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

As the creative center of the University of South Florida, the College of Design, Art & Performance provides an enriched, creative, and professional environment for tomorrow’s leaders in architecture, design, art, art history, dance, music, and theatre. The college is home to the university’s arts district, Contemporary Art Museum, Graphicstudio and the Florida Center for Community Design.  The college embraces opportunities to embed new and existing arts programming in the rapidly growing regional communities and serves as an integral engine for socioeconomic progress through its research, advocacy, and engagement. 

Duties: The successful candidate will teach a wide range of music theory courses to both undergraduate and graduate students. As appropriate, the successful candidate will also offer course work for music composition students as well as courses of general interest for University students. They will also liaise with faculty from other areas in the School of Music, across the University, and with entities in the community, and they will engage in the School of Music, College of Design, Art and Performance, and the University of South Florida as they contribute to committees, meetings, and recruitment activities.

Application: Interested and qualified candidates must search for Job Opening ID#42054 and complete the University’s online application at www.usf.edu/work-at-usf. IMPORTANT - The following items must be uploaded in one attachment; 

1) a cover letter addressing how your strengths correspond with minimum and preferred qualifications, and duties and 

2) a curriculum vitae.

Minimum Qualifications: Terminal degree (PhD, DMA, DM, etc.) in music theory or music composition. An established record teaching written music theory and all levels of aural skills courses for undergraduate students.

Preferred Qualifications: Demonstrated experience as a composer of new works and as an instructor for music composition students. Demonstrated experience teaching a wide range of theory related courses at the University level, including 18th Century Practice, Orchestration, and Music Theory Pedagogy. Demonstrated experience designing and teaching general interest courses to a wide range of University students, especially as online offerings.

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF 

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at