Open-Rank Professor, Arts

The Center for Arts at the University of Austin helps young people entering the university develop the intellectual skills and historical awareness necessary to make informed, lasting, and important contributions to human flourishing. Students participate in debates about ideas, analyze and create works of art, and investigate the causes and effects of historical events. 

As part of the larger University, the Center aims to foster deep thinking, clear communication, and virtuous character. Students ask essential questions about human nature and explore possible answers with seriousness of purpose and generosity of spirit.

All students at the University of Austin complete a core curriculum, Intellectual Foundations, that includes ten courses on Western civilization and three courses on American civilization, as well as courses on mathematics, science, and economics. 

For students interested in the humanities, the Center for Arts offers four optional Concentrations: Philosophy, History, Literature, and American Civilization. Combined with Intellectual Foundations, these Concentrations comprise a scaffolded curriculum where students advance historically from antiquity to the present and within a discipline from more basic to more challenging texts, ideas, and debates. 

Faculty will be appointed at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or full Professor, with an anticipated start date of Fall 2027. Part-time appointments will be considered; applicants interested in a part-time appointment should indicate this preference in their cover letter.

Compensation is competitive, commensurate with rank, and includes comprehensive benefits and a research stipend. Salaries for full-time Assistant Professors in Arts start at $90,000. 

UATX operates on a quarter schedule, with an annual teaching load of 18 quarter hours, equivalent to a 12 semester hour or 2/2 teaching load in a semester system. This structure supports excellence in undergraduate teaching while allowing faculty to maintain substantive research agendas.

UATX is committed to building a permanent faculty. Although the University does not operate under a traditional tenure system, these positions are designed as long-term academic appointments, supported by renewable five-year contracts. This model reflects UATX's commitment to institutional stability as well as high standards, building an enduring community of engaged teachers and active scholars.

Applicants should upload a CV and a cover letter via this website.

The cover letter should describe a candidate’s interest in the position, their alignment with the distinctive mission of the University of Austin, their proposed fit within the curriculum of the Center for Arts, and their relevant teaching and research experience.

Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications submitted by January 4, 2027 will receive priority review. Applicants who are selected for further review may be asked to submit writing samples, a list of references, and/or a teaching portfolio. 

The University of Austin (UATX) is a non-partisan institution committed to the fearless pursuit of truth and the highest standards of scholarship and pedagogy. The university does not accept federal funding and does not charge its students tuition. 

Standardized testing is required for admission. The average student score on standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, and CLT is within the top 5% nationwide. The typical section size is 12 to 20 students.

The curriculum at UATX emphasizes the distinctive value of Western civilization and the unique prosperity of American civilization alongside fields such as computer science, applied engineering, business, and law. 

More information can be found on the university website: https://uaustin.org/.