Term Faculty Position in Theatre Education

Join our community and experience Emerson College

The Department of Performing Arts invites applications for a faculty term position in Theatre Education for our BFA, MA, and MFA programs. The Department seeks candidates who can contribute to the excellence and diversity of the academic community through ongoing engagement with students both inside and outside of the classroom in addition to traditional teaching, and service. The appointment begins August 20, 2026 with a mandatory 2-day orientation August 20 & 21, 2026.

Emerson College is the nation's only four-year institution dedicated exclusively to majors in communication and the arts in a liberal arts context. It is located in the dynamic multi-cultural city of Boston in close proximity to major arts institutions, performing art venues, and research centers. Emerson College has campuses in Los Angeles and the Netherlands, as well as at MCI-Norfolk. At Emerson College, we seek individuals who bring innovation, creativity, and impact to our campuses to increase our depth, breadth, and diversity in our educational offerings. Emerson's commitment to inclusive excellence is supported by a range of resources.

Emerson College believes the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence is fostering a campus climate where everyone can thrive. As a community of scholars and storytellers, we continually strive to cultivate a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent, characterized by the intentional inclusion of individuals from varied backgrounds, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

The Department of Performing Arts is home to one of the nation's leading undergraduate programs in theatrical performance, design, stage management, and theatre education with over 80 full- and part-time faculty members and staff and 525 students studying in nine distinct undergraduate and one graduate program.  The department offers multiple BFA degrees and Emerson Stage, the production organization within the department, produces eight to ten fully staged major productions annually in five theatres. The graduate program offers an MA and MFA in Theatre Education and Applied Theatre. 

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

The position includes teaching six courses per year in drama and theatre education with the possibility of a course release for work related to the licensure program. Courses may include Drama as Education I and II, Foundations of Education, Theatre for Young Audiences, Directing Young Performers, Student Teaching Practicum and Seminar. The position may also include serving as Chair on MA theses. All courses should include a focus on and rootedness in critical pedagogy and social justice values.  In addition to teaching, all faculty members advise and mentor students and participate in the college's system of shared governance. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

The ideal candidate will hold a terminal degree in Theatre Education or a related field, have teaching experience within a diverse college community, and familiarity with current Massachusetts and/or other state and national curriculum frameworks, theatre standards, and licensure requirements. Expertise and experience in directing theatre with and for youth preferred but not required. Candidates should also have a strong proficiency in standard office computing software and online data platforms for the administrative responsibilities with the licensure program. 

Candidates should have a background and college-level teaching experience in teacher training; experience in public PK-12 teaching, youth theatre, and theatre for young audiences; and experience in several of the following areas: 

• Drama and theatre arts curricula design

• Assessment

• Instruction grounded in diverse methods in PK-12 public education

• Contemporary theories of teaching and learning

• Student teacher supervision

• Anti-oppressive and consent-based classroom and studio practices

• Contemporary national and international practices in process drama and drama-in-education 

Theatre licensure and teaching experience in public schools is strongly preferred. 

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS: 

Please submit the following:

• A cover letter describing your experience in and approach to PK-12 theatre education and teacher training, and any experience in theatre licensure administration.

• Curriculum vita

• A statement that speaks to your teaching philosophy and practices for inclusive excellence. 

• Contact information for three references (not to be contacted without applicant's written approval).

Please note, in the job application where there is the "CV/Cover Letter/Additional Documents" drop box, you must include all of the required materials listed above. You can upload each document separately or as one combined PDF (preferred). Max file attachment is 5MB - if a file is too large, consider breaking up the file into separate PDF's.

Your application will not be complete without these documents. Priority will be given to applications received by January 15, 2025, but review of applications will continue until an appointment is made.

If you are having issues uploading, please email

Compensation for this position will be $80,121.00 annually.

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