Position Type: Department of Sociology Search for Assistant Professor 25-26
Position Type: Regular
Salary Range: The salary range for this position is $85,947 to $95,410, depending on the successful candidate's years of teaching experience at the college level.
Purpose: Department of Sociology Search for Assistant Professor 25-26
The department of Sociology at Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic University, seeks applicants for a full-time tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in one of the following areas: housing, urban sociology, or immigration, Those with an interest in California or the Bay Area are particularly encouraged to apply. SCU is a welcoming and inclusive community of teaching scholars whose work is grounded in the university's
fundamental values. Those values, which include academic excellence, social justice and community engagement are infused with a culture of care that defines our community-upholding the dignity of all. The University draws on the many resources of the greater Bay Area, including Silicon Valley, where we are located.
Faculty in the department are active researchers and scholars as well as dedicated teachers and mentors. We have a dynamic working relationship and resources to hire students as undergraduate research assistants and support professional development. We advise our majors academically and strive to help them explore and be prepared for their next steps post graduation.
The successful candidate will start on September 1, 2026 and be expected to teach, engage in scholarship and/or creative work, and do service for the department, college, and University. SCU is on the quarter system and tenure-stream faculty are expected to teach six courses per year (two each quarter), assuming they are actively engaged in scholarship or creative work.
The position comes with generous benefits (scu.edu/hr/benefits), including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, and University contributions toward retirement. Recognizing the high cost of housing in the local area, there are two University housing assistance programs: Rental assistance to ease the transition into the local housing market, and housing purchase assistance for tenure-stream faculty.
Required Qualifications 1) Terminal degree (Ph.D. or MFA) or ABD at time of appointment in Sociology or a closely related field.
2) Demonstrated potential for effective and inclusive teaching and mentoring of a diverse undergraduate student population.
3) Ability to teach sociology courses for our Diversity Core area as well as develop courses in other Core areas.
4) Ability to contribute to our theory/research sequence that values qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research.
5) An active research program with demonstrated productivity or potential.
Responsibilities Tenure-track faculty at SCU are teaching scholars who are expected to balance teaching, research/creative work, and service. This is an in-person position. More specifically, duties include but are not limited to the following:
Teaching Teach undergraduate lower- and upper-division courses in the major and University core curriculum, as assigned by the chair, including courses such as Social Problems; Race, Class, and Gender; Immigrant Communities; theory or research methods/analysis; among others, depending on area(s) of expertise. SCU is on the quarter system and a typical load is two courses per quarter assuming active engagement with research or creative work. High-quality teaching is prioritized at SCU; therefore significant faculty-student interaction is expected. The University offers many different opportunities to develop teaching skills through Faculty Development, including regular lunchtime workshops on pedagogy, teaching and technology grants, communities of practice, teaching mentors, and a scholarship of teaching and learning faculty group.
Teaching will be evaluated according to the Teaching Effectiveness Standards and Evaluation (TESE) document developed by each department. Ignatian pedagogy, a hallmark of Jesuit, Catholic universities, is based on the principle of cura personalis, that is, teaching the whole person. At Santa Clara University we define effectiveness in teaching as respectful, challenging, inclusive, engaging, and evidence based. Teaching Expectations and Academic Policies at SCU can be found here.
Research/Creative Work Develop a program of research or creative work at SCU that will result in meeting the Sociology Department's established scholarship/creative standards. Each department has collectively created a document that outlines the standards for scholarship or creative work that lead to tenure and promotion in that department. The Department of Sociology values the involvement of undergraduate students in faculty research.
SCU offers significant support to early career faculty in the development of their program of research or creative work. All new faculty will be assigned mentors, placed into a cohort learning community with other new faculty, and offered faculty retreats, workshops and numerous professional development opportunities to build their programs of research/creative work.
Service Provide effective service to the Department of Sociology, the College of Arts and Sciences, the University and the profession through contributions other than teaching and scholarship, such as service on committees, participation in professional organizations and activities, leadership, and community service performed by virtue of professional expertise or association with the University, as appropriate to rank and experience.
Required Materials for Application - CV including courses taught and publications to date
- Teaching evaluations (both quantitative and qualitative if possible)
- Statement of inclusive pedagogy, teaching areas and approach, and interest in teaching and mentoring undergraduate students and areas of the SCU Core curriculum able to teach
- Statement of areas of scholarship and plans for publications in the next five years
- Three letters required if selected for campus interview
Application Deadline For full consideration, applications should be received by September 15, 2025. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.
Telecommute Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.
Work Authorization: A foreign national who is appointed to a tenured or tenure-track faculty position is eligible for visa sponsorship assessment by Santa Clara University together with its legal counsel.
EEO Statement Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Information about Title IX can be found at Information about Section 504 and the ADA Coordinator can be found at (408) 554-4109, Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Clery Notice of Availability Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.
Americans with Disabilities Act Santa Clara University affirms its' commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at
