4-Year College/University Faculty

Funding
Institutionally funded (public or private higher education)

Roles

• Applied lessons 

  • (Title) Professor of Clarinet, Trumpet, Violin, etc. 

• Ensembles

• (Title) Director of Bands, Orchestras, Choirs

• Music history, theory, education, composition or interdisciplinary courses

• (Title) Professor of Ethnomusicology, Musicology, Composition, Music Education, Performance Studies, Music Theory

  Tracks:

Tracks

• Tenure-track (FT)*

  • Assistant (6-7 years) 

  • Associate (Tenured)

  • Full (Highest rank)

    • A tenure-track position becomes a tenured professorship after a probationary period, usually six to seven years, involving rigorous reviews of research, teaching, and service, culminating in a final vote by the department and university; the faculty member is promoted from non-tenured Assistant Professor to tenured Associate Professor if successful.

  • Assistant/Associate Professor (Non TT, FT)

  • Teaching/Clinical Professor (FT or PT)

  • Lecturer/Adjunct (PT)

Credentials
Terminal degree (DMA, PhD, DM, MFA, etc.) often required for full-time roles

Responsibilities

• Teaching applied lessons, ensembles, or academic courses

• Student advising

• Committee service

• Research or creative activity

• Curriculum development

Pros
Academic freedom · Creative/research support · Schedule flexibility

Challenges
Highly competitive job market · Heavy service expectations · Adjunct precarity