Job Description:
The Music Department at The College of Wooster invites applications for a tenure-track position in Composition and Music Theory at the level of Assistant Professor, to begin August 2025, pending final administrative approval. The successful candidate will teach applied composition, courses in theory and aural skills at all levels, supervise undergraduate research and/or creative projects as part of the College’s Independent Study (I.S.) requirement, and maintain a record of strong creative activity and/or scholarly achievement. A commitment to incorporating stylistically diverse repertoire into the teaching—representing a wide range of cultural contexts and musical approaches—is essential.
The College of Wooster is an independent college of the liberal arts and sciences with a commitment to excellence in undergraduate education. We enroll a racially, socioeconomically, and culturally diverse student population of approximately 2,000 undergraduate students, of which 6% identify as Latine; 9% as Black/African American; 4% as Asian; 4% as multiracial; and 61% as white. Fourteen percent (14%) of our students are studying on international visas. Twenty-three percent (23%) are Pell-eligible and 12% are first-generation college students. We are interested in hiring faculty who can contribute to the intellectual vibrancy of the community through culturally relevant pedagogy, curricular diversity, intercultural fluency, and a commitment to ensuring equitable outcomes for racially and ethnically minoritized and marginalized student groups.
All Wooster faculty teach courses accessible to non-majors and contribute to the First-Year Seminar Program. The teaching load is 5.5 courses per year, which includes credited mentoring for Junior and Senior Independent Study projects.
The Department of Music has 8 full-time faculty members and graduates approximately 15 majors annually, many of whom go on to pursue graduate study in performance, composition, musicology, and other areas; or enter professional careers in music education or music therapy. There is a high level of non-major participation in our department as well, with hundreds of students each year active in lessons, ensembles, and classroom courses.
Qualifications
Doctorate in Music Composition and/or Music Theory preferred; ABD considered. Prior college-level teaching experience is strongly preferred. The ideal candidate will have a successful and ongoing record of composition; teaching experience in both composition and music theory; and expertise in supporting areas such as (but not limited to) music technology, jazz and musics from the African diaspora, performance, and/or entrepreneurship. Proficiency at the keyboard—at a level sufficient to support strong composition and theory teaching—is essential.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit the following materials: a letter of application; curriculum vitae; unofficial graduate transcripts (official documents required upon hire); three letters of recommencation; and evidence of effective teaching (such as syllabi, student evaluations, links to class recordings) and research/creative activity (scores, recordings, publications, conference papers).
In your letter of application (2–3 pages), please describe your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion including information about your understanding of these issues (with special emphasis on inclusive pedagogical approaches), your record of activities to date, and your thoughts about how you might help advance these efforts as a member of the College of Wooster community.
Review of applications will begin September 1 and will continue until the position is filled. If you have questions regarding Interfolio, please contact Melissa Puster, Music Department Administrative Coordinator, at mpuster@wooster.edu. Questions about the position should be directed to Peter Mowrey, Search Committee Chair, at pmowrey@wooster.edu.
The College of Wooster is an independent college of the liberal arts and sciences with a commitment to inclusive excellence in undergraduate education. We are especially interested in hiring faculty who contribute to the intellectual vibrancy and diversity of the academic community through their teaching, research, and service, and who are committed to ensuring the success of diverse student populations. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical and/or mental disability, age, religion, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by institutional policy, or by state, local, or federal law. All offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a criminal background check and verification of the legal right to work in the United States as required by federal law. Typically, the college is not able to sponsor H1-B visas for visiting faculty. The College of Wooster is committed by policy and practice to diversity, equity and inclusion. Read our nondiscrimination policy.