Careers at Drexel

About the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design:

The creative heart of Drexel University, the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design trains the next generation of scholars, thinkers, makers, and doers in the fields of media, entertainment, design, and the visual and performing arts. Westphal offers 18 undergraduate and nine graduate majors, housed in award-winning facilities that encourage collaboration across creative disciplines. At Westphal, we reimagine the role of design, media, and the arts in building a better future. Our programs challenge students to center sustainability, access, and equity in their approaches to art, fashion, architecture, gaming, entertainment, and scholarship. Through experiential learning, studio-based curriculum, and Drexel’s widely-recognized Cooperative Education program (co-op), our students are uniquely positioned to face the world’s challenges and define the creative careers of the 21^st century. 

About the Program

The Animation & Visual Effects major provides students with the artistic, technological, storytelling, and design skills necessary to succeed as 3D animators and visual effects artists in the highly competitive entertainment, design, and communications industries.

Animation and Visual Effects has grown beyond its traditional applications in the entertainment industry. In addition to film, television, and internet-based programming, these production techniques are also widely used in medical research, engineering, virtual and augmented reality systems, immersive media, web content, the performing arts, interactive game systems, corporate communications, and higher education. The depth and complexity of this field necessitates a rigorous course of study.

To best prepare students for the demands of careers in these cutting-edge disciplines, our program provides a foundational understanding of design and technology with core courses in digital media, the option to choose between a 6- or 18-month co-op plan, and a curriculum of rigorous coursework covering specialized aspects of digital animation, visual effects, and immersive media. Students will learn the underlying principles of animation, along with advanced, industry-standard software and hardware technologies. The entire creative pipeline from storyboarding to modeling and animation to rendering and compositing is covered in depth, allowing students to experience all aspects of a production. 

Job Summary

The Adjunct instructor will employ a variety of strategies to foster student artistic development, learning and discussions, as well as encourage active learning in all students, maintain proper course-related records, and evaluate student work and provide students with feedback as to the progress toward meeting the objectives of the course. Each adjunct faculty member is responsible for effectively teaching students in the assigned classroom or remote settings.  Each adjunct faculty member is responsible for effectively implementing the mission of the Department of Digital Media within Drexel’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. Responsibilities may include teaching days, evenings, nights, or weekends, with the potential for online only, in-person only, or a combination of both.

Courses within the Animation & VFX (ANFX) program cover a wide range of topics at different skill levels.  All aspects of the CG pipeline are covered using industry standards such as Maya, Houdini, Nuke, Adobe Suite, Unreal Engine, and more. 

Essential Functions

• Teach required number of credit hours per quarter based on their contract
• Teach studio, lecture, and/or practicum courses per their contract
• Plan and provide instructional experiences that reflect an understanding of the philosophy, objectives, and curriculum of the program
• Evaluate student achievement of curricular objectives/outcomes
• Maintain communication with the program director regarding any course or student issues
• Perform other similar duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Animation, Digital Media, Computer Science, or related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of teaching or professional experience.

Location

University City, Philadelphia PA

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter that indicates your strong areas of expertise when submitting your application. In your cover letter, please list any applications, render engines, and program languages you have experience in and your skill level. Also include links to personal demo reels and portfolios.