Tenure Track Faculty - Cinema Studies

DEPARTMENT:
Communication Studies

POSITION TITLE:

Assistant Professor - Film/Cinema Studies

The Film Program at Sacramento State serves a diverse body of students who have varied interests in the contemporary practice of filmmaking. We are dedicated to addressing cinema both in the tradition of a critical liberal arts education and as a professional pathway. We seek to give students a solid footing in contemporary film techniques, histories, and theories, pushing students to explore the social and cultural implications of cinema language and practice.

Sacramento State is one of the 23 California State University campuses. Our program is part of Sacramento State’s Communication Studies Department and is housed within the University’s College of Arts and Letters. Our Film Program seeks to prepare our students to have an impact in a creative environment that requires collaboration, adaptation, and leadership. We recognize that the world in which we live, and work is shaped by an ever‑increasing array of visual and auditory information.

To prepare them for this rapidly changing media landscape, we challenge our students to be critical thinkers and explore their unique voices through creative, cinematic storytelling.

Arts and Letters

The Film Program at Sacramento State University seeks an Assistant Professor in Cinema Studies. Scholars whose research focuses on one or more of the following areas are encouraged to apply: narrative film history, indigeneity, migration, diaspora, decolonization, and/or ecology & climate change. The ideal candidate will have experience teaching cinema studies and have a record of scholarly research in film theory.

Candidates must show evidence of publication. Candidates must be dedicated to teaching in a university that serves a highly diverse student body, be committed to working closely with colleagues in the College of Arts and Letters and be intent on forging collaborative relationships across disciplines and in the community. The position would start in the 2026‑27 academic year.

• Teach upper and lower division film studies and theory courses
• Develop curriculum for upper and lower division film studies and theory courses required of all film students
• Lead student advising, recruitment, support of part‑time faculty, curriculum development and other related activities aimed at fostering growth of the Film Program
• Pursue excellence in teaching effectiveness; evidenced through student evaluations, peer evaluations, and meeting program learning outcomes
• Engage in scholarly and creative activities: evidenced through peer‑reviewed or professionally published work
• Engage in active service at the Department, College, and University levels in the form of committee work and peer support
• Engage actively with the local and regional community through service and scholarship

• Earned PhD, MFA, or equivalent terminal degree in the arts by August 2025
• Evidence of teaching at the secondary, adult, or college level
• Evidence of peer‑reviewed or professional publication relevant to cinema studies
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence in a diverse and inclusive environment

• Two (2) years teaching or educational experience at the collegiate level
• Evidence of ability to teach film history, aesthetics, media criticism, and theory in small and large class settings
• Experience in screenwriting, creative writing, and/or digital cinema technologies
• Evidence of ability to teach research methods

Review of applications will begin on April 13, 2026. Position is open until filled. Applications for employment require:

• Letter of Interest:
  One page statement addressing the position and the institution as it relates to your experience.
• Diversity Statement and Teaching Philosophy:
  One page statement addressing your teaching pedagogy and how it contributes to anti‑racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Include the need for a foundational understanding of cinema history and theory for film production students.
• Current Curriculum Vitae:
  Please include a link to your website if applicable.
• Unofficia…