Assistant Professor: Sound Design and Digital Composition - San Diego State University

Description

The San Diego State University Schools of Music and Dance and Theatre, Television, and Film are seeking an assistant professor for a joint appointment in the area of Digital Composition and Sound Design.



Description and Responsibilities:



We seek a candidate who will engage in collaborative relationships with both faculty and students that will advance offerings in digital composition and sound design across the School of Music and Dance and the School of Theatre, Television, and Film. The position includes leadership of the new interdisciplinary Sound Design emphasis within the MFA in Design and Technology for Theatre, Television and Film, teaching courses in digital composition and sound design, supervising students, and recruitment activities. The candidate will work collaboratively with faculty in each school to deliver and develop curriculum, and to implement assessment of degree programs related to digital composition and sound design.



Teaching responsibilities include courses that support the BM and MM degree programs in Global Composition, the undergraduate emphasis in Music Recording Technology and Audio Design, the MFA in Design and Technology in Theatre, Television, and Film, and the MFA Film program. The Assistant Professor of Digital Composition and Sound Design is expected to participate in recruitment activities on local and national levels that will attract outstanding undergraduate and graduate students to the music, theatre, and/or film programs. Active and sustained involvement in professional growth and creative activities beyond the university is required to obtain tenure and promotion, as is excellence in teaching and participation in school governance. A joint committee comprised of members elected from each school will review the candidate for retention, tenure and promotion.



SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY



SDSU is an established and acknowledged leader in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. With more than 7,700 faculty and staff and 35,000 students, it is one of the largest universities in the western United States. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a doctoral-granting institution with high research activity and receives over $130 million in external research grants and awards annually. The student body is among the most diverse in the United States and SDSU is known for cultivating a welcoming environment with a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusive excellence whether such diversity is presented through cultural, racial, sexual identity or veteran status. As such, SDSU has received national recognition ranging from the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award (HEED), being one of the nation’s best universities for women Professional Women’s Magazine, among the Best Colleges for Veterans by the Military Times, and as a top LGBT Friendly campus according to CampusPride.org.



SDSU website: www.sdsu.edu.



COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES AND FINE ARTS (PSFA):



The College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts comprises seven professional schools and three departments committed to the pursuit of excellence in academic and artistic endeavors. With over 5,000 majors and approximately 300 faculty, PSFA is recognized for its excellent academic programs that prepare students for professional careers in a wide spectrum of artistic, cultural, educational, social and technical fields. The College views its connection to the local and global community as a “laboratory for learning”, providing educational opportunities that prepare the student to engage in the worldwide community. Creativity, involvement, leadership and innovation are hallmarks of the PSFA experience. The College is home to the Arts Alive SDSU initiative that integrates arts events and arts practices into the curriculum and values art as a campus-wide priority on par with other major university strategic goals. The College actively seeks applications from candidates whose professional interests align with SDSU and PSFA’s strategic goals, who will sustain excellence in their research or creative endeavors, promote student success, and continue to advance our commitment to diversity. PSFA website: www.psfa.sdsu.edu



SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND DANCE:



The School of Music and Dance offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in music (BA, BM, MM, Advanced Graduate Artist Diploma) and dance (BA, BFA.) The School enrolls over 325 majors and serves thousands of general students each academic year through its general education courses, performing ensemble opportunities and public performances. The comprehensive professional



curricula is delivered by 19 full-time, 35 part-time, and a wide range of studio artist faculty. Music and Dance website: www.musicdance.sdsu.edu.



SCHOOL OF THEATRE, TELEVISION, AND FILM



The School of Theatre, Television, and Film provides high quality education for undergraduate and graduate students that emphasizes excellence in the arts and technology, grounded in conceptual and historical foundations. Leading by example, the School’s faculty helps students realize their creative potential as artists, scholars, leaders, and global citizens who celebrate cultural diversity and promote social equality through theoretical explorations and practical experience. Courses combine concept and craft to lead students from critical analysis through problem solving into practical action and the production of tangible products. 20 full-time, 17 part-time faculty deliver comprehensive professional curricular, supported by approximately 25 graduate students. Theatre, Television, and Film website: http://ttf.sdsu.edu



Both schools are important contributors to the efforts and continued success of Arts Alive SDSU, a campus-wide strategic initiative housed within the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts that is designed to elevate the role of arts events and arts practices as an integral part of the university experience.



Qualifications

A doctorate in Computer Music, Music Technology, and/or an MFA in theatrical or film sound design (or related field) or equivalent is required. The successful candidate will possess comprehensive and current knowledge in the field of sound design and digital music composition as well as teaching, creative activities, and research abilities at the highest level. A minimum of two years of university-level teaching experience in the content area (including teaching graduate-level courses) is preferred and evidence of successful professional experience (e.g. United Scenic Artists local USA 829 professional membership or equivalent) is required. We seek an artistically curious and flexible individual whose background includes a range of creative output such as digital composition for music performance, art installations, audio soundtracks for film and video games, emerging media (e.g. augmented reality/virtual reality), and soundscapes for theatrical performance. The candidate will possess current expertise and provide evidence of success in areas such as the following:



Creative Computer Coding for music and audio design, with expert level knowledge of, and ability to teach courses in Max/MSP and/or PD or equivalent.

Digital signal processing (DSP) theory and creation.

Software design

Creative sound design and engineering for theatre and other forms of live performance.

Post-production sound design and engineering for film, and studio/live recordings.

Production audio mixing for film, and studio/live recordings.

Audio special effects for theatre and visual media.

High-level, multi-channel audio mixing for live theatrical and musical performance.

Mentorship of digital composition and/or sound design students

A successful track record of teaching and leadership at the university level along with the ability to determine program effectiveness through student assessment is preferred. The candidate must be able to deliver a curriculum that addresses the related curricular needs of the two schools. The candidate should possess superior administrative and organizational skills. The candidate must show evidence of an ongoing commitment to advancing the profession as reflected in an active composition and sound design research agenda, including a promising record of publications and/or creative activities. Evidence of commitment to teaching, mentoring, and service to underrepresented populations is desirable as evidenced by the candidate’s research/creative agenda, mentorship of underrepresented students, and/or engagement with underrepresented communities.



Application Instructions

Review of applications will begin on September 12, 2018 and continue until the position is filled. Evidence of the terminal degree should be in-hand at the start of the appointment.



Applicants should apply via Interfolio.



Please submit the following required applications materials addressed to Dr. Joseph Waters, Co-Chair, Digital Composition and Sound Design Search Committee:



Curriculum Vitae

Three current letters of recommendation that address the candidate’s qualifications for this position.

Reference list of five individuals familiar with the candidate’s professional experience (please include current contact information for each).

Four to six audio clips (can be part of a video) available via an online source (YouTube, iTunes, Vimeo, etc.), demonstrating candidate’s compositional, coding and audio design skills for audio and visual media such as film and video games, live theatre productions, radio, sound art/installations or special effects for theatre and visual media.

Professional website containing two to three audio or audiovisual examples that demonstrate the candidate’s sound design for the theatre with explanations pertaining to the performance context.

Diversity Statement

The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirement set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.



A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.



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Application Process

This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

SDSU is a Title IX, equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, medical condition, or covered veteran status.