Assistant Teaching Professor of Film Studies

University of Colorado System; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 62,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Colorado Denver CAM seeks an Assistant Teaching Professor of Film Studies to deliver engaging instruction in Film History, Theory, and Criticism. The role emphasizes teaching, scholarly activity, and service, with a focus on building industry connections for student growth.

Teaching three classes per semester, developing seminars, and mentoring students are core responsibilities. A bachelor's in film studies is required; a PhD is preferred. On-site campus presence is expected.

Qualifications

• Education: a bachelor's degree in film studies, cinema/media studies, or a closely related field.
• Teaching: One year of successful university-level teaching experience.
• Industry Experience: Two years in mid-level, production, or editorial roles.
• PhD or terminal degree in film studies, cinema/media studies, or a related discipline.
• Three years of university teaching experience and curriculum development.
• Substantial industry experience with leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Teach three classes per semester (9 credit hours) across Film History, Theory, and Criticism.
• Develop upper-division seminars and contribute to curriculum growth.
• Engage with industry partners to enrich student opportunities and learning.
• Mentor undergraduate students and participate in program planning and service.

Skills

Teaching experience

Industry experience

Strong communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's in Film Studies

PhD in Film Studies (preferred)

Job description

Position Details

University of Colorado | Denver

Faculty Level/Title: Assistant Teaching Track

Working Title: Assistant Teaching Professor of FilmStudies

FTE: Full-time

Salary Range: $62,000 - $67,000

Position #00672409 – Requisition #41635

About the University of Colorado Denver

Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation,research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We'rethe state's premier public urban research university with more than100 in-demand, top-ranked bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degreeprograms. We partner with diverse learners—at any stage of theirlife and career—for transformative educational experiences. Acrossseven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and worksalongside students to solve complex challenges and produceimpactful creative work. As part of the state's largest universitysystem, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy,with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $665 million.To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment,visit ucdenver.edu.

Job Description

At the College of Arts & Media (CAM), we empower a diversecommunity of makers, scholars, and innovators to thrive in therapidly evolving creative industries. Through a dynamic blend ofcritical inquiry, creative exploration, and real-world engagement,CAM prepares students for lives filled with opportunity, meaning,and purpose. Rooted in community and driven by a spirit ofintellectual and artistic freedom, CAM embraces risk-takers,visionaries, and cultural disruptors by providing access tocutting-edge technology, global perspectives, and a nurturingenvironment where bold ideas flourish. CAM offers top-rankeddegrees and programs in Film & Television, Media Forensics,Music & Entertainment, and Visual Arts.

The Department of Film & Television within the College of Arts& Media invites dynamic educators, film scholars, and creativeprofessionals to apply for an open-rank, full-time Teaching Trackposition specializing in Film History, Film Theory, and FilmCriticism. We seek a colleague with strong scholarly credentialsalongside deep industry connections, capable of bridging criticalacademic discourse with contemporary industry perspectives.

Why Join CU Denver CAM?

• Be part of a forward-looking, supportive faculty committed toexcellence and innovation.
• Enjoy a culture that values your unique artistic and academiccontributions.
• Teach within a nationally recognized program.
• Shape a vibrant program positioned at the crossroads ofprofessional opportunity and creative experimentation, in a cityalive with storytelling and artistic energy.

The Film & Television program offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts(BFA) in Film and Television. This BFA emphasis provides intensive,practical training that requires successful completion of numerousfilm/TV projects, ranging from fiction to documentary. The emphasisis designed for students to progress through the semesters as acohort. Undergraduates will work on their own projects and assistwith numerous group projects. Students graduate with both atheoretical and historical perspective, as well as hands-onexperience in film and television production.

This program prepares students to begin their careers atentry-level positions in the film or television industry, starttheir personal creative journey, or continue their studies in agraduate program. We believe in the power of transformativeeducation, hands-on learning, and creative exploration. Our BFAprogram cultivates storytellers with a strong technical foundationand artistic vision, preparing graduates for immediate impact inthe film, television, and media industries.

• Accolades: For five consecutive years, CU Denver's Film &Television program has been named to MovieMaker Magazine's BestFilm Schools list. We are recognized for our hands‑on, cohort‑basedcurriculum, affordability, and strong industry connections.
• Career Pathways & Networking: Graduates are successfulacross multiple areas, including opportunities in Hollywood,independent film, commercial film, and post-productionstudios.
• Hands‑on from Day One: The curriculum is sequence-based,allowing students to build on skill sets developed throughout theircollege career.
• Students Building a High-Volume Portfolio: The curriculum isknown for its rigor, as students often complete 20+ films/exercisesfor their portfolios by graduation. This indicates a highly engagedand active student body.
• Access to Professional Gear: The program's “film cage” providesstudents with access to industry-standard, professional-gradecameras, sound, lighting, and grip equipment.
• Collaborative Cohort Culture: The program is built on acohort-style curriculum in which students build strong bonds byworking on each other's film sets, emphasizing collegiality andteam-based teaching and learning.
• Integrated Acting Emphasis: The new Acting for the Screen BFAemphasis is fully integrated with the filmmaking students. Thisintentional structure means acting in student films is a part oftheir training, fostering essential on-set collaboration betweenfilmmakers and actors.

We seek individuals with a passion for teaching and the ability tomentor and inspire students in a dynamic learning environment. Ifyou're ready to inspire the next generation of media makers andenrich an inclusive academic community, we want to hear fromyou!

Assistant Teaching Professor of Film Studies

What you will do:

• 80% Teaching,
• 10% Scholarly/Research,
• 10% Service

As an Assistant Teaching Professor, your primary focus will bedelivering engaging, rigorous instruction in Film History, FilmTheory, and Film Criticism while leveraging industry connections toenhance the academic and professional development of our BFAstudents.

Teaching 80%

• Teaching Load: Teach three classes per semester (9 credithours), for a total of six per academic year (18 credithours).
• Core Instruction: Teach introductory and intermediateundergraduate courses in Film History, Film Theory, and FilmCriticism.
• Advanced Instruction: Develop and deliver specializedupper-division seminars in critical studies, genre analysis, auteurstudies, contemporary global cinema, or industry practices.
• Program Development: Guide the growth and integration ofcritical studies coursework within the BFA production curriculum inconcert with other departmental priorities.
• Industry Engagement & Outreach: Expand opportunities forstudents in the department to connect with industry professionalsthrough initiatives such as a curated extracurricular speakerseries, community outreach, and other engagement events that fostermeaningful connections with the field.

Scholarly/Research 10%

Maintain an active scholarly, research, and/or creative practice in film studies, critical writing, or media history.

Service 10%

• Engage in departmental, college, and university serviceactivities, including student advising, curriculum review,committee work, and other forms of service to the college,community, and profession.

Qualifications you already possess (MinimumQualifications)

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

• Education: a bachelor's degree in film studies, cinema/mediaStudies, or a closely related field.
• Published Work: a record of professional distinction andrecognized expertise in the field, demonstrated through asubstantial body of published work such as books, film criticism,essays, cultural journalism, public-facing scholarship, or othersignificant writing on film, media, or related subjects (e.g.,three (3) significant published pieces or one (1) book).
• Teaching: One (1) year of successful university-level teachingexperience.
• Industry Experience: Two (2) years in mid-level, production, oreditorial roles.

Preferred Qualification to possess (PreferredQualifications)

• Education: Ph.D. or terminal degree in film studies,cinema/media studies, or a related discipline.
• Teaching:
  • Three (3) years of successful university-level teachingexperience, with a demonstrated record of teaching excellence,pedagogical development, and curriculum contribution.
  • Experience integrating critical theory and historicalperspectives into a production-focused BFA curriculum.
  • Experience providing academic guidance, mentoring, tutoring, orinstructional support to students in an educational setting.
• Industry Experience: substantial professional accomplishmentand recognized expertise in the field, demonstrated throughextensive industry experience; experience in senior, lead, orleadership roles with demonstrated field impact.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge: Deep understanding of foundational and contemporaryfilm theory, world film history, global movements, and criticalframeworks; strong understanding of current media industry trendsand distribution landscapes.
• Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills;effective pedagogical techniques for engaging BFA productionstudents in critical analysis; strong networking and organizationalabilities to build external industry partnerships.
• Ability: Ability to articulate complex theoretical andhistorical concepts clearly; ability to mentor and adviseundergraduate students on academic and career trajectories; abilityto work collaboratively within a cohort-based programstructure.

Conditions of Employment

• This position requires an onsite presence on campus forteaching, student mentoring, and departmental engagement.
• Occasional work during the evening and/or weekends may berequired for departmental events, screenings, or industry guestevents.

Mental, Physical, and/or Environmental Requirements

• This position will be performed on site and will require theability to sit for extended periods, stand and walk occasionally,reach with hands and arms, use hands to manipulate a keyboard andmouse, and have good near vision for computer work; often requiringminimal lifting, but may involve bending or reaching to retrieveitems from shelves or drawers.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

The University will provide reasonable accommodation to applicantswith disabilities throughout the employment application process. Torequest an accommodation pursuant to the Americans withDisabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADACoordinator at [e-mail] .

Employment Sponsorship

Please be advised that this position is not eligible now or in thefuture for visa sponsorship.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established at $62,000 - $67,000.

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to,internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.The above salary range (or hiring range) represents theUniversity's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range ofpossible compensation at the time of posting.

This position is not eligible for overtime compensation.Your totalcompensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. TheUniversity of Colorado Denver provides generous leave, health plansand retirement contributions that add to your bottom line. Benefitsstatement to include in all benefits-eligible positions. SeeEligibility Matrix.

Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted until finalists are identified, and interviews begin. Preference will be given to complete applications received by December 6th, 2026. Those who do not apply by this datemay or may not be considered.

Questions should be directed to David Liban, [e-mail].

Background Check Policy

The University of Colorado Denver strives to maintain a safe andproductive educational, clinical, research and employmentenvironment. All prospective employees and current employees must,therefore, consent to and pass background checks prior to any finalappointment/employment.