Assistant Professor, Communication Studies & Media Arts

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The successful candidate will commence their appointment on 1 January 2026 and will be responsible for teaching seven one-term courses per academic year.
The successful applicant must hold a doctorate (or equivalent terminal degree) in Communication Studies, Media Arts, or a closely related discipline. We seek applicants with a strong communication studies and/or media arts teaching agenda to teach core and elective courses in communication studies and media arts.
The Department of Communication Studies & Media Arts (CSMA) is an interdisciplinary hub for the study of media, digital technologies, communication practices and cultural production. Students in our programs learn to ask thoughtful, contemplative questions about media, technology and culture; solve problems collaboratively; and think critically, reflectively and creatively. We offer two undergraduate programs: the BA Honours in Communication Studies and the BA Honours in Media Arts, as well as a combined honours program in Communication Studies and Media Arts. (Information can be found at: https://csma.humanities.mcmaster.ca/)
Applicants will be asked to teach a total of seven 3-unit courses between January 2026 and December 2026. This will involve teaching 3-4 courses in the Winter 2026 term, 0-1 course in the Spring 2026 term, and 3-4 courses in the Fall 2026 term. Possible courses include the following:
• CMST 1A03 Introduction to Communication (see below);
• CMST 2PR3 Public Relations: Principles and Practices;
• CMST 3II3/POLSCI 3II3 Intellectual Property;
• CMST 3S03 Television and Society;
• CMST 4E03 Media and Promotionalism;
• MEDIAART 1A03 Media Arts;
• MEDIAART 2DF3 Design Fundamentals; and
• MEDIAART 3I03 Narrative Strategies.
Applicants can find more information on each of the courses in the Undergraduate Course Calendar (https://academiccalendars.romcmaster.ca/content.php?catoid=58&navoid=12627) and past course outlines in the Humanities Course Outline Repository ( https://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/programs-and-courses/undergraduate-programs/course-outlines/). In their application letter, candidates are invited to list courses from this list that they would be able to teach.

Ability to teach our introductory course CMST 1A03 Introduction to Communication is preferred but not required. CMST 1A03 is a required course for potential Communication Studies majors, and is offered in Fall, Winter, and Spring. In both Fall and Winter, the course meets in person and is one of our largest courses. The textbook is pre-determined (Media and Communication in Canada, 10th edition) and instructor resources are available from the textbook publisher. Enrollment can reach 350 students in Fall or Winter and is typically lower in Spring. In addition to delivering lectures and answering questions, CMST 1A03 instructors also oversee a group of teaching assistants who run tutorials and mark assignments. They are usually supported by a “superTA,” a senior TA who can help with administrative tasks and communication with TAs as well as students.

Service contributions will be an expected component of this position, and the candidate will work collaboratively with department colleagues to provide service to the department. Key activities will include program representational work and service on department committees.

Founded in 1887, McMaster University is one of only four Canadian universities consistently ranked in the Top 100 in the world. A research-intensive university, McMaster is dedicated to teaching, learning and service. With a total full-time student population of over 35,000, McMaster welcomes students from 98 countries as well as Canada. The Faculty of Humanities offers 16 undergraduate and 17 graduate programs, including PhD programs in Greek & Roman Studies; Cognitive Science of Language; Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies; English and Cultural Studies; French; History; and Philosophy. We also offer a concurrent Graduate Diploma (PhD) in Gender and Social Justice.
The applicant must demonstrate a willingness and ability to support the university-wide and departmental goals of equity, diversity and inclusivity as well as accessibility. Resources are available to support faculty in developing flexible courses that respond to these aims. https://mi.mcmaster.ca/inclusive-teaching-and-learning-resources/

How To Apply
To apply for this job, please submit your application online.
Applications should be submitted by September 29, 2025, through the McMaster University on-line Academic Careers website found at: https://hr.mcmaster.ca/careers/
https://careers.mcmaster.ca/psp/prcsprd/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&SiteId=1000&FOCUS=Applicant&JobOpeningId=71701&PostingSeq=1
Please scroll down and select “Current Opportunities” and then “Faculty” to find the job posting; then click “Apply”. Applicants will need to create a Mac ID if they do not currently have one by selecting “Register Now”.
Interested applicants must submit in one PDF file, addressed to Dr. Christina Baade, Chair, Communication Studies and Media Arts, that includes:

• 2-page letter of application that addresses the following
o your areas of expertise in the fields of communication studies and/or media arts
o identification of three courses (including, potentially, CMST 1A03) listed above that you would be able to teach
 For each of the courses identified, a brief description of your experience with and approach to teaching the course content
o A description of your experience and/or approach to working with individual TAs and/or TA teams
• curriculum vitae
• 1-2-page statement describing how you plan to employ a) accessibility and universal design; and b) EDI, anti-colonial, and/or anti-oppressive teaching practices in the classroom.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. However, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obliged to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenship, however, all applications must include one of the following statements:
• Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
• No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
Inquiries about uploading applications and other inquiries may be directed to Andrew Folino at csmaadm@mcmaster.ca.

Employment Equity Statement
McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.
The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.
The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey – Statement of Collection for additional information.
Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:
Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679
to communicate accommodation needs.

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