Tenure Track Faculty - Cinema Studies

Sacramento State’s Film Program serves a diverse student body with varied interests in contemporary filmmaking. We address cinema both as a critical liberal-arts discipline and as a professional pathway, giving students a foundation in film techniques, histories, and theories while exploring the social and cultural implications of cinema language and practice. The program is housed in the Communication Studies Department within the College of Arts and Letters.

About the role

The Film Program seeks an Assistant Professor in Cinema Studies. We encourage applications from scholars whose research focuses on one or more of the following areas: narrative film history, indigeneity, migration, diaspora, decolonization, and/or ecology & climate change. The ideal candidate will have experience teaching cinema studies and a record of scholarly research in film theory. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to teaching excellence in a highly diverse and inclusive environment, a willingness to collaborate across disciplines, and an intent to forge community partnerships.

This is a tenure-track position beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.

Responsibilities

• Teach upper- and lower-division film studies and theory courses.
• Develop curriculum for required film studies and theory courses.
• Lead student advising, recruitment, part-time faculty support, and curriculum development to foster program growth.
• Pursue excellence in teaching effectiveness, documented through student evaluations, peer evaluations, and program learning outcomes.
• Engage in scholarly and creative activities, evidenced by peer-reviewed or professionally published work.
• Serve at the department, college, and university levels through committee work and peer support.
• Engage actively with the local and regional community through service and scholarship.

Requirements

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of teaching or educational experience at the collegiate level.
• 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.
• Ability to teach research methods.

Benefits

Sacramento State offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible faculty, including health, dental, and vision coverage; retirement plans; paid leave; and professional development opportunities.

Pay

The annual salary range for this position is $64,860 – $143,928; the anticipated starting salary is $74,642.

About Sacramento State

Sacramento State is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system. Located in California’s capital city, the 300-acre campus sits along the American River and serves approximately 31,000 students. The university is recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and a Black-Serving Institution. Sacramento, known as the “Farm-to-Fork Capital,” is celebrated for its ethnic diversity, livability, and proximity to outdoor recreation.