Museum Studies Program, School of Art
College of Liberal & Creative Arts, San Francisco State University
Position title: Assistant Professor in the Museum Studies Program, School of Art
Start date: August, 2020
Position Summary: The position is in the Museum Studies Program, School of Art at San Francisco State University.
The Museum Studies Program offers an M.A. in Museum Studies and a Minor in Museum Studies that emphasize the development of museum professionals engaged in the important role museums play in our increasingly global and diverse world. Coursework integrates practice and theoretical inquiry to foster museum professionals committed to the power of museums as places of inspiration, community learning, and ethical collections stewardship for all segments of society. The Museum Studies Program is an independent, interdisciplinary professional program housed in the School of Art, which itself offers a B.A. in Art, a B.A. in Art History, and an M.F.A. in Art.
The position is focused on museum education and outreach, the history and social and political contexts of museums, and museum curation, which is the organization, research, and interpretation of materials for exhibit-related educational activities. The position emphasizes instilling museum professionalism in students, the need for museums to connect to diverse audiences, and engagement with the Global Museum, an on-campus museum with cultural collections and others from ancient Egypt that is operated in concert with the Museum Studies Program through its curriculum.
The position includes a full-time faculty workload per the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the California State University and the California Faculty Association. The workload primarily includes teaching or other agreed upon primary assignment; conducting an active ongoing program of scholarship or creative works that advances knowledge in the field of one’s specialty; and service contributions to the department, college and the university.
The primary teaching assignment will be in the undergraduate minor in Museum Studies, including lower and upper division courses in the development of museums and in museum education as well as graduate level courses in the history and organization of museums and in museum education, outreach, and interpretation. The position includes the development and supervision of graduate capstone projects and internships; engagement through coursework, scholarship, and/or service with the Global Museum; and advising and mentoring. The position requires an active ongoing scholarship practice of research and publishing.
The scholarship of the candidate may address a range of topics in Museum Studies, including museum education and outreach, curation, the history and social and political contexts of museums, and activities related to the types of collections housed in the Global Museum. Because of the multi-disciplinary nature of museum work, scholarship in areas relevant to specific academic fields such as Art History, Anthropology, History, Near Eastern Studies, Classics, or the Natural Sciences is also possible.
Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to, productive participation on departmental, college, and university-wide committees; mentoring and advising graduate and undergraduate students; holding regular office hours; curriculum development and improvement, particularly with regard to student learning outcomes; and remaining current in both subject area and teaching methodologies.
Required Qualifications:
· Ph.D. in museum-related discipline, such as Art History, Classics, Near Eastern Studies, History, Anthropology, Museum Studies, or in the Natural Sciences, or M.A. in Museum Studies with equivalent professional experience. Terminal degree must be completed by the first day of employment
· Museum professional experience
· Record of working and communicating effectively with colleagues and students
Essential Job Tasks:
- Facilitate student success through teaching and advising with a focus on inclusive pedagogy;
- Develop course materials for undergraduate and/or graduate students on topics such as museum education and outreach, curation, and the history and social and political contexts of museums, linked to student learning outcomes;
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, papers, etc. in a timely manner;
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations or other learning assessments;
- Maintain student grades and other required records or reporting materials;
- Conduct research in one's field of interest and make scholarly peer-reviewed contributions such as exhibits, articles, books, presentations at professional conferences, or grants;
- Stay current on developments in the discipline;
- Plan, evaluate and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction;
- Hold regularly scheduled office hours for the purpose of advising and assisting students;
- Actively participate on assigned committees in accordance with Museum Studies Program or College needs, and SF State's strategic vision;
- Actively participate in collegial interactions in fulfilling service assignments and other duties at the department, college, and university level;
- Develop museum professionalism in students;
- Develop and monitor internships and actively participate on graduate student capstone projects;
- Participate in university assessment procedures for Museum Studies;
- Participate in the development and implementation of advising activities for admissions, new and continuing students, and alumni;
- Engage with the museum professional community, including with alumni, internship partners, and professional associations, and monitor and share information about museum employment with students and graduates;
- Serve as reference for students and graduates for internship and job placement;
- Interact with Global Museum staff for purposes related to teaching, scholarly activities, and/or service, as appropriate, and with School of Art staff to support administration of the Museum Studies Program;
- Advise students working to pursue careers from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds in the full range of 21st century museum activities
- Additional duties as assigned.
Application: Submit letter of intent/interest, a current CV, a statement on how your teaching and scholarship align with the commitment of the Museum Studies Program to foster an inclusive and diverse academic community; writing sample; sample syllabi; statement of teaching philosophy; names and contact information of three references. Letters of recommendation upon request at a later date. Applications should be submitted as a single PDF, labeled as follows: Last Name, First Name_Application. Submit all materials online to https://sfsu.submittable.com/submit by September 27, 2019. Applications will be reviewed until position is filled. Please email artaoc@sfsu.edu with any questions.
San Francisco State is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, National origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the Senior Human Resources Manager.
