About the role
Application Deadline
Open until filled. Review of applications will begin November 15, 2026.
Position Details
This full-time faculty position is on-campus and in-person.
The Department of Film, Television and Digital Media in the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas, invites applications for a full-time Assistant Professor of Professional Practice to begin in Fall (August) 2027.
We seek a candidate with significant professional experience in narrative film/video production with expertise in two or more areas such as screenwriting, directing, cinematography, sound, producing, motion graphics, or post-production. While the successful candidate will regularly teach production-related courses, they will also regularly teach media studies courses (such as The Art of Film and TV, Media Milestones [Film and TV], Film and Television Genres, World Cinema, etc.) as needed by the department. Familiarity with the use of AI tools in media production is a plus.
At TCU, Assistant Professors of Professional Practice are full-time faculty members who are teaching specialists with significant professional experience. They may advance on a promotion track from assistant to associate to full PPP. They are not eligible for tenure or de facto tenure, but as they earn promotion, annual contracts may become 3- and 5-year contracts.
Responsibilities will include teaching seven courses per academic year, continuing professional engagement, service to the university through committee memberships, and student advising. An Assistant PPP must maintain professional knowledge and skill appropriate to their discipline.
Duties and Essential Job Functions:
- Teaching: Prepares for and meets academic instruction responsibilities for courses as assigned. Responsibilities may be covered in the classroom, laboratory, or other such environments. Faculty members are also expected to schedule their own office hours weekly.
- Service: Serves the community through committee membership, participation in faculty governance and processes, activities relating to university programs, and other such activities that contribute to TCU and its mission.
- Professional Engagement: Continues professional engagement within the field of film/television. Maintains creative activity in their area(s) of expertise.
- Advising / Mentoring: May serve as advisors and/or mentors to students. Meets and provides advice to students that are designated as advisees.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience:
Earned Master’s degree in an appropriate area required; MFA or other terminal degree preferred.
A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in the field of film/television production.
Department Details
The Department of Film, Television and Digital Media has 10 full-time faculty members who lead the following undergraduate majors: Film, Television and Digital Media; Business of Entertainment Media; and Sports Broadcasting. The department also offers a minor in Media and Popular Culture.
School/College Description
In 2023, the Schieffer College celebrated the 10th anniversary of its naming for TCU alumnus and longtime CBS network TV correspondent Bob Schieffer. The college is the academic home for four departments: Communication Studies; Film, Television, and Digital Media; Journalism; and Strategic Communication. Some 1,150 undergraduate student majors complete coursework in areas that include: Advertising and Public Relations; Cinema and Media Studies; Digital and Social Media; Health Communication and Media; Interpersonal and Organizational Communication; Journalism and News Media Studies; and Sports Broadcasting. About 30 graduate students pursue master’s degrees in Communication Studies or Strategic Communication, and some 60 full-time and 15 part-time faculty teach in the college. The college’s award-winning student experiential learning activities include print, video, and digital news media, a speech and debate team, an advertising and public relations agency, a radio station, and sports broadcasting productions. The college also offers a number of off-campus study options to students.
University & Fort Worth Description
About TCU
Founded in 1873, Texas Christian University is a world-class, private, Carnegie-classified national research university located in Fort Worth, Texas. Inspired by its mission and core values of integrity, engagement, community, and excellence, TCU consistently ranks among the top universities and colleges in the United States.
TCU’s campus — regularly ranked among the nation’s most beautiful — spans 302 acres in a primarily residential area just minutes from downtown.
The university comprises nine schools and colleges offering 117 areas of undergraduate study, 62 master’s level programs, and 37 areas of doctoral study. TCU is a leader across several disciplines, including health care, business, energy, and the arts. Total enrollment stands at 12,980, including 11,152 undergraduates and 1,828 graduate students. Students are supported by over 2,200 faculty and staff, including more than 700 full-time faculty members.
About Fort Worth
Fort Worth blends the approachable charm of a smaller city with the amenities, cultural energy, and distinctive personality of a major metro. As the nation’s 11th-largest city, with a rapidly growing population of more than 1 million, Fort Worth and TCU share a relationship that spans more than a century — one that continues to deepen as many Horned Frogs choose to stay after graduation, drawn by the region’s thriving job market. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area — the nation’s fourth-largest and a top tourism destination — Fort Worth earned recognition from U.S. News & World Report in 2025 as the No. 4 best big city to live in the United States.
Fort Worth offers an impressive array of cultural, educational, and entertainment opportunities, anchored by three world-class art museums — the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. The Bass Performance Hall stands as one of the premier performance venues in the country. Throughout the year, residents and visitors alike enjoy concerts, film festivals, and other cultural events at Sundance Square, Dickies Arena, Panther Island, and Near Southside venues.
Required Application Materials & Application Instructions
Applications must include a cover letter that addresses the position requirements and your qualifications; please indicate experience to date with AI tools, if any. Also required: a curriculum vitae, statement of teaching philosophy, evidence of teaching effectiveness (which should include faculty observations, student evaluations, and/or syllabi), a link to a professional portfolio or demo reel, and a list of five references (three academic and two professional) with current contact information. Applications must be submitted electronically through the TCU HR system.
All questions regarding the application process should be directed to hrtalentacquisition@tcu.edu or (817) 257-7790. Review of applications begins November 15, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.
Employment Values Statement
Texas Christian University values Integrity, Engagement, Community, and Excellence in the workplace. TCU treats applicants and employees with fairness and respect. TCU hires and promotes individuals based on their qualifications and their commitment to making a positive impact on our student-centered community. TCU is an equal opportunity employer and follows all applicable employment laws. TCU fairly considers all qualified individuals, ensuring we are a workplace free from unlawful discrimination and harassment.