Assistant Professor - Video Game Studies

Position Information

Posting Number
F00594P

Position Title
Assistant Professor - Video Game Studies

Department
Liberal Arts

Location
Arlington

Job Family
Faculty

Position Status
Full-time

Rank
Tenure-track

Work Hours
Standard

Open to
External and Internal

FLSA
Exempt

Duration
Funding expected to continue

Pay Basis
Monthly

Benefits Eligible
Yes

Job Summary

The College of Liberal Arts, at the University of Texas at Arlington, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Video Game Studies.

Benefits at UTA

We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees at the University.

To help you understand the full value of these benefits, we have created a tool that calculates the total worth of your compensation package. This tool takes into account all of the benefits that you are eligible for, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. To access this tool and learn more about the total value of your benefits, please click on the following link:
https://resources.uta.edu/hr/services/records/compensation-tools.php

CBC Requirement

It is the policy of The University of Texas at Arlington to conduct a criminal background check on any applicant who is under final consideration for employment with the University.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The College of Liberal Arts, at the University of Texas at Arlington, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the broad area of video/digital game studies beginning in Fall 2025. Candidates must have a terminal degree in a field housed in a department in the College of Liberal Arts (see department listing below). This is an interdisciplinary search aimed towards building the college’s research and teaching in video game research and/or practice. The ideal candidate will add to existing strengths in digital liberal arts and video game studies. Areas of research and teaching may include, but are not limited to:

• User Experience (UX) Research
• Representations (race, class, gender, sexuality, disability, etc.)
• Qualitative research on gamers or game companies
• Esports
• Political Economy
• Design
• Ludomusicology
• Digital Storytelling
• Platform Studies
• Cultural Studies
• Popular Culture
• Science and Technology Studies

Required Qualifications

PhD or Terminal Degree in the social sciences, humanities, or fine arts (by the time of appointment) 9/1/2025.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong interdisciplinary research approach to video games
• Experience teaching university/college students

Special Conditions for Eligibility

Department Information

College of Liberal Arts
The College of Liberal Arts (CoLA) is an intellectually diverse college within our diverse university. The college includes departments that represent the fine and performing arts, humanities, and social sciences. CoLA faculty and students pursue creative activity and scholarship that is on the cutting edge of disciplines from theatre arts to philosophy, from criminology to sociology, and more.

CoLA students choose tried and true academic paths, as well as explore interdisciplinary majors, minors, and certificates in areas like interdisciplinary studies, esports, disability studies, and medical humanities. In each area of study, our students work closely with world-class faculty to learn transferrable skills.

Our college emphasizes student engagement through study abroad, internships, and service learning. CoLA students from UTA can be found within larger communities, serving as medical interpreters and poll officials, music teachers, and legal volunteers. Our students go on to succeed within countless workplaces and professions that require teamwork, problem-solving, creativity, research aptitude, and adaptability.

CoLA consists of 12 departments:

• Art and Art History
• Communication
• Criminology and Criminal Justice
• English
• History and Geography
• Linguistics and TESOL
• Modern Languages
• Music
• Philosophy and Humanities
• Political Science
• Sociology and Anthropology
• Theatre Arts and Dance

University Information

The University of Texas at Arlington is located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metroplex, a vibrant and diverse metropolitan area that is home to over 7 million people, one of the fastest-growing tech economies in the United States, and a wide array of arts, entertainment, and cultural activities. UTA is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. The University is committed to providing access and ensuring student success, and to a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization of discoveries by our community of scholars. With an enrollment of more than 40,000 students, UTA is the second largest in the University of Texas System. As a result of its combination of rigorous academics and innovative research, UTA is designated as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution. UTA ranks No. 4 nationally in Military Times’ annual “Best for Vets: Colleges” list and is among the top 30 performers nationwide for promoting social mobility of its graduates (U.S. News & World Report, 2023). UTA is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution ( HSI ) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution ( AANAPISI ), and it has one of the top 5 most ethnically diverse undergraduate student bodies in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2023). Its approximately 270,000 alumni, including some who occupy leadership positions at many of the 24 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas, contribute to UTA’s $22.2 billion annual economic impact on Texas.

Furthermore, UTA is poised to experience widespread growth in the near future. The university recently launched the first phase of its RISE 100 initiative aimed at recruiting 100 new tenure-system faculty to amplify research standing and position UTA as a leader in key scholarly areas; more details are available at https://www.uta.edu/administration/president/strategic-plan/rise100 . The successful candidate for this position will have the opportunity to join UTA during an exciting period of growth and contribute as the university broadens its impact.

Working Title
Assistant Professor - Video Game Studies

EEO Statement

It is the policy of The University of Texas at Arlington ( UTA or The University) to provide an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, and/or veteran status. The University also prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and gender expression. Retaliation against persons who oppose a discriminatory practice, file a charge of discrimination, or testify for, assist in, or participate in an investigative proceeding relating to discrimination is prohibited. Constitutionally-protected expression will not be considered discrimination or harassment under this policy. It is the responsibility of all departments, employees, and students to ensure the University’s compliance with this policy.

ADA Accommodations

The University of Texas at Arlington is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to 817-272-5554 or email ADADocs@uta.edu .

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies
1

Desired Start Date
09/01/2025

Open Date
10/17/2024

Review Start Date

Open Until Filled
Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

To apply applicants should go to https://uta.peopleadmin.com/postings/30066 and submit the following materials:

Required Documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Unofficial Transcripts (required only for candidates for whom their degree is not in the same discipline as the one in which they will teach).
• Contact information for 3 references
• Writing Sample

Review of applications will begin November 10, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.

Questions may be addressed to David Arditi at darditi@uta.edu .

For more information about UTA, please visit: http://www.uta.edu/uta.
Requirement Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
 

1. * Does the applicant engage video games in their research, creative activity, teaching, or professional experience?
   • Yes
   • No
2. * How much experience does the applicant have with interdisciplinary research/teaching?
   • None/Less Than 1 year
   • 2 to 3 years
   • 4 to 5 years
   • 6 years or more
3. * If you are applying for an assistant professor position, do you have a record of publication in recognized refereed academic journals?
   • Yes
   • No
4. * Do you have work experience in the area of teaching? If yes briefly state nature of experience and number of years.
   
   (Open Ended Question)
    
5. * Will the applicant have a PhD or the equivalent terminal degree at the time of employment?
   • Yes
   • No

Documents Needed To Apply
Required Documents

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover/Interest Letter
3. Writing Sample

Optional Documents

1. Transcripts