Assistant/Associate Professor of Writing for Film and Television

Snyder School of Cinema Media Arts Position Rank and Status This full-time teaching position is anticipated to be filled at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor, commensurate with the candidate's experience, scholarly record, and qualifications. Qualifications and Duties The Snyder School of Cinema Media Arts seeks candidates with recognized industry experience and achievement within writing for film, television, and/or related forms of visual storytelling. While a terminal degree is preferred, preference will be given to applicants with significant professional experience and a desire to remain industry-active in their field. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to effective teaching and student mentorship, coupled with a genuine desire to integrate their Christian faith into course content and subsequent delivery. They should be equipped to teach current professional practices, techniques, histories, formats, theories, and adaptable skills to prepare students for a diversity of writing formats in order to best prepare them for their careers. While the primary goal of the Writing for Film and Television major is to produce quality storytellers by fostering individual voices and perspectives, the Snyder School also desires to equip students to understand the 360-degrees which surrounds the art…the business of entertainment. Responsibilities extend beyond teaching, including active participation in the development and growth of the Writing for Film and Television major and the Snyder School overall, advising, recruitment, industry relations, committee service, attending and participating in university events, and more, all as part of a dynamic faculty team. All faculty balance teaching, scholarship, and service responsibilities as full-time employees at the university. Candidates must work well as part of a larger team (collaboration, innovation, active participation, etc.), exemplifying the qualities taught to students. The position is a full-time assistant or associate professor faculty role with competitive salary and benefits. The anticipated start is the fall 2026 semester. Candidates selected for review will be invited to complete a full university faculty application. Teaching and Advising The typical teaching load encompasses four to five courses per semester (12-15 units) and range between introductory through advanced courses. Depending on the candidate's qualifications, assigned courses may support the school's other majors and the university core curriculum. Faculty are also required to advise students on program, course, creative, and career-related matters. Instruction is to maintain a focus on high-quality principles as integrated with a Christian worldview. Scholarship and Professional Engagement The successful candidate is strongly encouraged to maintain an active scholarly research agenda, remaining engaged within the entertainment industry within their discipline in order to remain attentive to industry trends, changes, and bring additional real-world experience/analysis into the classroom. Service The faculty member will participate actively in school and university service, including committee work and student activities, to contribute to the mission and governance of the institution. About the Snyder School of Cinema Media Arts Recognized by industry trade publications Variety, Filmmaker Magazine, TheWrap, and The Hollywood Reporter as one of the top film schools in the nation, our strategic approach is to blend forward-looking curriculum, industry-active faculty and top-of-the-line facilities, with a vibrant, creative community. Industry training should not be limited to skills alone, as the industry also looks for qualities such as adaptability, reliability, follow-through, and teamwork. It’s for this reason the Snyder School prioritizes not only excellence in craft, but also excellence in character. Through our “four-screen” media program, we equip and educate students to be effective storytellers and leaders across the film screen, television screen, computer screen, and device screen. The Snyder School will open a new, state-of-the-art, 45,463 square foot studio facility in summer 2026. This new facility is intended to serve the needs of a growing student body as they prepare for careers in the film, television, digital media, and game industries. It’s designed to house the full production workflow from ideation to pre-production, production to post-production, and all the way through final presentation in a state-of-the-art theater. The Snyder School is housed as one of seven schools within Biola University, an evangelical Christian university in which faculty endorse a university statement of faith and community values and are committed to the integration of faith and learning. Candidates must be willing to support Biola’s mission and preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a clear commitment to the integration of faith into their scholarship and teaching. The employee must hold personal theological beliefs that are in agreement with the Biola Doctrinal Statement (https://www.biola.edu/about/theological-positions) and maintain a lifestyle consistent with sound Christian principles and the standard of conduct promulgated by the institution. All positions at Biola University require applicants to pass a criminal background check as a condition of employment.