Assistant Professor - Political Science

Assistant Professor - Political Science

Position Category: Faculty
FLSA: Exempt
FTE: .75
Location: Thousand Oaks

University Background:
The mission of California Lutheran University is to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. Founded in 1959 in beautiful Ventura County, the university has an enrollment of about 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students who come from across the nation and around the world from a diversity of backgrounds, cultures and faiths. As a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution, Cal Lutheran is looking for candidates with a dedication to and success in working in diverse communities. The university is committed to an inclusive learning and work environment that values individual differences and respects each person’s dignity.

Basic Function:
California Lutheran University invites applicants for a full-time position in Political Science. Cal Lutheran has recently become a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and McNair Institution, and we are looking for candidates with a demonstrated commitment to and success working in diverse, multi- cultural and multi-racial communities, particularly in mentoring African American, Latino/a, and Native American students. Cal Lutheran encourages applicants from all faiths, and advocates for justice and fairness for all people. Cal Lutheran is an accredited, private, comprehensive university that engages students in critical inquiry and is dedicated to educating leaders for a global society. The campus is located midway between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, and is home to more than 2,800 undergraduate and 1,250 graduate students who come from 35 countries and represent a variety of faiths. 45.2% of Cal Lutheran students are from underrepresented groups, and 34% of freshmen are first generation students. The Department of Political Science at California Lutheran University is committed to a strong liberal arts tradition that links scholarship, teaching, and applied knowledge to the academic study of political science. The mission of the Department of Political Science at California Lutheran University is to provide a personalized education of distinction that fosters students' intellectual and critical powers, and develop their capacities to understand various aspects of political life. Students are required to produce original, high quality senior capstone projects and engage in experiential learning, which may include internships, study abroad, travel courses, and other activities. The courses in Political Science challenge students to examine U.S. political institutions, public policy, global politics, and political theory/law. Embedded within many of the courses are the themes of diversity, identity, and global and civic engagement. The goal is to prepare Political Science graduates to be civically engaged members of global society, and to enter a number of educational and career tracks such as public service, law, public policy, research, diplomacy, non-profits, and teaching.

The Department seeks faculty who are committed to teaching, research, and service at a Hispanic Serving and McNair institution. The Department seeks to hire a tenure-track position in political behavioral for any subfield of the discipline. For the behavioral position, the candidate must demonstrate teaching expertise (or potential) and research interest in any subfield of the discipline, and may include courses related to public opinion, political culture and development, campaigns and elections, political behavior, interest groups, and social movements. The candidate must also possess an ability to teach methods courses that incorporate both quantitative and qualitative approaches to the study of political science. This is a tenure-track position. Special consideration will be given to candidates who can incorporate identity/intersectional politics and/or theoretical approaches into their teaching. Also, particular attention will be given to someone who can help develop and coordinate the pre-law program and/or experiential learning opportunities in the Department, such as internships and off-campus studies locally, in Washington, D.C., and abroad. A full-teaching load is usually 3 courses per academic semester and 6 per academic year. There may also be an opportunity to develop new courses based on the successful candidate's expertise/interest. It is essential that interested candidates possess the ability or potential to teach, advise, and mentor undergraduate students, particularly those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. Applicants with research interests utilizing diverse methodological approaches and interdisciplinary content are strongly encouraged to apply.

Representative Duties:
• Provide academic instruction to students through lecture, lab, or performance courses. Create assignments and activities in one-on-one, classroom, and distance mediated instructional settings for development of cognitive abilities, communication skills, and higher order thinking skills among students. E
• Observe and evaluate student performance in meeting course objectives and student learning outcomes through assignments, projects, discussions, and examinations; provide feedback in a timely manner to student inquiries in class, online, or during established consultation office hours. E
• Maintain current, accurate records of course enrollment, attendance, student academic progress, course curriculum; prepare and submit grades, data, and reports related to course and student progress in a timely manner. E
• Provide a course syllabus to students in each class within the first week of the class, as outlined in the faculty handbook. E
• Adhere to the responsibilities related to teaching, advising, service, and scholarly, professional and creative activities, as outlined in the faculty handbook. E
• Attend and participate on committees and in department, division, campus, and University meetings. E
• Performs related duties as assigned.

E=Essential Duties



Knowledge Of:
• Current theory and practice within the subject discipline
• Principles and best practices of effective teaching
• Student learning outcomes and methods of assessment
• University curricula
• Community and campus resources, services, programs, and professionals available to students
• Methods of gathering, analyzing, and preparing data
• Modern computing technology
• Record keeping techniques with regard to student enrollment, attendance, and progress



Ability To:
• Demonstrate a thorough and accurate knowledge in the subject field or discipline
• Deliver course curricula in various learning styles
• Exhibit sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, social, economic, cultural, and ethnic background of University students
• Exhibit sensitivity to and understanding of the needs of students with disabilities.
• Integrate current and emerging instructional delivery technologies into the learning process to enhance teaching and the educational experience
• Maintain professional standards that protect student confidentiality
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing using tact, patience, and courtesy
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action
• Demonstrate commitment to professional excellence and continuous growth within subject field or discipline



Minimum Qualifications:
Eligible applicants must be a doctoral candidate (ABD) or have the PhD in political science, JD, or a related field officially conferred by an accredited degree-granting university. If ABD, will come in at rank of Lecturer.

The candidate must demonstrate teaching expertise (or potential) and research interest in any subfield of the discipline, and may include courses related to public opinion, political culture and development, campaigns and elections, political behavior, interest groups, and social movements. The candidate must also possess an ability to teach methods courses that incorporate both quantitative and qualitative approaches to the study of political science.

Preferred Qualifications:


Licenses and Other Requirements:


Physical Abilities:


Working Environment:
Indoor classroom environment; seated for extended periods of time; subject to visiting a variety of classroom sites on campus.

Posting Number: Faculty000412020
Number of Vacancies:
Desired Start Date: 08/22/2022
Position End Date:
Open Date: 09/10/2021
Close Date: 11/1/2021
Open Until Filled: No

Application Procedure/Special Instructions:
Make sure to include the following with your application: 1) Cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications of the position and how you are prepared to support the HSI designation of Cal Lutheran and adapt to the needs of underrepresented and first-generation students; 2) Curriculum vitae/resume;3) Statement of teaching philosophy that addresses your experience and/or motivation to teach and mentor underrepresented and first-generation students;4) Statement of research and any other scholarly/creative activities pertinent to your professional identity; and 5) 3 letters of reference (to be uploaded through the “postings” portal)

To apply, visit https://careers.callutheran.edu/postings/7879

California Lutheran University is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment for all persons, regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable law. No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any program, activity or facility of the University on the basis of these factors in a manner consistent with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, ordinances, orders and rules, and University’s policies, procedures, and processes.

Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process can be provided to individuals with qualifying disabilities. Please contact the Human Resources Department for further information or to request an accommodation.

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