Assistant Professor of Animation - Department of Art and Design #25-38

Tenure-Track Faculty Position Announcement

Department: Art & Design

Faculty Hire Number: #25-38

Rank: Assistant Professor

Effective Date of Appointment: August 20, 2025 (Subject to Budgetary Approval)

Salary Scale: $88,000 to $93,000 (Dependent upon qualifications)

CSUN’s Commitment to You:

CSUN is committed to achieving excellence through teaching, scholarship, learning and inclusion. Our values include a respect for all people, building partnerships with the community and the encouragement of innovation, experimentation, and creativity. CSUN strives to cultivate a community in which a diverse population can learn and work in an atmosphere of civility and respect. CSUN is especially interested in candidates who make contributions to equity and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence for all members of the university community.

As a Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI), inclusiveness and diversity are integral to CSUN’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and engagement. As of Fall 2024, CSUN enrolls 36,848 students, where 56.3% are Latinx, 18.9% are White, 8.7% are Asian-American, 5.3% are Black/African American, 0.1% are Native American, and 0.1% are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

For more information about the University, visit: http://www.csun.edu

About the College:

For more information about the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication, see: www.csun.edu/amc  

About the Department:

For more information about the Department of Art and Design, see: www.csun.edu/art

Position:

The Department of Art & Design at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is seeking a tenure track faculty member in the Animation and Game Area at the rank of Assistant Professor.  

The successful candidate will teach beginning and advanced undergraduate Animation and Game Design courses with the ability to integrate animation techniques with emerging technologies and platforms. The successful candidate will stay current with new technology, continue to cultivate professional expertise, and maintain an active creative practice. We seek a candidate with a proven track record of creating work and/or participating in programs that foster and advance equity, inclusion, and representation relevant to our diverse student population. The candidate should show evidence of strong 3D software skills and experience using programs including Maya, Unreal, and/or Unity.

In addition to teaching, the position requires weekly office hours, attending faculty meetings, assessment of student learning, service to the department, college, and university, and developing the animation program through curriculum development and outreach.  The successful candidate may be required to teach on weekdays, evenings, weekends, and/or online and will be held to the standards and requirements of the college and department in which he/she/they is/are housed for recommending tenure and promotion. 

Given CSUN’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and engagement in a diverse environment, the successful candidate will help the Department achieve equitable academic outcomes for all students through teaching, student mentorship, scholarship, and service. 

Required Qualifications:   

• An MFA degree in Art with a concentration in animation, game design, or a related field from an accredited institution, foreign equivalency, or post-baccalaureate experience, training, and expertise at least equivalent to those required for the Master of Fine Arts degree.
• College, University, or advanced industry-focused teaching experience (in person, online, or both).
• Professional experience in the field with a record of creative achievement as a 3D generalist, animator, or technical artist.
• Proficiency with 3D Animation and Game software such as Autodesk Maya, Unreal, or Unity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to demonstrate fundamental animation principles using emerging technologies.
• Ability to teach a variety of undergraduate beginning and advanced Animation and Game Design courses.
• Teaching or Professional experience that includes working with a diverse student body or leading groups of people from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience creating a student-centered learning environment, such as community engagement, inclusive professional development, active learning strategies, curriculum design, etc.
• Experience part