Part-Time Faculty: FIL 532 VFX & AI for Film (Fall 2026)

Job Position(s): Part-Time Faculty: FIL 532 VFX & AI for Film (Fall 2026)

Syracuse University is hiring a Part-Time Faculty instructor to teach FIL 532 VFX & AI for Film at its Syracuse, NY campus for Fall 2026. This role sits within the Department of Film and Media Arts and puts you in front of graduate-level students working through compositing workflows, generative AI pipelines, and the critical frameworks that surround both. It suits a working VFX professional or experienced educator who can move fluently between the technical and theoretical sides of visual effects production.

About the Role

The Department of Film and Media Arts is part of Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, a program focused on training the next generation of media practitioners and critics. FIL 532 is a three-credit graduate course meeting Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 10:30 PM in the Shaffer Art Building, running August 25 through December 8, 2026. A typical session combines studio lab work, project critique, and direct instruction on AI-driven tools inside the VFX pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the course syllabus for FIL 532 VFX & AI for Film, keeping content current with industry-standard VFX methodologies and emerging generative media tools.
• Deliver weekly four-hour studio sessions covering compositing workflows, AI automation in post-production, and hands-on project work using platforms such as Runway ML, Midjourney, or Stable Diffusion.
• Design and grade student assignments, lab exercises, and critical analyses that address both the technical and ethical dimensions of AI integration in visual effects production.
• Submit mid-semester progress reports and final grades on schedule in accordance with university regulations.
• Hold regularly scheduled office hours and maintain open communication with students throughout the semester.
• Coordinate with the department chair if a session cannot be held, arranging a substitute or rescheduled class as needed.

What You Bring

• An MFA in Film, Film Production, or a related discipline, or an advanced degree combined with equivalent professional experience in VFX production.
• Hands-on compositing workflow experience and familiarity with AI-driven media tools including generative image and video platforms.
• A track record of teaching or mentoring in a studio or lab environment with project-based output.
• The ability to teach the critical and ethical dimensions of AI integration alongside the technical craft.
• A demonstrated commitment to inclusivity and diversity in the classroom.

Why This Role

The College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University has a long record of placing graduates into working film and television careers, and FIL 532 sits at a genuinely consequential moment in the VFX pipeline conversation. This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by SEIU, Local 200United. Compensation is $1,483.20 to $1,751.00 per credit hour, with final offers determined by education, experience, and relevant industry background.

Apply now for the Part-Time Faculty position teaching FIL 532 VFX & AI for Film at Syracuse University and bring your production experience directly into the graduate classroom.