Assistant Professor of Communication Studies - Mass Communication and Media Production (25/26)

Communication Studies Department 

The Communication Studies Department in the College of Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, is seeking applications for a full-time, academic-year, tenure-track Assistant Professor to begin September 11, 2025. Area of Specialization (AOS): Mass Communication and Media Production. Areas of Concentration (AOC): strategic and/or crisis communication; legacy media; new media, including social media and AI; narratives and storytelling; or social movements and advocacy.      

We are seeking applicants with an earned or nearly complete doctorate in Communication Studies, Media Studies, or a closely related field. Preference is for quantitative methodologies. The ideal candidate will have a combination of university-level teaching experience and research potential.  

Primary teaching duties would include courses in Media Studies and Media Effects. Additional teaching responsibilities may include classes in Communication Theory, Quantitative Research Methods, Technology and Human Communication, and Public Speaking. The successful candidate will also be expected to develop at least one course related to media production that aligns with the department’s current curriculum as well as the candidate’s expertise. Non-instructional duties include engaging in productive research and scholarship, service, and academic advising and mentorship of undergraduate students.  

Interested applicants should complete the online faculty application at http://jobs.calpoly.edu/ and submit it to Requisition #542374. Review Begin Date: 11-8-2024  

Salary

Anticipated Hiring Range: $90,276 - $98,244/year, $7,523 - $8,187/month   

(Note that hiring level will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.)  

Although Cal Poly is primarily a teaching university, our faculty are expected to balance teaching with an active program of research/professional development (including publication), student supervision and advising, and participation in service activities at the department and college/university level. The typical teaching load is 12 units (three courses) per quarter, with a reduction in course load in each of the first two years to help new faculty establish an active program of research and professional development. Cal Poly strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), especially in the classroom and among its areas of study.   

The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) sees diversity as central to its mission and is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment within the college and university. We value our diversity of complex and intersecting identities, while striving to maintain an environment that is socially just, equitable, respectful, and inclusive. The successful applicant should be able to clearly demonstrate how they have infused these values and student learning objectives into their work. They should be prepared to present clear examples of how they would infuse these areas into their work as a faculty member.  

At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees, and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences, and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility. Cal Poly's commitment to DEI informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring, and retention. California Polytechnic