"Full-Time Faculty in the First Year Experience"

Job Title:

Full-Time Faculty in the First Year Experience

Department:

First Year Experience (FYE)

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Reports to:

Chair of FYE

Position:

The Maryland Institute College of Arts (MICA) invites applications for a full-time faculty position in the First Year Experience (FYE) Department with a multi-year renewable contract in a non-tenure institution. MICA is recognized for the quality of its fine art and design programs at national and international levels, its dedication to student learning and teaching excellence, a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, and for preparing students for successful creative careers. We invite applications from working artists and designers who have a demonstrated commitment to education to join our faculty with a preferred start date of August 1, 2026.

About the First Year Experience at MICA:

MICA's First Year Experience is designed to provide a foundation-level exploratory art and design curriculum. It supports the diversity of our community, the discovery of various learning pathways, and student curiosity. Individual voices are honored while building community through a comprehensive learning experience that propels the intellect and imagination, research and critical thinking, making and fabrication, collaboration and critique. In addition, students are encouraged to explore ones roles and responsibilities as artists and designers in society. As a guided pathway, the programs robust and dynamic instruction strengthens foundation-level art and design skills to help students prepare for upper-level study within the Undergraduate Studies (UGS) programs.

Job Description:

Full-time faculty teach 3 courses per semester, primarily within FYE, with opportunities to teach in upper-level programs that align with faculty expertise. In addition, full-time faculty members at MICA participate in departmental service, undertake committee membership, and are expected to maintain an ongoing professional practice.
The position is specifically for a faculty appointment in interdisciplinary studio with local, national, and/or global reach. The successful candidate will help MICA's FYE curriculum advance conceptual and critical skills in the production of studio art through exploration of the visual arts, research, material investigation, and professionally resolving content. The successful candidate will show enthusiasm for introducing students to new mediums and techniques, helping them to cultivate curiosity and embrace experimentation in their pivotal first year. The faculty member is also expected to demonstrate digital fluency in practice and teaching with a particular focus on interdisciplinary art and design production practices, in order to teach studio and media courses across the first-year program.

Responsibilities Include:

• Teach six undergraduate studio classes per academic year, (3 Fall, 3 Spring) in FYE and also in upper-level programs related to ones area of expertise
• Mentor and advise students, fostering their creative and professional development
• Active participation in departmental and institutional service including:
  • Curriculum and program development, assessment, and strategic planning
  • Share in coordinating department exhibitions of student work
  • Engage in college-wide committees and initiatives that promote shared governance
• Maintain an active professional practice and/or research agenda that informs teaching and contributes to the field

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors degree
• Demonstrated knowledge in art and design history, theory, and criticism;
• Teaching experience at the college level beyond graduate assistantships
• Personal commitment to teaching on a college level using pedagogical approaches that are relevant and responsive to our student body
• Demonstrated digital fluency in practice and teaching with a particular focus on interdisciplinary, color, design, and new media studio concepts
• A record of professional accomplishment, as demonstrated by a portfolio of professional work and an exhibition and/or publication record
• Capable of teaching at all levels of undergraduate education including MICA's First Year Experience
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment, participating in advising, curriculum development and review, institutional and departmental committee service, and scheduled departmental and student activities

Preferred Requirements:

• A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in studio practices, a related visual arts field, or professional achievements equivalent to an MFA
• Knowledgeable about contemporary practices, art and theory and their relationship to broader social, cultural, economic, scientific, and technological contexts
• Experience with interdisciplinary collaboration and/or teaching
• Shows promise or proven ability to enrich the strategic aims of the department and the College
• Demonstrated studio practice combined with working knowledge and experience in multiple art production processes
• Demonstrated collaboration of working with people from various cultural and economic backgrounds, experiences, education levels, and degrees of professional training

Additional Information:

The faculty are represented by the SEIU Local 500.

Salary:

Commensurate with experience and college policy ranging from $56,246 to 146,325. Excellent benefits package.

Apply:

The College will review applications as received. Materials received before October 17, 2025 are best assured of receiving full consideration. The position will remain open until filled. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be held in the strictest confidence.

Application Instructions:

*Applications MUST be initiated via the MICA website. During your application on MICA's website, you will be redirected to Slideroom to upload supporting materials as directed below. After you have uploaded your materials on Slideroom, please complete your application on MICA's website.

Slideroom: You will be asked to login or create a login and submit Two multi-page PDF documents.

Submit online: Two multi-page PDF documents.

The first multi-page PDF document should include:

• Cover letter outlining your interest in the position, teaching philosophy, and thoughts on the role of art and design in contemporary society
• Comprehensive CV
• Names and contact information including address, phone and email for three references.

The second multi-page PDF document should include:

• 15-25 images of professional creative work
• 10-15 images of student work from past teaching assignments (if available)
• Descriptive list of all images above

Please format PDF documents for screen resolution and viewing. No physical media are requested.