Assistant Professor of Cinematography

Job Details

Assistant Professor of Cinematography

Job No: 553325
Work Type: Instructional Faculty - Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: Southern California: Long Beach
Categories: Bargaining Unit: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Job Search Category/Discipline: Faculty - Fine/Performing Arts, Appointment Type: Tenured/Tenure-Track, Time Basis: Full Time

Position: Assistant Professor in Cinematography
Effective Date: August 17, 2026 (Fall Semester)
Salary: The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary is $6,221 to $13,224/per month (12 monthly payments per academic year). The anticipated hiring range is $6,221 to $8,750/ per month. Salary offered is commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Application Deadline: Review of applications to begin on January 20, 2026. Position open until filled (or recruitment canceled).

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). CSULB earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in 2023, joining a distinctive group of colleges and universities who have been recognized for its commitment to Latine/x student success. CSULB is committed to serving diverse students and has established and actively supports the Black Excellence Collegium, dedicated to promoting Black excellence and advancing Black Student Success, and El Concilio for Latinx Success at the Beach, whose mission is to build capacity and promote inclusive servingness across initiatives and efforts for the benefit of all students. The President's Equity and Change Commission is dedicated to achieving inclusive excellence in our community and culture and throughout the university. CSULB's Beach 2030 University Action Plans prioritize engaging all students; expanding access to higher education; promoting intellectual achievement; building community; and cultivating resilience.

College of Arts
Department of Cinematic Arts

Required Qualifications:

• M.F.A. or appropriate terminal degree in cinematography, film, or related area or significant industry experience*. Degree at time of application or official notification of completion of the terminal degree by August 1, 2026. Significant industry experience as demonstrated by portfolio of work and C.V.
• Two years of experience teaching cinematography
• Demonstrated knowledge of image-acquisition and narrative filmmaking-specific pedagogical approaches
• Documented experience as cinematographer on a variety of professional work including, but not limited to narrative feature films, episodic series, or short-form work
• Demonstrated potential for sustained growth and success in research, scholarly, and creative activities
• Demonstrated commitment to working successfully with a diverse student population, including low socioeconomic and first-generation students

*Significant Industry Experience
Candidate with significant industry experience in the area of film or television cinematography must also have BA/BFA in film or related discipline. Significant experience shall include: narrative feature films or episodic work with at least one of the following: a) theatrical distribution, or b) streaming on major platform, or c) airing on network, or d) screening at top-tier film festival(s).

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least three years of teaching cinematography at the college level
• Demonstrated professional experience as a cinematographer of short and feature length narrative films, episodic/serial television, web series, music videos, or TV/internet spots
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with a diverse group of artists
• An emerging record of creative professional work that reflects and elevates characters from underrepresented groups
• An established record of mentorship, outreach, and/or engagement with young filmmakers (particularly from underrepresented groups)
• Service experience at the university level
• Experience with multiple modes of instruction (in-person, online, hybrid)
• Experience with inter-departmental or interdisciplinary initiatives
• Experience successfully working with populations demographically and/or socioeconomically similar to the CSULB student body
• Experience mentoring or supporting students using inclusive and culturally relevant teaching strategies in a diverse classroom

Duties:

• Teach cinematography and production courses and appropriate to the candidate's specialty, education, and experience as well as departmental need including, but not limited to, lower-division fundamental classes, Cinematic Lighting, Advanced Cinematography I and II, Production Workshop I and II. (Mode of instruction may include in-person, hybrid, online, and/or any combination thereof.)
• Coordinate production classes to ensure consistent and equitable student experience
• Mentor and supervise students in the Cinematography program
• Develop and maintain ongoing research, scholarly, and creative activities
• Act as program liaison with industry professionals in the field
• Develop and sustain currency in image acquisition technology and in the field of cinematography in narrative filmmaking
• Engage in program-related service activities such as recruitment and evaluation of lecturers, and programmatic review
• Collaborate with faculty to develop curriculum
• Coordinate and expand interdisciplinary initiatives and screening events with other departments on campus including study-abroad initiatives
• Mentor students and engage in outreach with student organizations and events
• Participate in service to the department, college, university, and community

Department of Cinematic Arts

The Department of Cinematic Arts at California State University, Long Beach invites applications for a Tenure Track Assistant Professor with professional expertise in cinematography and image acquisition technology for film and television.

Cinematic Arts is committed to providing every student with the tools and platform necessary to grow in their chosen areas within the cinematic arts. Our program is designed around three pillars: critical and analytical thinking, written and visual storytelling, and production skills. At the heart of our program, we believe in the power of filmmaking and its impact on culture and technology. Through a blend of rigorous academic instruction and hands-on production experience, we aim to develop the visual storytellers of tomorrow-those who will innovate, inspire, and contribute meaningfully to the cinematic arts landscape. The successful candidate will play a central role in strengthening the cinematography curriculum to reflect the principles stated above.

For more about Cinematic Arts at CSULB, see the department website here.

Information on the excellent benefits package available to CSULB faculty is located here: CSU Employee Benefits

How to Apply - Required Documentation:

• A Student Success Statement about your teaching or other experiences, successes, and challenges in working with a diverse student population (maximum two pages, single-spaced). For further information and guidelines, please visit: Student Success Statement
• Letter of application addressing the required and preferred qualifications (maximum two pages, single-spaced)
• Teaching Philosophy Statement (maximum two pages, single-spaced)
• CV (include list of professional credits) About Your CV: Please provide link (listed on CV) to one (1) sample of professional work (maximum 5 minutes). YouTube or Vimeo preferred, either Password-Free, or with link and Password clearly identified on your CV.
• Name and contact information for three references (to be contacted by CSULB to provide confidential letters of recommendation should you reach the semi-finalist stage).

Semi-Finalists ONLY should be prepared to submit:

• Samples from two different professional works (Maximum 30 pages for written samples or 10 minutes for video samples)
• Statement of current and future creative or research plans (maximum 1 page, single-spaced)
• Contact information for references, who may be contacted via phone/email

Finalists ONLY should be prepared to submit:

• Two syllabi samples
• Official transcript from institution awarding highest degree (e-transcript preferred, if available)

How to Apply: (Click Apply Now icon) to complete the CSULB online application

Requests for information about the position and application process should be addressed to:

Cinematic Arts Cinematography Search Committee
California State University, Long Beach
Department of Cinematic Arts
ATTN: LaTanya Jones, Administrative Support Coordinator
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840-7101

(562) 985-5404 or E-Mail: latanya.jones@csulb.edu