Assistant/Associate Professor of Instruction in Musicology

Bienen School of Music; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 68,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Paid leave

Tuition benefits

Pre-tax accounts

Flexible spending accounts

Retirement plan

Wellness programs

Job summary

The Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University invites applications for two full-time faculty appointments in Musicology beginning September 1, 2027. Rank and salary will be commensurate with experience and accomplishment.

These positions are not tenure eligible. Responsibilities include teaching the undergraduate musicology core curriculum and graduate history review, with electives and graduate seminars in the candidates’ areas of expertise.

Qualifications

• PhD in musicology/ethnomusicology required.
• Preference for outstanding pedagogical achievement and complementary scholarly interests.
• Expertise in Western art music after 1800, popular music, jazz, or music technology valued.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate musicology core and graduate history, plus electives and graduate seminars.
• Coordinate nonmajor general music curriculum; advise and supervise PhD/DMA instructors; coordinate summer offerings.
• Teach 5–6 courses per year across 3 academic quarters; collaborate on dissertation committees and curricular development.

Skills

Pedagogical excellence

Collaborative supervision

Education

PhD in musicology/ethnomusicology

Job description

The Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University invites applications for two full-time faculty appointments in Musicology beginning September 1, 2027. Rank and salary will be commensurate with experience and accomplishment. These positions are not tenure eligible.

The Bienen School offers highly selective, conservatory-level training within a top-ranked research university and features a dedicated faculty, unparalleled facilities, and proximity to the vibrant music community of Chicago.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include teaching in the undergraduate musicology core curriculum and graduate history review, along with electives courses and graduate seminars in the candidates’ areas of expertise. These professors will also share the coordination of the school’s nonmajor general music curriculum. This includes pedagogical guidance and support for PhD and DMA student instructors and coordination of summer session course offerings. The teaching load will be 5–6 courses per year split over 3 academic quarters, depending upon administrative responsibilities.

Bienen musicology faculty are expected to work collaboratively with colleagues in supervising undergraduate and graduate research projects, participating on dissertation committees, advising undergraduate students, and implementing creative curricular development. The musicology program is housed within the Department of Music Studies and as such, collaboration extends to the department’s other three programs (Music Composition, Music Education, and Music Theory and Cognition), as well as the Department of Music Performance.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD in musicology/ethnomusicology. Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate outstanding pedagogical achievement and have intellectual interests in topics that complement the strengths of the school’s current faculty. We are especially interested in candidates with expertise in Western art music after 1800, popular music, jazz, and the study of music and technology.

Contract length and Reappointment

Candidates hired at the rank of Assistant Professor of Instruction will be given an initial one-year appointment. Upon completion of successful review, they will receive 3-year appointments with the possibility of renewal depending upon curricular need and budgetary conditions. Candidates hired at the rank of Associate Professor of Instruction will receive a 3-year appointment with the possibility of renewal depending upon curricular need and budgetary conditions. Promotion is possible to ranks of Associate or Full Professor of Instruction.

Salary

The expected base pay based on rank is as follows:

Assistant Professor of Instruction: $67,500-$80,000

Associate Professor of Instruction: $81,000-$92,500

Northwestern University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate; years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Benefits

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Application

Screening begins November 16, 2026, and continues until the positions are filled. Candidates should submit:

• Letter of application
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of teaching philosophy and methods
• Two course syllabi
• Names and contact information for three references.

Apply online at: https://facultyrecruiting.northwestern.edu/apply/MjYxNA== or access the application process via the Bienen School's website at: https://music.northwestern.edu/careers.