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Re: JOB: Teaching Position in Interactive Entertainment, CUNY

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Rob is kind of right too, but the answer may not be as simple.

From the New York State Educat=
ion Department’s Office of College and=A0University Evaluation, Chapter I of=
Title 8 of the Official=A0Compilation of Codes, sections 3.47 and 3.50.
Highlights: 3.47, Sec. D, SubSec 2 lists=
the MPS and MFA BOTH under=A0″professional=A0 degrees” which it indicates a=
re designed as “primarily=A0terminal in nature”. This is key language. It me=
ans the state=A0recognizes that the degrees may be terminal. They may not. T=
he state=A0does not involve itself in this distinction, which is determined =
at=A0local levels (schools and professional/academic/accreditation=A0associa=
tions).
3.50, Sec. A “General Degrees in course” li=
sts the AA/AS, BA/BS,=A0MA/MS, M. Phil. and Ph. D. as well as the Profession=
al Degrees (BPS, B=A0Tech., MPS, DPS, and DA). Sec. B. “Specialized Degrees =
in course”=A0lists the multitudes of very specific degrees, including the MF=
A.
According to the State of New York, this subsect=
ion defines what would=A0be the only difference between the two.
The point that CUNY is recognizing one as terminal rather than=
the=A0other, in this case, is not simply a matter of bureaucratic=A0bookkee=
ping; rather, someone made this decision. Perhaps the reasoning=A0may be inf=
erred somewhere in this distinction. That is, however,=A0supposition. Since =
there is no federally recognized base standard on=A0the question of terminal=
degrees, states, and associations, and=A0schools, are left on their own to =
decide. The=A0 state standard in this=A0case, clearly, does not help.

http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/chapter_i_of_title_8_=
of_the_offi.htm#Section%203.50.%20Registered%20Degrees

The ITP website describes the program as “the first gr=
aduate program in alternative media”. It also reads: “The curriculum is devo=
ted to teaching the practice and theory that emerge from the convergence of =
new media technologies.” M.F.A. programs in New Media, Interactive Media and=
Design and Technology already exist. Their curricula includes theory and pr=
actice and a minimum of a two-semester=A0thesis paper and project. They are =
not intensive programs.=A0
Despite the fact that IT=
P is not an art, design or engineering program, graduates from the program o=
ften look for jobs in the field of art and design and hold positions as crea=
tive directors, art directors, designers, interactive designers, producers r=
esearchers and visiting instructors or=A0adjunct=A0professors in art or desi=
gn schools. In these fields the M.F.A. (specialized degree) is consider the=
=A0terminal degree.=A0
S.
=
On Jan 11, 2009, at 6:10 PM, Rob Faludi [list] wrote:

Sandra is kind of=
right, yet ITP is not an art school or a design school or an engineering sc=
hool. For better or worse it has a deal all its own, hence the MPS, which is=
indeed considered terminal. The State of New York accredits it as such, but=
for some reason CUNY, which is run by the State of New York does not have t=
he bureaucratic machinery to recognize it so they need to apply for exceptio=
ns.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_degree
http://en.w=
ikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Professional_Studies

I’m sure someone can come up with a more authoritative reference source th=
an Wikipedia. Maybe someone with an MLS?

–Rob

On Jan 11, 2009, at 5:19 PM, Sandra=
Villarreal wrote:

The department will have to make the case for the candida=
te in question because an MPS is not considered a terminal degree, as Rob po=
ints out (at CUNY, in NY and in the US).

A terminal degre=
e is the highest degree=A0earnable=A0in a given field of study.=A0Usually is=
a PhD. The only exceptions=A0exist=A0in the fields of applied arts such as =
creative writing, graphic design, fine arts, video art and interactive desig=
n, where an MFA is the terminal degree.=A0
For exam=
ple, an MFA right now is the terminal degree for game design and game art=A0=
because there is no PhD in game design. A PhD is the terminal degree for gam=
e development (programming as opposed to design). MPS is not a terminal degr=
ee in the fields of art, design, media, journalism and education because the=
re are MFA, Ed.D and PhD in these fields.
Terminal =
Master programs are often designated by specific descriptive titles such as =
Master of Education (M.Ed), Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A) or Master of Archite=
cture (M.Arch). Typically a terminal Master takes more time than a non-termi=
nal Master to complete (1-2 vs. 2-3 years) Some academic art institutions ev=
en use the MA (Master of Art) degree (30 credits) as a prerequisite for fina=
l acceptance into MFA candidacy. An MFA also requires the=A0completion=A0of =
certain amount of credits in art history and=A0philosophy.

MFA is usually a requirement to teach art and design at the rank of =
assistant=A0professor. I don’t know about other fields.=A0

On Jan 11, 2009, at 12:10 PM, Rob Faludi [list] wrote=
:
CUNY officially categorizes the MPS as a non-terminal degree, so=
it has to go through an exceptions process. This is their own pain, not you=
rs.

On Jan 8, 2009, at 7:29 PM, Caleb =
wrote:

Midori. Hope you and family are well. This caught my eye from the bel=
ow email “If=A0we can make a strong case for a
candidate,=A0they are will=
ing to consider the MPS as a terminal degree”

since I’m looking for acad=
emic teaching jobs. I thought an MPS WAS terminal? Especially in NYC? and on=
par with an MFA??? Any new thoughts about this as one who has to defend an =
MPS as terminal out of state???
I am going for teac=
hing in Art, Communications, Media, Journalism, and Education depts. mostly.=
=A0

On Jan 6, 2009, at 11:02 AM, Midori Yasuda wrote:

The New York City College of Technology, Department of Entertain=
mentTechnology, invites applications for a tenure-track, full time
po=
sition in Interactive Entertainment at the rank of Assistant
Professor,=
beginning in September 2009. =A0Even though there are some
=
hurdles to =
overcome within CUNY (regarding the terminal degree),
please do share t=
he attached announcement with alumni, colleagues, and
friends who may b=
e interested. If we can make a strong case for a
candidate, they are wi=
lling to consider the MPS as a terminal degree.

Additional detail=
s, including application instructions, may be found at:
http://porta=
l.cuny.edu/cms/id/cuny/documents/jobposting/027788.htm

Sincer=
ely,

Jenna Spevack
Chair, Interactive Entertainment Search =
CommitteeNew York City College of Technology
TH=
E CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

DEPARTMENT OF ENTERTIANMENT TECHNOLOGYSCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN
300 Jay Street V411
Brooklyn, NY 11=
201
www.entertainmenttechnology.org

CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Title: A=
ssistant Professor – Interactive Entertainment
Location/Department: Enter=
tainment Technology
Compensation: Commensurate with education and experie=
nce.
Closing Date: Open until filled with review of resumes to begin 11/2=
4/08
Website: http://portal.cuny.edu/cms/id/cuny/documents/jobposting/=
027788.htm

POSITION DESCRIPTION AND DUTIES
The New York City C=
ollege of Technology, Department of Entertainment Technology,
invites app=
lications for a tenure-track, full time position in Interactive Entertainmen=
t at the
rank of assistant professor, beginning in September 2009.
The=
department offers undergraduate instruction in a variety of disciplines, in=
cluding
lighting, sound, show control, and video systems. New programs in=
development include
emerging media technology, music technology, interac=
tive control, and video production.
The successful candidate will teach c=
ourses in several areas including, but not limited to
Interactive Media, =
Entertainment Control Systems, Electricity, Tangible Computing, and
Intro=
duction to Entertainment Technology. The Assistant Professor will also be ex=
pected to
develop, plan, and prepare curricula related to a program track=
in integrated and
interactive entertainment technologies.

QUALIFI=
CATION REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications for the rank of assistant professor in=
clude a terminal degree in a field related
to interactive media systems, =
and significant experience in both design and technical
implementations. =
Media related software engineering experience and excellent
communication=
s skills are essential. Candidates should provide evidence of creative,
p=
rofessional, and scholarly activity with adequate documentation of productio=
ns,
publications, research, and curriculum materials.

TO APPLY
=
Send cover letter of introduction and resume.
Email: isr@citytech.cuny.ed=
u
Subject Line: Interactive Entertainment
Contact: Ms. M. Harris, Dire=
ctor, ISR

The City University of New York
An Equal Employment Oppo=
rtunity/Affirmative Action/Immigration Reform and Control Act/
Americans =
with Disabilities Act Employer