Job description
Position Type: Tenure-track
School/Area
School of the Arts
Department: Theatre & Dance
Position Description
Assistant Professor of Theatre – Scenic Design
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON is now accepting applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Theatre position in the Department of Theatre and Dance, to begin August 16, 2026. The department is NAST-accredited and offers BA degrees in theatre and dance, a certificate in Musical Theatre, and an MAT in Theatre.
We seek a Scenic Design colleague to join our vibrant and diverse department. The successful candidate will 1) demonstrate excellence in collaboration, teaching, and mentorship in scenic design and related areas, 2) embrace a culturally responsive pedagogy, 3) foster an innovative and dynamic learning environment through creative exploration, and 4) maintain a strong level of professional engagement in the industry.
Areas of secondary emphasis or specialization are open with preference in Scenic Painting and Properties, but may include: Video Design/Production, Sound Design/Engineering, Digital Media, or related topics.
Responsibilities include teaching courses in scenic design, scene painting, props design and construction, CAD and model-making, design fundamentals, introductory theatre courses, and related areas; production work including designing and mentoring student designers for our production season; service to the department/college; and continued professional activity/research.
Qualifications:
- MFA in Scenic Design or Theatre Production;
- Professional experience in theatre design;
- Prior undergraduate teaching experience is strongly preferred; Online teaching experience is preferred.
- Strong and effective teaching, organizational, collaborative, and interpersonal skills.
The newly renovated Simons Center for the Arts features state-of-the-art facilities, including an impressive design studio, costume and scenic shops, sleek conference rooms, classrooms, performance venues, dramaturgical display cases, and art galleries. The city boasts a dazzling arts scene, with professional dance, opera, and theatre companies, allowing for collaborations and professional opportunities for students and faculty. Charleston hosts the annual International Spoleto Festival USA, the largest performing arts festival in the country.
The College is located in historic downtown Charleston in a coastal metropolitan area of 750,000. Additional information about the institution and the surrounding area is available at https://www.charleston.edu/. College of Charleston is a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences university in the heart of historic Charleston, SC. Since our founding in 1770, we have maintained a strong liberal arts curriculum. The College is a state-supported, comprehensive institution and ranks among the nation’s top universities in providing quality education in the arts, sciences, education, and business. No other university has the unique combination of our exceptional faculty, diverse programs, historic campus, coastal location, modern facilities, and cutting-edge programs. The student body has over 10,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs combined.
How to apply
Apply online at JOBS.COFC.EDU. Submit through the online portal: letter of application, curriculum vitae, names and contact information for 3 references, link to an online portfolio, unofficial graduate transcripts (official transcripts will be required for hiring), and a statement of teaching philosophy.
Questions regarding the position can be directed to Dr. Gretchen McLaine, Department Chair, at [email protected].
Review of applications will begin on November 15, 2025.
Open Until Filled?
Yes
Posting Number: F2016470P
EEO Statement
The College of Charleston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of sex, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, and other classifications protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information, please visit eop.cofc.edu.
Quicklink for Posting: https://jobs.cofc.edu/postings/17169
