Assistant Professor of Composition
Department of Music
College of Fine Arts and Communication
COFAC-4024
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, nine-month, full-time Assistant Professor of Composition in the Department of Music. The primary responsibility of this position is providing instruction in music composition to undergraduate and graduate students, through both private studio lessons and classroom teaching. Additional responsibilities include classroom teaching of music theory and musicianship and management of the Department of Music’s Creative Technology Lab. The Department seeks an experienced, innovative, and student-centered educator who will demonstrate excellence in instruction, scholarship, and service. The preferred start date is August 2027.
Qualifications
Applicants should hold a doctoral degree in composition. ABD candidates will be considered but must have completed a degree prior to appointment. Candidates must demonstrate excellence in teaching, a promising creative/scholarly agenda, and the capacity to serve the administrative needs of the Department of Music, the College of Fine Arts and Communication, and Towson University. Candidates with at least two years of university-level teaching experience are preferred.
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities of the position include 1) teaching composition lessons and mentoring student composers; 2) teaching music theory and musicianship classes; 3) maintaining an agenda of creative and scholarly work consistent with Towson University’s reputation for excellence in interdisciplinary research; 4) managing the Department’s Creative Technology Lab; 5) contributing to the development of an innovative music curriculum; 6) contributing to the growth of the composition program through active student recruitment; 7) demonstrating meaningful commitment to inclusive pedagogy and student engagement; 8) serving on department, college, and university committees; and 9) student advising.
The Department:
The Department of Music serves a community of over 200 music majors and graduate students, as well as offering courses and performance opportunities to students specializing in other fields. Towson students engage in a range of rigorous scholarly, creative, and collaborative work that reflects a broad base of musical interests. Our students have the valuable opportunity to work with a music faculty including internationally recognized composers, performers, scholars, and public intellectuals who prioritize student achievement, scholarly skills, creativity, and community. The Department regularly hosts guest artists for masterclasses and guest lectures and has a long history of philanthropic support to sponsor the educational needs of its students. TU alumni are nationally and internationally renowned composers and performers, educators in PreK-12 and university settings, technological innovators, entrepreneurs, and arts administrators.
The Department offers three undergraduate degree programs for music majors: the Bachelor of Science in Music, the Bachelor of Music (classical performance, jazz/commercial performance, or composition), and the Bachelor of Science in Music Education. The Department also offers minors in general music, music industry, jazz/commercial performance, and music technology. Graduate degrees include the Master of Science in Music Education, the Master of Music, the Master of Music in Music Pedagogy, and the Graduate Certificate in Applied Music.
Application Process:
Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications completed by November 15, 2026. All materials must be submitted online through the university’s application portal. A complete application portfolio includes 1) a letter of application addressing the candidate’s qualifications for the position; 2) a curriculum vitae; 3) a statement of teaching philosophy; 4) a statement describing current and future scholarly research; 5) a sample of creative work, preferably a web-accessible video or audio recording, with or without score; 6) three letters of recommendation; and 7) unofficial transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended (official transcripts will be required at time of hire).
Note: Towson University is conducting a search for an Assistant Professor of Music Theory. Applicants wishing to be considered for both positions must submit a separate application for each.
Enquiries should be addressed to the Composition Search Committee via email: compositionsearch@towson.edu
Click here to apply. Please note that the search number for which you are applying is COFAC-4024.
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: $68,000-70,000
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 successful candidate, and results may affect 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.
