Department of Human Communication Studies
College of Communications
Assistant Professor
Fall 2025

The Department of Human Communication Studies in the College of Communications at California State University, Fullerton invites applications for a tenure-track, Assistant Professor position in Digital Media with an appointment to begin Fall 2025.

Position
The position typically carries a 4/4 teaching load and will include teaching a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in communication studies and digital media. The department currently offers three undergraduate courses on digital media. Two are taught from a critical-cultural perspective: “Social Media and Communication” and “AI and Communication.” The third is a core requirement and general skills course, “Digital Media Literacy.” We are looking for a teacher-scholar who can teach the latter course as needed and expand the department’s digital media offerings. This can be through topics (e.g., mobile technology, video games, computation, globalization/diaspora, disability studies, etc.) and/or methods (e.g., a course on social media, gaming, or mobile communication from a non-critical/cultural perspective). This colleague will also be expected to teach introductory quantitative methods and other areas of department need. The colleague’s research area should primarily be digital media, but the focus is open. The faculty member is expected to advise students, supervise theses and projects, publish research, participate in faculty governance, and engage in service.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Comm studies or relevant field is required. ABDs may apply but must show evidence the degree will be completed by August 2025.
• Commitment to and excellence in undergraduate teaching; especially ability to teach introductory quantitative methods, digital media literacy, courses in their area of digital media specialization, and other areas of department need, such as organizational communication, intercultural communication, and/or rhetoric.
• Record of scholarly or creative accomplishment or demonstrated potential for publishing peer-reviewed research.
• Ability to work collegially and effectively with a diverse faculty, staff, administration and community.
• A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preparation to work with under-represented and minority groups (demonstrated through teaching experience, research focus, service work, or other relevant experiences) and/or decolonize academia as evidenced through teaching, service, or research.
• Preparation to expand the course offerings on digital media either through focus on contemporary topics (e.g., mobile comm, video games, globalization/diaspora, ICT4D, VR/AR, AI, etc.) or methods (e.g., semantic analysis, network analysis, mobile ethnography).
• Demonstrated ability to contribute pedagogically to an additional focus in the department aside from digital media (especially intercultural, organizational, or rhetorical).
• Proficient in teaching online; knowledge of best practices for online synchronous and asynchronous courses.
• Track record of impactful peer-reviewed, scholarly and/or creative work.
• Commitment to public, disciplinary, departmental, and/or university service.
• Potential for or experience in seeking external grants.

Application
A complete online application must be received by electronic submission to be considered. To apply, please visit http://hr.fullerton.edu/careers/Faculty.php, choose full-time faculty, search for the position #543169, and provide the following required materials:

• cover letter
• curriculum vitae
• teaching philosophy
• research statement
• teaching portfolio (e.g., evidence of teaching such as: classroom observations, syllabi, examples of assignments or activities, certificates, samples of student evals, etc.)
• candidate statement on commitment to inclusive excellence (1-page limit)
  • This statement provides the candidate’s unique perspective on their past and present contributions to and future aspirations for promoting diversity, inclusion, and social justice in their professional careers. This statement aims to help the department identify candidates with professional experience, intellectual commitments, and/or willingness to engage in activities that could help CSUF contribute to its mission in these areas. The statement shall address one or more of the following criteria:
    1. The candidate has acquired knowledge of barriers for underrepresented students and faculty in higher education.
    2. The candidate has experience in and is committed to engaging in service with underrepresented populations in higher education.
    3. The candidate has experience in and is committed to teaching and/or mentoring underrepresented students in a higher education environment.
    4. The candidate has experience integrating underrepresented populations and communities into scholarly and creative activities.

• a list of three references with relevant contact information
  • Finalists must submit three letters of recommendation. Please have these ready for the referents to submit. On the References page of the online application, enter information and email addresses for three referents who will provide a confidential letter of reference for your application. At the appropriate time in the search process, they will receive a request via email along with information on uploading the letter. You can verify that CSUF has received each letter by logging back into your applicant portal.

Please direct all questions about the position to: Dr. Daniel Sutko, Search Committee Chair, at dsutko@fullerton.edu or call 657‐278-3260.

Application Deadline
To be assured full consideration, all application materials must be received via the online submission portal by November 18, 2024. Review of materials will begin November 19, 2024. The anticipated appointment date is August, 2025

The College and Department
For more information about the Human Communication Studies Department and the College of Communications at CSUF, please visit https://communications.fullerton.edu/hcom/ and https://communications.fullerton.edu

Compensation
The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range is $6,221 to $14,523 monthly (12 monthly payments per academic year). The anticipated hiring range is $6,993 to $7,130 per month. 

Salary offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work (https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/california_equal_pay_act.htm). 

Summer research grants, moving expenses, start‐up funds, and a reduced teaching load may be available.

CSUF Benefits
An excellent comprehensive benefits package includes health/vision/dental plans; spouse, domestic partner, and dependent fee‐waiver; access to campus child‐care; and a defined‐benefit retirement through the state system and optional tax sheltering opportunities. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/total-wellness/.

Additional Information
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is a minority-serving institution, affirmative action, and equal opportunity employer. CSUF is firmly committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum and fostering an inclusive environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. Candidates who can contribute to this goal through their teaching, research, advising, and other activities are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences. Individuals advancing the University’s strategic diversity goals and those from groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding are particularly encouraged to apply.

CSUF is committed to retaining all faculty and has established affinity groups you can join to support your success. 

CSU Policies
The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be formally offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self‐disclose.

Notice of Non-Discrimination based on Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator (http://www.fullerton.edu/titleix/about/notice.php). 

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. It requires hiring employees to perform CSU-related work within the State of California.