Faculty Opportunity: Professional Lecturer

The DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts has two openings for full-time screenwriting lecturers beginning fall 2019.

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The School of Cinematic Arts at DePaul University invites applicants for full-time, non-tenure-track positions in writing for television and/or web series. The School of Cinematic Arts is one of the most innovative and fastest-growing film schools in the nation, offering an MFA in Genre and Drama Writing, an MFA in Comedy Writing created in partnership with The Second City, and BFA concentrations in screenwriting, comedy filmmaking, and (web series) showrunning.

The responsibilities of this position will require teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in screenwriting, writing for television, and/or web series. All full-time faculty are expected to develop and maintain a professional creative profile. Additionally, service within and beyond campus is expected, including: attendance at program and departmental meetings, active participation in recruitment efforts, advising students, participation in departmental, college, and university committees, and professional stewardship in the field.

Ideal candidates would have a graduate degree and at least three years of teaching and professional screenwriting experience. We are actively seeking candidates with cultural diversity competency skills that enhance the experience of traditionally underrepresented populations and cultivate a more inclusive climate for our students, staff, faculty, and the broader community of which DePaul is an integral part.

I began as an assistant professor at the School of Cinematic Arts in September 2016 and it has been an amazing experience. The faculty is excellent, the administration is supportive, and the students are motivated. There are over 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the SCA in 11 areas of concentration: Cinematography, Comedy Filmmaking, Creative Producing, Directing, Documentary, Editing, Production Design, Screenwriting, Showrunning, Sound Design, and Visual Effects.

The School of Cinematic Arts is located in the heart of Chicago’s vibrant Loop and in 2018 was ranked 13th in Hollywood Reporter’s annual list of the top film schools in the country and named by Variety as one of the top film schools in the world.

The fact there are two openings for professional lecturers in writing for television and/or web series speaks to how the School continues to expand. Screenwriting and film students are drawn here for many reasons, not the least of which is the encouragement they receive to create. Students can and do begin making short films their freshman year in and outside of class. They have access to an extensive array of top-line gear as well as three sound stages the University leases at the Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, a 32,000 square foot professional production facility which is an integral part of the city’s emergence as a booming destination for film and television.

In sum, the DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts is a great place to teach and learn. If you or anyone you know has professional experience writing for television and/or web series, and fits the qualification criteria, I encourage you to apply for these positions.

Here is the application portal.

I am the chair of our search committee, so if you have any questions, feel free to email me: smyers15@depaul.edu.

Spread the word! This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals who are passionate about writing and sharing their knowledge of the craft with an energized, hard-working community of students.