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University of California, San Diego Jobs

University of California, San Diego

Associate Professor of Acting

Closes:

Salary: $103,600 – $124,300 per year

1,533

Job #JPF04586

  • THEATRE & DANCE / Arts and Humanities / UC San Diego

Position overview

Position title: Associate Professor of Acting

Salary range: A reasonable salary range estimate for this position is $103,600-$124,300 The posted UC Academic salary scales set the minimum pay as determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See the following table for the salary scale for this position here: UCOP Academic Salary Scales. Please refer to the 10/1/2026 salary scale for Faculty-Ladder Ranks-Professor Series. The base salary range, from the salary table, for this position is $103,600-$114,800 ​“Off-scale salaries” and other components of pay, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience. Additional UCSD salary information can be found here: UCSD salary information

Application Window

Open date: July 29, 2026

Next review date: Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Thursday, Jul 29, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Department of Theatre and Dance at UC San Diego Theatre and Dance Department Website invites theatre artists to apply for a tenured faculty position within the Ladder Rank Series. The academic appointment for this position will be for an Associate Professor of Acting, effective July 1, 2027 and instruction beginning September 2027 (Fall Quarter).

The Department of Theatre and Dance at UC San Diego invites applicants specializing in acting to join a vibrant department committed to shaping the future of the arts by fostering a new generation of creative and collaborative theatre professionals. We are seeking a candidate who can lead a rigorous two year graduate acting progression while also teaching undergraduate courses within the Department of Theatre and Dance. The primary focus of this position will be on a practice-based approach to foundational acting techniques, with a secondary emphasis on Shakespeare and/or working with heightened text. Experience and/or demonstrated interest in acting for the camera is highly desirable. In addition to teaching, we are looking for a candidate who can contribute to the creative vision of our department by directing productions during the academic year. As the field of acting continues to evolve, we are seeking a dynamic collaborative leader to guide the acting area through its next phase of growth and innovation.

Professorial appointments and advancement at UC San Diego require a sustained record of high-quality and impactful creative work. The position involves active participation in all aspects of the department, including recruitment, casting, curriculum development and a commitment to contributing to the ongoing development of the acting program.

The responsibilities of this position include teaching a combination of five graduate and undergraduate courses, ranging from small seminars in the candidate's area(s) of expertise to larger courses that serve both the BA and MFA communities and fulfill the relevant Colleges’ General Education requirements. Given the department's emphasis on integrating production into the curriculum, we are especially seeking candidates with experience in both acting and directing, who are capable of mentoring MFA students, as well as select undergraduate students, in these disciplines. Committee service is also a key component of this position.

Alongside its ranking as a premier acting program at a Research 1 institution, the Department of Theatre and Dance at the UC San Diego has a continued partnership with the acclaimed, Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse, collaborating on productions annually.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Applicants must possess an MFA or 3 – 5 years of equivalent professional experience and/or relevant training.

Examples of equivalent professional experience and/or relevant training may include such genres as: acting, directing, new play development, and artistic direction. Professional experience and/or relevant training venues may include: resident and regional theatres, studio spaces, cinema, national theatres, cultural and/or community-centered venues, and/or commercial theatres including: Broadway and Off-Broadway.

Applicants must exhibit 5 or more years of teaching experience in Academic or Studio environments.

Applicants must demonstrate 5 years or more of evidence of teaching effectiveness and mentorship in higher education or studio environments. Examples include but are not limited to: positive teaching/mentoring evaluations, student support letters, peer/professional reviews, and applicable awards/honors/nominations.

Applicants are required to have accumulated a body of work consisting of teaching, acting and/or directing professional experience, spanning a decade or more.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
  • Personal Statement
  • Statement of Research/Professional Work
  • Statement of Teaching

Reference requirements

  • 3 required (contact information only)

Please provide the contact information for 3 references who can speak to your academic and/or studio teaching experience.

Apply link: https://apol-recruit.ucsd.edu/JPF04586

Help contact: m1craig@ucsd.edu

About UC San Diego

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

As a university employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements. 

The University of California prohibits smoking and tobacco use at all of its university-controlled properties. 

The UC San Diego Annual Security & Fire Safety Report is available online at: https://www.police.ucsd.edu/docs/annualclery.pdf. This report provides crime and fire statistics, as well as institutional policy statements & procedures. Contact the UC San Diego Police Department at (858) 534-4361 if you want to obtain paper copies of this report. 

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

Click for more information on Assembly Bill-810

Click for more information on Senate Bill-791

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy: [https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH]

• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties: [https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination]

Job location

San Diego, CA

Job details

Title
Associate Professor of Acting
Employer
University of California, San Diego
Location
9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
Published
Aug 14, 2026
Closes:
Oct 25, 2026
Job type
Full time, Academic / Faculty, Arts and Culture
Field
Performing Arts
Salary

Salary: $103,600 – $124,300 per year

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About the employer

University of California, San Diego Jobs

University of California, San Diego

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AcademicJobs.com is the premier platform to discover UC San Diego jobs, connecting talented professionals with exceptional career opportunities at one of the United States’ top public research universities. The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), located in La Jolla, California, is renowned for its cutting-edge research and academic excellence, making UC San Diego uni jobs highly sought after by academics and professionals globally. UC San Diego careers offer a dynamic and innovative environment for individuals to excel. UC San Diego university careers span a diverse range of disciplines, reflecting the university’s key areas of academic specialization, including biological sciences, engineering, oceanography, computer science, and social sciences. Employment UC San Diego includes roles such as professors, research fellows, postdoctoral scholars, and professional staff positions, catering to various expertise levels. For those pursuing UC San Diego jobs San Diego, the university’s coastal campus provides a collaborative workplace in one of America’s most vibrant and scenic cities. UC San Diego vacancies and job postings are showcased on AcademicJobs.com, where candidates can explore opportunities in teaching, pioneering research, and administrative roles. Jobs at UC San Diego cover fields like climate science, artificial intelligence, and public health, aligning with the university’s commitment to addressing global challenges through discovery and impact. Each UC San Diego vacancy is an opportunity to contribute to transformative initiatives within a distinguished academic community. UC San Diego Employment Opportunities are extensive, with UC San Diego job Opportunities ranging from academic faculty to technical and operational roles. A UC San Diego Career offers the chance to join an institution that values diversity, innovation, and societal progress. UC San Diego uni openings are regularly updated on AcademicJobs.com, ensuring access to the latest UC San Diego vacancies. Jobs at UC San Diego uni are ideal for those passionate about advancing knowledge and shaping the future. UC San Diego job postings include positions in neuroscience, data science, and professional services such as IT and research administration. UC San Diego Employment through AcademicJobs.com connects talented individuals with UC San Diego Uni vacancies, providing a seamless pathway to join a world-leading university driving global change.

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Related Reading

Associate Professor of Acting: A Live Search Worth Reading

A tenure-track acting search opens with a direct apply link, and that detail says plenty.

Most acting faculty ads hide the job behind four paragraphs of institutional boilerplate. This Associate Professor of Acting posting does not.

It sits on AcademicJobs with a direct apply link. That design choice tells candidates something important before they read a single qualification: the search committee wants applicants to move, not to wander through an HR portal. You should treat that speed as a standard for the rest of the process.

I have watched theatre departments hire for years. The strongest searches are concrete about the work, honest about the workload, and quick to communicate. The weak ones expect you to wait quietly while they decide. This posting gives you the first part up front.

What an Associate Professor of Acting search usually requires

At most U.S. universities, an associate professor of acting is a tenured or tenure-track appointment. The title means you have already passed the assistant professor years or bring equivalent professional standing from the industry. It is not an entry-level teaching post.

Departments generally ask for an MFA in acting, theatre performance, or a closely related field. Some will accept a master's degree plus substantial professional acting or directing credits. You should expect to show evidence of effective classroom teaching, a body of performed or directed work, and service to a program or professional theatre community.

That combination is the whole job: working artist and reliable faculty member at the same time.

The acting faculty market is small, but not uniform

Tenure-track acting lines are rarer than lecturer or adjunct positions. When an associate-level search opens, it draws working actors who want a stable teaching base and assistant professors who are ready to move up. A candidate with a strong professional career and a thin teaching record can succeed if the ad values creative practice, but if the department is understaffed and needs someone to direct three productions a year, that changes the profile.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of postsecondary teachers overall will grow about 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, roughly as fast as the average for all occupations. That number covers every discipline, from engineering to studio art, so treat it as background rather than a promise for theatre departments.

Accreditation shapes what these roles expect. The National Association of Schools of Theatre sets standards for curriculum and faculty qualifications at accredited U.S. theatre programs. If the hiring department is accredited, your application should address terminal degree requirements, documented creative activity, and teaching effectiveness directly.

The Association for Theatre in Higher Education tracks conversations about pedagogy, hiring, and professional development across the field. Watching how similar searches are written there gives you a sense of what committees are weighting this year.

How to read the ad before you write a word

The full posting is available on AcademicJobs under Associate Professor of Acting, and applications route through this application tracker. Before you draft anything, look for the details that shape your week.

  • Teaching load: how many courses per term and whether production work counts as part of the load
  • Creative practice expectations: whether you are expected to act or direct in departmental productions or maintain a professional career outside campus
  • Tenure or review standards: what the program counts as creative activity, scholarship, and service
  • Advising and recruiting duties: whether you will recruit at auditions, run a performance cohort, or administer a program
  • Start date and contract duration: whether this is a continuing appointment or a fixed-term visiting line
  • Salary range or pay transparency: several states, including California, Colorado, and New York, require posted ranges, but many theatre departments still omit them

If the ad leaves several of those unanswered, ask before applying. A serious tenured search should not make you guess at the teaching load.

Build an application that reads like a working actor's, not a bureaucrat's

A performing arts faculty application differs from a history professor's. You need a clean academic CV, but the artistic work carries the argument. Prepare these materials.

  • A CV that separates performance credits, directing credits, teaching appointments, and creative research into clear sections
  • A cover letter that names the program and connects your work to its specific training model rather than reciting the ad
  • A teaching philosophy that explains how you run a studio class, deliver feedback, and prepare students for auditions and productions
  • An artistic portfolio or website with production photos, reviews, and video clips where rights allow
  • Three to five references who can speak to both your professional work and your classroom reliability

For acting searches, committees often skim the CV for professional credits first. Put a short credits list near the top, not buried after committee service. Our guide to writing a winning academic CV covers the formatting that gets past faculty readers.

Expect a slow process, and plan around it

Academic acting searches often run from a fall posting to campus interviews in late winter or early spring. Offers can land in March or April, with a start date the following August. That is a long time to keep a professional actor waiting.

Strong candidates should stay in other conversations. The longer a search drags without communication, the weaker the final pool gets. You do not need to chase the committee every week, but ask for a timeline in your first interaction and confirm it after an interview.

If you are invited to campus, expect a teaching demonstration, meetings with students, and a conversation with the dean. Prepare one 20-minute acting class segment that shows how you give feedback, not just how much you know about Stanislavski.

If you are the department running this search

I will not pretend this advice is only for candidates. Half the acting searches I see waste everyone's time by hiding the teaching load, omitting the salary range, and asking for a diversity statement without saying how it will be used.

Write the first ninety days into the ad. Say what the person will teach in the first year. Name the team they will join. If a candidate cannot find those details in two minutes, the best ones will close the tab before they finish their coffee.

Post the opening where theatre faculty actually look, including AcademicJobs. A clear title and a direct apply link are the minimum, not a perk.

One action to take this week

Open the full Associate Professor of Acting posting and read it against your current CV. If two required qualifications are not on paper yet, spend an afternoon documenting your creative work and teaching outcomes. Then decide whether to apply or fix the gap before the search closes.

Related image

Frequently Asked Questions

🎭What is an Associate Professor of Acting?

An Associate Professor of Acting is typically a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who teaches studio acting, voice, movement, and related performance courses at a college or university. The rank sits above assistant professor and below full professor. It usually requires an MFA in acting and a record of professional creative work.

📋What qualifications do you need for an acting faculty role?

Most U.S. departments ask for an MFA in acting, theatre performance, or a closely related field. Some will accept a master's degree plus substantial professional acting or directing credits. You will also need documented teaching experience, evidence of creative activity, and references who can speak to both your professional and classroom work.

🎓Is an MFA required to apply?

In most tenure-track acting searches, the MFA is treated as the terminal degree. Some institutions will consider equivalent professional experience in place of a degree, but the posting usually states this explicitly. If it does not, ask the search chair before spending time on an application.

🏛️What does tenure mean for acting faculty?

Tenure for acting faculty means the institution commits to continued employment after a probationary period, provided the candidate meets teaching, creative activity, and service standards. For actors, creative activity often includes professional performance and directing work, not just publication in academic journals.

⏳What does a typical teaching load look like?

Teaching loads vary by institution. Some acting professors teach three studio courses per semester plus production supervision. Others teach less when directing departmental productions counts as part of the load. The ad or the search chair should tell you how many courses and productions are expected.

🔥How competitive are acting faculty jobs?

Tenure-track acting lines are far fewer than lecturer or adjunct openings. When an associate-level search appears, it often attracts working actors seeking stability and assistant professors ready to advance. A strong professional credit list and clear teaching effectiveness help you stand out.

📄What should I include in my application?

Prepare a CV with separate sections for performance credits, directing credits, teaching appointments, and creative research. Add a cover letter that names the program, a teaching philosophy, an artistic portfolio or website, and three to five references who know your work in and out of the classroom.

🔗What is an application tracker?

An application tracker is a central system that receives and stores candidate materials for a search committee. The apply link for this opening routes through a dedicated tracker. That structure usually means your documents are distributed to multiple committee members rather than sitting in one person's inbox.

🗓️How long does the acting faculty hiring process take?

Expect a fall posting, committee review through late fall, and campus interviews in late winter or early spring. Offers often land in March or April, with a start date the following August. Ask for a timeline early and confirm it after interviews.

🎬Can professional acting credits substitute for a degree?

Some programs will accept substantial professional credits in place of an MFA. The strength of this substitution depends on the institution and its accreditation standards. If the posting lists a degree as required, ask the search chair whether documented professional work can be considered equivalent.

🧑‍🏫What is the difference between a lecturer and an associate professor?

A lecturer typically holds a teaching-focused, renewable appointment without tenure. An associate professor holds a higher rank, often with tenure or a tenure-track path, and carries broader responsibilities in creative activity, program development, and service.

🧭Where can I find more acting faculty job postings?

AcademicJobs maintains a searchable board of faculty and staff openings. You can browse university jobs and faculty jobs to see current postings, including performing arts roles.