Visiting Assistant Professor - Music Composition/Theory

Posting Details

Position Title Visiting Assistant Professor - Music Composition/Theory External Link to Posting https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/19928 College College of Arts and Sciences Admin - 32000 College Dept/School Music - 32111 Vacancy Number 16F-374 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 Carolina Wilmington is seeking a Visiting Assistant Professor in Composition/Theory, a nine-month non-tenure track position, starting August 2021.

This is a 2 year fixed-term appointment starting August 2021 through May 2023.

Opportunity to join a student-centered faculty of performer-teachers who value diversity, equity and inclusion, and are dedicated to growth in new and current programs. Ideal candidate will demonstrate: excellence in teaching; engagement in significant creative/scholarly activities; an ability to work effectively with faculty colleagues across all degree areas.

Responsibilities include: teaching undergraduate upper level theory/aural skills courses, including Orchestration and Arranging, Film and Video Game Scoring, and/or Applied Composition, and other departmental needs as assigned by the chair. Responsibilities also include student advising, committee work and contributing to an inclusive and equitable community in the department, college and university.

Special consideration will be given to applicants who are members of diversity groups that have been historically underrepresented in faculty positions in higher education.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Phd, DMA or other terminal degree in composition or theory

Experience and expertise in teaching/developing a music theory program appropriate for an undergraduate level institution.

Applicants who are ABD for the terminal degree may be considered depending on expected completion date.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience

PhD, DMA or other terminal degree in composition or theory

Experience in developing an innovative undergraduate music theory and/or composition curriculum

Experience in teaching and/or composing music in film, television and video games

Experience in teaching courses aligned with candidate’s creative/research specialty

Experience in teaching an applied area and/or jazz studies

Required Certifications or Licensure

No Required Certifications or Licensure

Primary Function of Organizational Unit

The Department of Music is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace and fostering an inclusive teaching and learning environment through its diverse curricula, as well as the artistic endeavors of students and faculty. In addition, the Department of Music is dedicated to nurturing excellence in performance, teaching and scholarship by guiding and preparing students through a comprehensive curriculum that provides a strong foundation for an array of opportunities in the music profession, as well as for graduate study in a range of music specialties. The Department of Music offers two undergraduate curricula, the Bachelor of Arts in Music with options in Performance, Jazz Studies, Music Technology and General Studies, and the Bachelor of Music in Music Education.

College/School Information

The College of Arts and Sciences is UNCW’s largest academic unit, employing 450 full-time and 150 part-time faculty members and awarding approximately two-thirds of the university’s academic credits. Ours is a comprehensive arts & sciences college comprising the arts, the humanities, the mathematical and natural sciences, and the social and behavioral sciences.
The College’s twenty-five units offer a variety of undergraduate majors leading to the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Fine Arts, the Bachelor of Music, and the Bachelor of Science. The College also offers a full complement of minors, including interdisciplinary minors such as Africana studies, Asian studies, Forensic studies, Latin America studies, Middle East & Islamic studies, Native-American studies, and Women’s and Gender studies, among others.
Applied learning is a hallmark of the student experience in the College of Arts and Sciences. Each of the College’s departments requires an applied learning experience as a part of the curriculum for its undergraduate majors. Examples include faculty-directed research, internships, service learning, and capstone courses and projects, all of which challenge students to integrate various strands of knowledge and to apply that knowledge to broader, real-world or real disciplinary situations. Through applied learning, students in the College gain direct hands-on experience with the skills of their major fields as an essential part of their preparation for life and career.
In addition to its undergraduate major and minor programs, the College is chiefly responsible for the curriculum that comprises the UNCW’s University Studies Program, through which all UNCW undergraduates gain a foundation in the liberal arts and develop the transferable skills essential for life in the twenty-first century. The College strives in its undergraduate programs and in its University Study offerings to nurture creative thinking, intellectual curiosity, diversity and inclusion, and academic integrity in students while providing them with a solid foundation of knowledge in their chosen fields. Upon completion of their undergraduate studies, College of Arts and Sciences students will have the necessary preparation for rewarding careers, advanced study, effective citizenship, and meaningful lives.
Graduate degrees awarded in the College of Arts and Sciences include the Master of Arts, the Master of Fine Arts, the Master of Public Administration, the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy (Marine Biology and Psychology). In addition, the nationally awarded Graduate Liberal Studies program offers a personalized curriculum of interdisciplinary study leading to the Master of Arts. Post-baccalaureate certificates in Applied Statistics, Environmental Studies, Forensic Science, Conflict Management and Resolution, Gender Studies and Hispanic Studies are available. Graduate programs in the College are designed to develop intellectual competence and to prepare the student for careers in business, industry, government, teaching or for further study at the doctoral level.

University Information

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking and a community rich in diversity, inclusion and global perspectives.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to- BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation’s only bachelor’s degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university’s efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity” institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

EEO Statement

At the University of North Carolina at Wilmington ( UNCW ), our culture reflects our values of inclusion, diversity, globalization, ethics and integrity and innovation and we are committed to providing equality of educational and employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents – except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs. UNCW believes that embracing the unique contributions of our faculty, staff and students is critical to our success and paramount in being recognized for our global mindset.

Eligibility for Employment Special Notes to Applicants

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

This is a 2 year fixed-term appointment starting August 2021 through May 2023.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm EST on March 25, 2021, the position closing date. To apply, please complete the online application process available at https://jobs.uncw.edu/ and attach the following materials as an Adobe PDF document including:
1. Cover Letter
2. Curriculum Vita
3. Combined unofficial Graduate Transcripts
4. Teaching Philosophy – Statement of Teaching Philosophy and Creative/Research Plans
5. Links to Digital Audio Files – YouTube links in a PDF /Word document to representative audio/video recordings of: recent compositions/arrangements; music theory lectures/classes; and/or applied performances
6. Portfolio/Work Sample – Representative PDF’s of compositions or music theory articles
7. Statement of Diversity and Inclusion – Statement of Diversity and Inclusion addressing how issues of diversity shape their working practices, past and planned

Note that letters of application without the requested components will not meet the application requirements.

Finalists appearing virtually through Zoom may be asked to teach a theory, composition or aural skills class, in addition to a lecture or lesson in an appropriate secondary area.

Please note that a minimum of three professional references are required for all applications. References will be requested during the screening process. Please direct questions concerning the search to Professor Jerald Shynett, Chair, Visiting Professor of Music Composition/Theory Search Committee, at shynettj@uncw.edu. For questions regarding the online application process, contact Ms. Nina Brown at brownn@uncw.edu.

Position Type Time-limited Job Posting Date 02/18/2021 Job Close Date 03/25/2021 Applicant Documents
Required Documents

1. Cover Letter
2. Curriculum Vita
3. Combined Unofficial Graduate Transcripts
4. Teaching Philosophy
5. Links to digital audio files of current performance(s)
6. Portfolio/Work Sample
7. Statement of Diversity and Inclusion

Optional Documents

1. Portfolio/Work Sample 2

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).