"COFAC-3909, Assistant Professor of Music Theory"

Job Details

Assistant Professor of Music Theory  Department of Music  College of Fine Arts and Communication COFAC-3909

Towson University:  Towson University (TU) is one of the nation’s top 100 public universities. Located north of Baltimore, TU currently enrolls over 19,000 students and is the second-largest university in the prestigious University System of Maryland. Towson University fosters a climate that is grounded in respect to cultivate the intellectual and personal growth of the entire university community.

Position:  The College of Fine Arts and Communication invites applications for a tenure-track, 9-month, full-time Assistant Professor of Music Theory in the Department of Music. Preferred start date August 2026. The focus of this position is the teaching of Western music theory and aural skills. We are seeking an innovative and student-centered teacher-scholar who will demonstrate excellence in teaching, scholarly engagement, and service.

Qualifications:  Applicants must hold a completed doctorate in Music Theory or a closely related field. ABD candidates will be considered, but the degree must be fully conferred by August 2026. A minimum of two years of successful college/university-level teaching experience is required. Candidates must show evidence of excellence in teaching core theory and aural skills curricula, including piano facility, and demonstrate an active or promising scholarly agenda. The successful candidate will also possess excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach to working with faculty, staff, and students. 

Responsibilities:  Teach the undergraduate and graduate music theory and aural skills curriculum within a Theory Division that consists of four other full-time faculty members. Advise students, participate in departmental assessment and recruitment activities, contribute to curriculum development, and maintain an active scholarly profile. Provide service on department, college, and university committees is expected. Demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusive pedagogy and student engagement.

The Department:  The Department offers the Bachelor of Music in Performance and Composition, Bachelor of Science in Music Education, and Bachelor of Science in Music degrees and several minors in Music at the undergraduate level. Graduate degrees include the Master of Music with Concentrations in Performance or Composition, Master of Science in Music Education, Master of Music in Music Pedagogy, and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Music. The Department of Music regularly hosts guest artists for public masterclasses and private coaching with qualified students. The Department has a long history of philanthropic support to sponsor the educational needs of its students. Our alumni are performers at the national and international levels, respected educators in PreK-12 schools and university settings, commercial musicians and jazz artists, entrepreneurs, and arts administrators. 

Application Process:  Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Priority given to complete digital applications received by October 15, 2025. All materials must be submitted online through the university's application portal. A complete application includes: [1] a letter of application addressing the candidate’s qualifications for the position; [2] a curriculum vitae; [3] a reference page with names and contact information for at least three references; [4] a statement of teaching philosophy that outlines teaching practices and strategies; [5] a research statement outlining current and future scholarly interests; [6] unofficial transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended (official transcripts will be required at time of hire); and [7] a recent sample teaching video (up to 15 minutes) demonstrating classroom instruction, accessible via a weblink to a streaming video platform. Additional material(s) may be requested later.

Address questions to the Theory Search Committee via email: musictheorysearch@towson.edu Click here to apply. Please note that the search number for which you are applying is COFAC-3909.  Please be sure to visit the Applicant Data Form to complete a voluntary on-line form. All data collected are for internal, state, and/or federal reporting and will not be used for other purposes. 

Salary and Benefits:  Targeted salary range: $67,000-70,000 commensurate on experience Benefits: TU offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent health, life and retirement plans; and tuition remission. To learn more about our benefits, click here for regular faculty/regular lecturer or here for contingent lecturer. TU also offers a variety of great perks and discounts, which can be found here.

Background Check:  A Criminal Background Investigation is required for the hired candidate and the results may impact employment.

COVID-19 Statement:  The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors has been our top priority and the focus of every one of our decisions since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the University System of Maryland (USM) has strongly encouraged full COVID vaccination and up-to-date booster shots (when eligible) for all faculty, staff, and students at all schools in the USM as both a reasonable and necessary means of protecting our health and safety.