Adjunct Faculty - Digital Animation (Digital Sculpting)

Missouri Western State University•Saint Joseph, MO

62d•Remote

About The Position

Missouri Western State University invites qualified candidates to apply for adjunct teaching positions for the Spring 2026 semester in our Digital Animation Program in the School of Fine Arts, located in the College of Liberal Arts. We are seeking applications for qualified, experienced adjunct teaching faculty to teach one section of ART 455: Advanced Digital Sculpting, which introduces students to advance modeling techniques for hard surface and organic modeling. The student will understand proper modeling workflow, topology, retopology, exporting and applying high fidelity models for a variety of real-world applications, with an emphasis in Z-Brush. This course is offered 100% online and asynchronous. Adjuncts are hired to teach on a per course basis and are hired on a contractual, part-time basis and are not on a tenure track. Each academic term may present the need to hire new or additional Adjunct Faculty. This position may require day, evening, face-to-face or online instruction. This position is part-time and as an adjunct will be limited to teaching a maximum of 9 hours. Under general supervision, Adjuncts will plan and implement curriculum for assigned course(s); effectively communicate class content to students in an online or face-to-face environment; evaluate students' progress in attaining goals, objectives, and student learning outcomes; assist in retention effort.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
Teaching experience
Content area experience
Must be authorized to work in the United States
Comprehensive knowledge of ZBrush, including its unique interface and core tools such as Dynamesh, ZModeler, and ZRemesher.
Familiarity with ZBrush Core, the version available in our labs (with Cintiq monitors), and ability to support students working on that version at home.
Ability to teach how ZBrush integrates into professional pipelines for games, film, and collectibles. This includes retopology for various levels of detail (LOD), UV creation, texturing, and preparing models for rendering, animation, or 3D printing.
Proficiency in rendering and compositing workflows, both within ZBrush and through export to applications such as Maya or Unreal, to create professional-quality presentations.
Strong problem-solving skills to help students navigate ZBrush's complex learning curve and to provide efficient, effective solutions to common challenges.
Strong foundation in anatomy, proportion, and form-building (primary, secondary, tertiary), with the ability to teach students who may have limited prior training in these areas.
Knowledge of design principles, composition, and shape language to guide students in creating compelling characters, creatures, and models.
Experience with traditional sculpting or drawing, providing a deeper understanding of form, weight, and perspective, as well as an appreciation for the iterative creative process.
Ability to teach both realistic and stylized approaches to digital sculpting, adapting to diverse project needs and student interests.
Commitment to consistent student engagement, ideally including weekly meetings in an asynchronous format.
Ability to provide clear critiques and constructive feedback to help students improve and meet expectations.
Development of a structured plan that culminates in one or more portfolio-ready projects suitable for inclusion in MWSU's end-of-semester showcases.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or higher in subject field
Teaching experience in higher education
Professional experience in subject area

Responsibilities

Adheres to all applicable university academic and employment policies identified in University Policy Guide and academic catalogs.
Develops course syllabus for each course assigned. The syllabus will include learning objectives and any required university information. Distribute the syllabus to campus administration and enrolled students.
Creates, publishes, and maintains a Course Canvas shell, adhering to the best practices for LMS use.
Instructs the depth and scope of class materials as outlined in the syllabus and catalog, relates instruction to course and academic program outcomes as may be defined by course or program assessment plans.
Prepare and grade exams based on course objectives and published scheduled exams, and returns all assignments/graded work in a timely manner.
Implements evaluation of outcomes assessments and achieves established results while maintaining University standards and student satisfaction.
Work creatively in all assigned courses to keep students engaged to assist in increasing student retention.
Submit grades at the appropriate time.
Be responsive to student inquiries in a timely and professional manner.
Performs other duties as assigned by the Department Chair or College Dean.