Assistant Professor of Music Theory

University of North Carolina Wilmington; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Music at the University of North Carolina Wilmington invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Music Theory & Composition to begin August 2027. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in music theory, aural skills, and orchestration/arranging, with responsibility for a secondary area of expertise.

They will engage in student mentoring, contribute to curriculum development, and may teach in songwriting or applied composition.

Qualifications

• PhD or DMA in Music Theory or Composition required.
• Demonstrated experience teaching music theory and aural skills at undergraduate level.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in music theory and auralskills.
• Teach undergraduate course in orchestration and arranging.
• Contribute to curriculum based on qualifications and departmental goals.
• Engage in student mentoring.

Skills

Teaching music theory

Aural skills

Orchestration & arranging

Curriculum development

Education

Doctoral degree in Music Theory or Composition

Experience teaching undergraduate theory

Job description

Assistant Professor of Music Theory & Composition

College: College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and TheArts - 321 College

Dept/School: Music - 32111

Vacancy Number: 16F-806

Position Number: 2559

Location of Workplace: Main UNCW Campus

Brief Summary of Work for this Position: The Department of Music at the University of North CarolinaWilmington invites applications for a tenure-track position as an Assistant Professor of Music Theory & Composition to begin August 2027.

Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate courses in music theory, aural skills, and orchestration/arranging. Additionally, the successful candidate will teach in a secondary area of expertise, which may include composition courses, an applied area, or other departmental needs as assigned by the chair.

This is an opportunity to join a faculty of teaching artists and scholars who are dedicated to student-centered learning and to growth in new and current programs. The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellence in teaching and an ability to work effectively with faculty colleagues across all degree areas.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Teaching undergraduate courses in music theory and auralskills
• Teaching undergraduate course in orchestration andarranging
• Contributing to the curriculum based on individualqualifications and departmental goals
• Engaging in student mentoring

Additional Opportunities May Include:

• Teaching applied lessons
• Teaching courses in songwriting and/or applied composition
• Performing with a faculty chamber ensemble
• Contributing to the musical theatre and/or popular musicminors
• Organizing the UNCW New Music Festival

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Doctoral degree (PhD or DMA) in Music Theory or Composition at time of application
• Experience and expertise in teaching/developing a music theoryand aural skills program appropriate for an undergraduate-levelinstitution

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Experience in teaching songwriting and/or applied composition
• Ability to contribute to the musical theatre and/or popular music minor
• Ability to contribute as an applied teacher in an area that complements current department expertise

Primary Function of Organizational Unit:

The Department of Music is committed to fostering an inclusiveteaching and learning environment through its curricula, as well asthe artistic endeavors of students and faculty. In addition, theDepartment of Music is dedicated to nurturing excellence inperformance, teaching and scholarship by guiding and preparingstudents through a comprehensive curriculum that provides a strongfoundation for an array of opportunities in the music profession,as well as for graduate study in a range of music specialties. TheDepartment of Music offers two undergraduate curricula: theBachelor of Arts in Music with options in Performance, Jazz andCommercial Music Performance, Music Technology, and General Music;and the Bachelor of Music in Music Education.

College/School Information:

The College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (CHSSA) ishome to 14 academic departments and offers a wide variety ofundergraduate and graduate degree programs including the Bachelorof Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Master of Arts,Master of Fine Arts, and Master of Public Administration as well ascombined bachelor's/master's degree programs in Spanish andEnglish. The CHSSA also houses the Gender Studies and ResearchCenter and the Academic Resource Center, which offers full-service,professional advising for all CHSSA undergraduate students.

In addition, the CHSSA offers a full complement ofinterdisciplinary minors and post baccalaureate certificatesincluding: Africana studies, American studies, Asian studies,classical studies, conflict management and resolution, emergencyand disaster management, forensic science, Hispanic studies,journalism, Latin American studies, medical humanities, Middle Eastand Islamic studies, Native American studies, professional writingand publishing, science and medical writing, and women's, gender,and sexuality studies.

The CHSSA contributes significantly to the curriculum thatcomprises UNCW's University Studies Program, through which allundergraduates gain a foundation in the liberal arts and developthe transferable skills essential for life in the twenty-firstcentury. The CHSSA strives in its undergraduate programs and in itsUniversity Study offerings to nurture creative thinking,intellectual curiosity, and academic integrity in students whileproviding them with a solid foundation of knowledge in their chosenfields. Graduate programs in the CHSSA are designed to developintellectual competence and to prepare the student for careers inbusiness, industry, government, teaching or for further study atthe doctoral level.

Applied learning is a hallmark of the student experience in theCollege of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts. Each of theCHSSA's departments requires an applied learning experience as apart of the curriculum for its undergraduate majors. Examplesinclude faculty-directed research, internships, service learning,and capstone courses and projects, all of which challenge studentsto integrate various strands of knowledge and to apply thatknowledge to broader, real-world or real disciplinarysituations.

Upon completion of their studies, all CHSSA students will have thenecessary preparation for rewarding careers, advanced study,effective citizenship, and meaningful lives. The College ofHumanities, Social Science, and the Arts offers limitlessopportunities to engage in collaborative and interdisciplinaryresearch and service while also making a positive societal impact. Come and join our vibrant academic environment that valuesdiscovery, innovation, and creativity.

University Information:

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastaluniversity, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring,research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-classfaculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national levelfor scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerfulacademic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and criticalthinking.

A public institution with more than 20,500 students, UNCW offers afull range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as wellas doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology,nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learningoptions, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSNprogram, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for workingprofessionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree programfocused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarlyactivities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "DoctoralUniversities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University)by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of HigherEducation.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since1969.

Eligibility for Employment:

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offenderbackground checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motorvehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federallaw requires all employers to verify the identity and employmenteligibility of all persons hired to work in the UnitedStates.

Number of Openings: Single Incumbent

Special Notes to Applicants:

Prior to the official appointment to the university, the candidate selected for hire must be able to demonstrate eligibility to teach assigned courses by successfully meeting the credentialingrequirements based on official transcripts and other documentation as required.

Please note that a minimum of three references are required for all applications.

Questions about the position or the online application process should be directed to CHSSA Recruitment Specialist Jennifer Itell @ [e-mail].

Position Type: Permanent

Job Posting Date: 10/08/2026

Job Close Date: 11/09/2026

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant foremployment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, genderidentity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color,national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexualorientation, political affiliation, veteran status, militaryservice member status, genetic information, or relationship toother university constituents - except where sex, age, or abilityrepresent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications orwhere marital status is a statutorily established eligibilitycriterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

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