Texas Tech University
Assistant Professor in Game Studies
Management Requisition Number 39150BR
SUMMARY:
The Department of Journalism & Creative Media Industries in the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor who can advance our department’s growing offerings in digital gaming to begin in the fall of 2025. JCMI students are typically first-time game makers who are new to both game design and coding. The person in this position will help service these students by advancing a research agenda in the area of gaming, growing an existing undergraduate certificate in Game Design and Culture, helping to develop a campus game making community, and aiding in other departmental curriculum.
The Creative Media Industries degree at Texas Tech is designed to train innovative, responsible storytellers in convergent media forms who can create, analyze, and compete in diverse U.S. and global media marketplaces. Our growth in game design and culture contributes to this mission through both coursework and student engagement, and the department recently opened an 18-seat esports competition and streaming lab (https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/esports/).
Successful candidates must have a publication record and research agenda demonstrating their expertise in theories and concepts pertinent to game studies and immersive, interactive media. Such expertise may include (but is not limited to) the study of identity in online culture, emerging media industries and economics (XR, cryptocurrency), esports, fan studies, digital cultures, human-machine communication, strategic communication, or media psychology. Candidates must also have a record of or articulate a plan for the successful pursuit of extramural funding from federal, state, or private funding in support of engaged scholarship.
A demonstrated record of teaching excellence is required.
In addition, preference will be given to candidates who have strengths and experience in digital game design in one or more of the following areas: working with game engines and design tools, creative coding, interactive storytelling, physical and digital game prototyping, level design, interaction design, and/or analog design.
Preference will also be given to candidates with strengths and experience that can aid the department’s curricular and community expansion in closely aligned areas of game design, including: game jams, esports events, festival submissions, 2D/3D game art, VR/AR design, and building 3D game environments as well advance the department’s engagement with external partners from across the university and beyond.
In line with TTU’s strategic priorities to engage and empower a diverse student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should have experience working with diverse student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service.
The position of Assistant Professor is a 9-month, tenure-track position. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2025 with faculty-on-duty in mid-August. The standard teaching load is four courses per academic year, typically a 2-2 load, with the possible opportunity to teach additional courses during summer or intersession semesters for additional compensation. Teaching assignments may include both face-to-face and online courses.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Candidates must have either completed a Ph.D. in a Media & Communication or closely aligned discipline relevant to this position in game studies at the time of appointment;
- A demonstrated scholarly publication record and agenda demonstrating expertise in game studies and/or immersive, interactive media.
- A record of or demonstrated vision for the successful pursuit of extramural funding from federal, state, or private funding in support of engaged scholarship.
- Demonstrated record of teaching excellence.
- Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
In addition to the required qualifications, individuals with the following preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply:
- Demonstrated strengths and experience in game studies and/or game design;
- Demonstrated strengths and experience in teaching courses related to game design;
- A record of teaching excellence in a variety of contexts (face-to-face, online, hybrid) and class sizes (large lecture, lecture, and skills-oriented labs).
- Experience with mentorship of undergraduate and/or graduate students is highly desirable.
SAFETY INFORMATION:
Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT:
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:
Please include the following documents in your application:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Cover Letter outlining research agenda related to position description; evidence of success
- Other document(s) directly related to required qualifications
- List of references
Questions about this position should be directed to Dr. Megan Condis, Search Committee Chair, at . If you need assistance with the application process, contact Human Resources, Talent Acquisition at or 806-742-3851.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The deadline to submit applications is on January 10, 2025.
To ensure full consideration, please complete an online application at: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25898&siteid=5637#jobDetails=877277_5637
Requisition #39150BR.
About The Department of Journalism & Creative Media Industries
The Department of Journalism & Creative Media Industries (JCMI) emphasizes experiential education opportunities that provide immersive learning environments, leading its approximately 600 students to produce a robust portfolio of content with support from peer, faculty, alumni, and industry mentors. In producing their work, JCMI students are encouraged from their first day in our degree programs to take advantage of opportunities to get busy writing and producing, and plug in to our robust, collaborative content culture.
Made up of 21 full-time faculty across two degree programs, JCMI offers new faculty and students a diverse slate of teachers, mentors, and collaborators. JCMI faculty are leaders in their respective areas, scholars and practitioners of international stature.
JCMI faculty serve as faculty advisors to a number of student organizations and production opportunities, including the Society for Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, The Daily Toreador, The Hub@TTU, Tech Creative Media Association, KTXT-FM 88.1 The Raider, and Tech Esports, among others. JCMI also fosters close relationships with on-campus partners, such as KTTZ-TV Channel 5 (PBS), KTTZ-FM 89.1 (NPR), and Tech Athletics, as well as four local broadcast news outlets and Lubbock’s daily newspaper, the Avalanche-Journal.
About The College of Media & Communication
The College of Media & Communication (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/) at Texas Tech University serves approximately 2500 students across its undergraduate majors and graduate programs. The college’s enrollment and credit hours have grown consistently for the last seven years; the number of full-time faculty has almost tripled; and the area for facilities has increased more than 40%. CoMC is the #1 rated research unit in the TTU System per the 2020 Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking). Its private and state grants initiatives have skyrocketed in recent years, achieving its 2025 grants goals in fall 2020. The CoMC Center for Communication Research (CCR) is the country’s premier academic research facility for the study of communication, media processing, and effects. The CCR features labs useful for audience testing, content analysis, surveys, eye-tracking, focus group, and psychophysiology. These research facilities provide a great environment for further advancing an exciting and productive research agenda.
The college maintains high standards for teaching, even as its reputation as a media research center expands. College metrics for student retention and graduation rates are near the top at Texas Tech in many categories. Research strengths among college faculty include Hispanic and international, strategic, science/health, gaming/AI, leadership, interpersonal/organizational, and political communication, as well as social scientific research methods. Affiliates of the Thomas Jay Harris Institute for Hispanic & International Communication engage in teaching, research and community outreach related to Hispanic and international/intercultural communication (comc.ttu.edu/research/hihic).
Please visit the college’s website for more information: www.depts.ttu.edu/comc.
About Texas Tech University
Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, and state-assisted institution. Located on a beautiful 1,850-acre campus in Lubbock, a city in West Texas with a growing metropolitan-area population of over 300,000, the university enrolls over 40,000 students with 33,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The flagship of the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. It is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation, and world.
Referred to as the “Hub City” because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and health care hub of the South Plains region, Lubbock boasts a diverse population and a strong connection to community, history, and land. With a mild climate, highly rated public schools, and a low cost of living, Lubbock is a family-friendly community that is ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. Lubbock is home to a celebrated and ever-evolving music scene, a vibrant arts community, and is within driving distance of Dallas, Austin, Santa Fe, and other major metropolitan cities. Lubbock’s Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a comprehensive overview of the Lubbock community and its resources, programs, events, and histories.
