Visiting Teaching Assistant Professor, Media Production

As the University’s largest and most varied academic unit, the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is comprised of artists, learners, performers, scholars, scientists, and teachers across 21+ departments, programs, schools, and centers and acts as a central hub where many of the University's disciplines intersect. Nearly all 5,000 undergraduates at the University take liberal arts courses with us, and about one-third of these students declare a first major in a CAHSS program. Most of our departments, programs and schools offer master's or doctoral programs. CAHSS scholars, artists, instructors, staff, and students collaborate in a shared quest for knowledge about the human condition and the development of skills to improve our local and global communities. The diverse scope of CAHSS allows our students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed at nearly any career in today’s global society. 

The Department of Media, Film and Journalism Studies (MFJS) in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Denver offers students a robust understanding of the role of the media in contemporary society.  With its emphasis on developing strong communication skills across various platforms and its grounding in the critical evaluation of media practices, the department’s offerings prepare students for the pursuit of excellence in the constantly evolving media, film, strategic communication, and journalism professions.  The Department offers undergraduates degrees in film studies and production, journalism studies, media studies, and strategic communication (public relations).  At the graduate level, the Department offers a Master of Arts in media and public communication (strategic communication or media and globalization emphasis) and a Master of Arts in international and intercultural communication.

Position Summary

The Department of Media, Film and Journalism Studies invites applications for a one-year Visiting Teaching Assistant Professor in Media Studies and Production for the 2025-2026 academic year beginning in September 2025 with an opportunity for renewal.  Eligible candidates will have received a Ph.D. or MFA OR have an M.A./M.S. and significant professional experience (five to ten years) or at least five years of teaching experience at the collegiate level. The successful candidate will teach eight in-person courses over three quarters during the 2025-2026 academic year. A one course release is possible during the fall 2025 quarter to prepare courses for the remainder of the year. The candidate will teach courses in the department’s four majors and in the university’s common curriculum, including introduction and advanced journalism courses, audio documentaries, sports communication, strategic communication, and other courses as assigned.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Essential Functions

• Teach 8 in-person courses over three quarters, with a 1 course release possible for course preparation.
• Meet outside of class in weekly office hours to provide guidance and assistant to students enrolled in courses taught.
• Assign and grade coursework as appropriate.
• Deploy best practices for classroom technology through the University of Denver’s learning management platform, Canvas.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to teach in-person/face-to-face undergraduate class(es)
• Ability to teach 8 courses over 3 quarters each year.
• Demonstrated record of successful teaching at the collegiate level
• Demonstrated commitment to working with diverse student and community populations.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. or MFA in Mass Communication or related discipline OR M.A./M.S. in Mass Communication or related disciplines and five or more years of professional experience in film and video production OR five or more years of teaching experience at the collegiate level. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience teaching in a media studies/mass communication/communication department of a university.
• At least five years prior experience media production courses and introductory communication courses.
• Demonstrated expertise in intersectional approaches to media and soci