Open Call for Game Arts Faculty Pool 

Game Arts Program

CCA BFA in Game Arts webpage

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

College

Founded in 1907, California College of the Arts (CCA) is an independent non-profit art college with undergraduate programs in architecture, design, fine arts, visual studies, and writing and literature.  The college also has graduate programs in architecture, comics, design, interaction design, curatorial practice, design strategy, fine arts, film, visual and critical studies, and writing.  Through these programs, the college has created a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment to fulfill the school’s motto of “Make art that matters.”  Diverse cultural perspectives enrich the CCA community and the college believes that continuing to expand the horizons of the students and faculty is essential to achieving its educational objectives. CCA represents over one hundred years of dedication to its mission, whose character reflects its location in the San Francisco Bay Area, where histories of radical politics and technological innovation inform a culturally rich academic community infused by art schools, research universities, world-renowned museums, galleries, start-ups and community-run institutions. With a campus in San Francisco, CCA currently enrolls 1,650 full-time students and is embarking on a major campus planning project that will unify the college in one location and ensure its academic excellence for the next century. 

Program Summary

The Game Arts Program at California College of the Arts educates students in the art of Game Making. Our students develop a personal voice and technical expertise through exploring a wide range of classes centered on exploration, production, conceptual and digital technical skills in crafting digital, analog, mixed-medium, and experimental works of game. The program's course of study focuses on skill development and collaborative Game Arts practice that includes: game design, game development, game programming, real-time game animation and asset creation.  Built atop a strong foundation in game studies and history, CCA Game Arts is expansive, interdisciplinary, and inclusive of independent and fine arts related game work. Our program offers an intensive hands-on production experience coupled with a broad exposure to the liberal arts, and prepares our students for a lifetime of creative work.  We nurture individual talents and skills while striving to merge new technologies with traditionally proven methods. Our faculty members bring a diverse teaching style and a broad range of real world experience, which allows them to train and inspire our students to become leaders in the field of Game Arts. More information about the Game Arts Program can be found at: https://www.cca.edu/fine-arts/game-arts/

Position Summary 

The Fine Arts Division at CCA invites game artists, game designers, game developers, game engineers, game animators, and scholars with experience teaching game/play theory and history to apply for unranked Adjunct positions (Adjunct I and Adjunct II) in Game Arts. Candidates should be deeply engaged with the fundamentals of game design and development, articulate in the classroom, astute during critiques, and interested in forms of interactive art and entertainment They should be aware of contemporary studio and artistic practices and be able to effectively teach to a diverse group of students across all levels of the undergraduate experience. Candidates should be dedicated to mentoring game’s future creative leaders and preparing them to assume vital roles in commercial game studios, independent studios, or in contemporary practice as an artist working in the medium of games. 

In keeping with CCA’s commitment to diversity, community engagement, and social justice, we seek candidates who cultivate an equitable scholarly environment and curriculum within an increasingly international student body and a large demographic of first generation college students. In their statements of teaching philosophy, candidates should address their proven track record of teaching and leading in a culturally competent manner with a global perspective, working with diverse groups and fostering an understanding of and respect for diverse cultural practices. 

This position may teach as many as three to four classes per year in some combination of one of the following:

• Game Design, Game Development, Game and Play Studies
• Game Engine Development: Coding/Scripting (C# preferably), Game Production, either games themselves, or creation of Game Assets or Game Animation
• 3D Real-Time Game Animation, 3D Digital Modeling and rigging, or other animation courses in the creation of game assets for 2D, 3D, and XR games
• XR/VR/AR/MR Game Development, Production, Asset and Environment Creation 
• AI for Game, Games Systems Architecture, Systems/Level Design 
• Analog Game Design: Production and Development for Tabletop, Social, Site-based Mixed-medium and/or Experimental works of game
• Game Writing, Interactive Storytelling, and Narrative Design
• Conceptual and Topic-based Games Courses, Workshops, and Production Tutorials 

Unranked faculty jobs serve the specific instructional needs of the college. Adjunct faculty provide students with instruction by ensuring the delivery of designated course content and adherence to stated learning goals for assigned courses.

Core Duties:

• Maintain competence in the field of instruction (inclusive of staying informed of current developments in that field) and successfully bring this expertise to bear on instruction and the achievement of student learning for all students in the course.
• Attend new faculty orientation, if applicable.
• Develop and/or revise the course section description, syllabus, assignments, activities, curricula, and policies in accordance with all program policies and directives.
• Adhere to the course description as communicated to students by the College.
• Adhere to the course-specific learning outcomes as designated and provided by the Program, and participate in course, program, and college assessment and accreditation activities.
• Prepare for class; plan, coordinate, and lead all classroom activities; and assist students with course materials.
• Regularly monitor student progress, provide feedback and grades to students, and discuss performance with students.
• Exclusively use CCA email addresses and servers for all CCA communications; and during the period of the course obligations, substantively respond to all CCA-related communications within 48 hours.
• Submit a course syllabus adhering to all program and college requirements and input the required textbook information by the deadlines established by the College.
• Submit grades for all students by the deadline established by Student Records.
• Attend meetings related to course teaching obligations when required.
• Apprise the program chair, designated coordinator, program expert, advising staff, and/or administrative staff of any concerns regarding students as needed.

Adjunct faculty are expected to attend all scheduled course meeting sessions. Additional guidelines regarding faculty absences are outlined in the Faculty Handbook and Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Adjunct I and Adjunct II faculty members are expected to abide by all operational policies of the College; however, it is the responsibility of the College to give appropriate advance notice of policy and operational changes, and to include information concerning changes in faculty orientation and training sessions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Adjunct I:

• A terminal degree is preferred;
• High quality teaching of four or fewer courses as instructor of record or its equivalent level of student teaching responsibility at an accredited higher education institution; and/or
• The equivalent in non-teaching professional experience in the area of the teaching, as judged by the College, is required.

Adjunct II:

• A terminal degree is preferred;
• High quality teaching of five or more courses as instructor of record or its equivalent level of student teaching responsibility at an accredited higher education institution as judged by the College, is required.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR GAME ARTS PROGRAM 

• Familiarity with either:  
  • Contemporary Game development, including game design and play for commercial, independent, or fine arts applications and a record of professional excellence

OR

• Academic/scholarly background in theories and histories of game and play
• Specific skills and knowledge are needed in one or more of the following areas: 
  • Game Design, Game/Play studies and Game History

OR

• Digital 2D and 3D game development, Game Engineering/Programming Real-Time Game Animation, 3D Character Modeling and Design for Game, Environmental/Level Design, Game Production Pipeline, XR/VR/AR/MR Game Development and Production, Game AI, Systems Design  

OR

• Tabletop Game Development and Production, including 3D Sculpting and Printing/Fabrication, Analog game systems design

OR

• Game Writing, Narrative Design , Interactive Storytelling, Narrative Design and Game Writing

Salary

Current pay rates are available here. 

Application Deadline

This is a rolling application process; there is no deadline.

The review of applications will be ongoing and materials will be kept for future possibilities unless applicants indicate otherwise. 

Application Instructions

Qualified applicants must complete the online application by uploading the following materials:

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of interest
• Statement of teaching philosophy highlighting areas of pedagogic concentration
• Artist statement/Statement addressing professional practice 
• Portfolio/Reel - 15-20 images and/or 10 mins of video
• Contact information for three professional references

Samples of student work, course descriptions and/or syllabi may be requested by the search committee at a later date.  

EEO Statement

As an educational and cultural institution, California College of the Arts has a responsibility to provide access and opportunities for all people, with special attention to supporting groups historically underrepresented in higher education. We believe that a culturally diverse campus is integral to academic excellence, and our student, faculty, staff, and trustee bodies should reflect the diverse world in which we live, with attention to race, ethnicity, religious creed, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and ability. California College of the Arts is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals who will contribute to its diversity.