Cal Poly San Luis Obispo: Assistant Professor of Sociology: Criminal Justice or Social Work, Latinx/e focus
The sociology program in the Department of Social Sciences at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA seeks applications for a full-time (academic year), tenure- track Assistant Professor to begin September 11, 2025. Area of Specialization: Criminal Justice or Social Work with a Latinx/e focus. The faculty member will support and teach in the Cal Poly 2+2 sociology bachelor’s degree program at the Allan Hancock College campus, a Hispanic-serving institution, as well as at the San Luis Obispo campus. Additional teaching in one or more of the following classes is preferred: Genders and Sexualities, Sociology of the Family, Sociology of the Life Course, Social Movements, Social Change, and/or Sociology of Complex Organizations.
The ideal candidate will have a combination of university-level teaching experience and research potential. We are seeking applicants with a Ph.D. in sociology or closely related discipline completed before the start of the appointment, evidence of involvement with the Latinx/e community, demonstrable expertise in critical studies of criminal justice or social work with a focus on marginalized communities, and experience working with underrepresented students in research, teaching, service, advising, mentoring and/or community engagement.
The primary teaching and service responsibilities will be to support the 2+2 program. The 2+2 program is a recent partnership between California Polytechnic State University and Allan Hancock Community College in Santa Maria (~35 minutes from the Cal Poly main campus in San Luis Obispo). Students in the program apply at the end of their associate degree and, if accepted, complete two years of Cal Poly classes as transfer students at the Allan Hancock campus. Many 2+2 students are Latinx/e, lower socioeconomic status, and/or first generation. 2+2 students graduate with a BA degree in Sociology from Cal Poly and are prepared to take positions in areas such as law enforcement, human resources, or social services or enter a K-8 credentialing program.
Although Cal Poly is primarily a teaching university, our faculty are expected to balance teaching with an active program of research/professional development (including publication), student supervision and advising, and participation in service activities at the department and college/university level. The typical teaching load is 12 units (three courses) per quarter, with a reduction in course load in each of the first two years to help new faculty establish an active program of research and professional development. Cal Poly strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), especially in the classroom and among its areas of study.
The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) sees diversity as central to its mission and is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment within the college and university. We value our diversity of complex and intersecting identities, while striving to maintain an environment that is socially just, equitable, respectful, and inclusive. The successful applicant should be able to clearly demonstrate how they have infused these values and student learning objectives into their work. They should be prepared to present clear examples of how they would infuse these areas into their work as a faculty member.
At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees, and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences, and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly’s values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility. Cal Poly’s commitment to DEI informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring, and retention. California Polytechnic State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
Cal Poly strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), in the classroom, in scholarship, and in service experience. This position is part of a university-wide cluster of searches designed to increase curricular coverage of areas related to DEI, as well as to promote inclusive and equity-minded teaching strategies across the university. Successful candidates will be expected to contribute to the university’s goals in these areas. Candidates selected through this DEI cluster hire will be given start-up funds to support their work in DEI, and a dedicated mentor will be given upon appointment. Once hired, candidates will collaborate with their dean and others to develop a plan for utilizing these funds for supplemental compensation, assigned time, or professional development activities.
For more information about Cal Poly’s DEI-Focused Cluster Hires, please visit: https://academic-personnel.calpoly.edu/clusterhire
How to Apply
To apply, please visit http://jobs.calpoly.edu/ for an online faculty application and apply to Requisition # 541882.
Review Begin Date: 12-16-2024. Applicants with complete files by the Review Begin date will be given full consideration. Applications received after this date may be considered.
For questions about the position please contact Dr. Sara Lopus via email at slopus@calpoly.edu