Assistant Professor of Political Science (Law and/or Public Policy)

Job Description:

Assistant Professor of Political Science (Law and/or Public Policy)

Description

Position: Assistant Professor of Political Science (Law and/or Public Policy)
Effective Date: August 17, 2026 (Fall Semester)
Salary Range: The Assistant Professor AY 2025-26 classification salary is $74,652 to $158,688/year; $6,221 to $13,224/per month (12 monthly payments per academic year). The anticipated hiring range is $86,000 to $90,000 per year; $7,167 to $7,500/per month. Salary offered is commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Application Deadline: Review of applications to begin October 10, 2025. Position opened until filled (or recruitment canceled).

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). CSULB earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in 2023, joining a distinctive group of colleges and universities who have been recognized for its commitment to Latine/x student success. CSULB is committed to serving diverse students and has established and actively supports the Black Excellence Collegium, dedicated to promoting Black excellence and advancing Black Student Success, and El Concilio for Latinx Success at the Beach, whose mission is to build capacity and promote inclusive servingness across initiatives and efforts for the benefit of all students. The President’s Equity and Change Commission is dedicated to achieving inclusive excellence in our community and culture and throughout the university. CSULB’s Beach 2030 University Action Plans prioritize engaging all students; expanding access to higher education; promoting intellectual achievement; building community; and cultivating resilience.

College of Liberal Arts
Department of Political Science

The Department of Political Science at California State University, Long Beach is seeking applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Law and/or Public Policy. The position is open regarding subfield, and all methodological and theoretical approaches are welcome. This is a general hire recruitment (not part of a cluster hire effort).

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Political Science or appropriate closely related discipline. Degree at time of application or official notification of completion of the doctoral degree by August 1, 2026.
• Record of, or demonstrated potential for, effective teaching
• Record of, or demonstrated potential for, successful research and publication
• Demonstrated commitment to working successfully with a diverse student population, including low socioeconomic and first-generation students

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of academic training and expertise in one of the following specializations: Public Law, Judicial Politics, or Public Policy
• Evidence of scholarly activities grounded in law, public policy, or broader questions within the intersection of law and policy, such as environmental law and policy, immigration law and policy, international law and policy, health law and policy, law and economic policy, civil rights law and policy, social welfare law and policy, education law and policy, labor and employment law and policy, administrative law and policy, election law and voting rights policy, and intersectional approaches to law and social inequality, including the ways race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, disability, nationality, and other identities interact within legal and policy frameworks
• Evidence of ability to effectively teach current and future University course offerings in legal studies and public policy broadly, at the undergraduate and graduate levels, such as Constitutional Law, Environmental Law, Queer Law, International Law, Law and Social Change, Jurisprudence, Public Policy, Fundamentals of Public Administration, and Public Values and Public Policy
• Evidence of the ability to develop new course offerings in political science related to law and public policy
• Evidence of support for and/or experience related to the University’s strong commitment to the academic success of its diverse student body
• Evidence of ability to engage in research leading to conference participation and publication.
• Evidence of interest in and/or experience with department, college, university and community service
• Experience of successfully working with populations demographically and/or socioeconomically similar to the CSULB student body
• Experience mentoring or supporting students with minoritized identities or experience using inclusive and culturally relevant teaching strategies in a diverse classroom

Duties:

• Teach courses in Law and Public Policy at the undergraduate and graduate levels (Mode of instruction may include in-person, hybrid, online, and/or any combination thereof.)
• Develop courses in Law and Public Policy at undergraduate and graduate levels
• Advise and mentor students, including the supervision of Master’s students taking comprehensive exams and writing theses
• Engage in research leading to conference participation and peer-reviewed publications
• Participate in faculty shared governance
• Participate in service to the school, college, university, and profession/community.

CSULB seeks to recruit faculty who enthusiastically support the University’s strong commitment to the academic success of all of our students, including students with disabilities, students who are first generation to college, veterans, students with diverse socio-economic backgrounds, and students of diverse sexual orientations and gender expressions. CSULB seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the People of California, to maintain the excellence of the University, and to offer our students a rich variety of expertise, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.

Collegeof Liberal Arts
Department of Political Science

The Department of Political Science takes great pride in having one of the most diverse student bodies in higher education. We have more than 600 students in one of our three academic programs: a Bachelor of Arts, a Minor, and a Master of Arts. Our 18 full-time and 14 part-time faculty are passionate about teaching politics in the twenty-first century, offering courses that are directly relevant to the contemporary world. Together we seek to provide our students the foundational knowledge and skills essential to understand and engage issues relevant to our common political life today. Our department offers numerous programs and clubs, including a Legal Studies certificate, a judicial internship course, nationally competitive Moot Court and Model United Nations programs, undergraduate and graduate student associations, chapters of the Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity and the Pi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society, a peer mentoring program, extensive internship and research opportunities, and much more.

The College of Liberal Arts at CSULB is the largest college on campus, with thirty-one excellent departments and programs, several innovative centers and projects, over 685 outstanding faculty members, and over 74 individual staff members. The college faculty are among the best in the nation and have received a variety of national and international awards. CLA has 9300 undergraduate students pursuing a variety of highly valued degrees through the college’s 99 unique majors and minors. Additionally, 575 graduate students are also obtaining advanced degrees and special certificates in the college. With degrees ranging from humanities and foreign languages to social and behavioral sciences, CLA’s graduates are well-rounded citizens, effective communicators, and analytical thinkers who live knowledgeably, responsibly, and humanely in a world where complex problems demand informed, creative, and thoughtful solutions. The skills gained through degrees from CLA are invaluable and open up countless career paths for graduates to follow

Information on excellent benefits package available to CSULB faculty is located here: CSU Employee Benefits

How to Apply - Required Documentation:

• A Student Success Statement about your teaching or other experiences, successes, and challenges in working with a diverse student population (maximum two pages, single-spaced). For further information and guidelines, please visit: Student Success Statement
• Letter of application addressing the required and preferred qualifications
• CV
• Names and contact information for three references (to be contacted for confidential letters of recommendation should you reach the semi-finalist stage)
• Sample of scholarly work (e.g., peer-reviewed article, conference paper, or dissertation chapter)
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness (including, if available, representative syllabi and teaching evaluations from courses taught as an instructor of record)
• Copy of graduate school transcript/s
• Finalists should be prepared to submit an official transcript (e-transcript preferred, if available)

How to Apply: Click Apply Now icon to complete the CSULB online application

Requests for information about the position and process should be addressed to the Search Committee Chair:

Darin DeWitt, Professor
California State University, Long Beach
Department of Political Science
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840-4605

Darin.DeWitt@csulb.edu
(562) 985-4711

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS:

A background check (including a criminal records check and telephone reference check with most recent employer) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 Revised July 21, 2017 as a condition of employment.

Pursuant to the CSU Out of State Employment Policy, hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside of California is prohibited effective January 1, 2022. By prohibiting employment outside of California, the CSU also prohibits hiring and retaining employees working permanently from a business location outside of the United States. Exceptions to the Policy are limited to approved and documented purposes for conducting CSU business outside of California.

All employees who assign and/or oversee work are responsible for ensuring that compliant work controls and procedures consistent with Federal, State and local regulations and University policies are implemented and maintained to provide for the protection of individuals and to safeguard the environment. Everyone is expected to comply with applicable Environmental Health and Safety regulations and University policies, programs and procedures. For more information, the systemwide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/18172024/latest/ and questions may be sent to Environmental_Health_Safety@csulb.edu .

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The systemwide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to fahr@csulb.edu .

All university program and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Consistent with CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy, as well as state and federal law, CSULB provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. To access CSULB’s full statement on Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment, please visit Equity and Compliance .

Advertised: Aug 27 2025 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: