Assistant Professor – Department of Political Science

City University of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 59,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

John Jay College of Criminal Justice invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Law and Society to begin Fall 2027. The Ph.D. discipline should be grounded in the critical Law and Society tradition and candidates must have an active research agenda.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in Law and Society, supervise Senior Research Colloquium, and contribute to curriculum development and student advising, while engaging in college and departmental service.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Law and Society-related social science or history field; ABDs considered.
• Evidence of substantial expertise in social science research methods for Law and Society.
• Commitment to teaching, scholarly productivity, and collaboration for institutional good.
• J.D. holders will not be considered without relevant social science methods training.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in Law and Society and Senior Research Colloquium.
• Advise students and participate in college and departmental service.
• Develop curriculum and create new courses related to candidates' interests.

Skills

Teaching commitment

Scholarly productivity

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Law and Society background

Education

Ph.D. in related field (Law & Society)

Job description

Assistant Professor – Law and Society Program (Department of Political Science)

FACULTY VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

ABOUT THE COLLEGE

John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a senior college of the City University of New York (CUNY) and an internationally recognized leader in educating for justice. Led by President Karol V. Mason, John Jay is a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution, it is ranked third in the nation in Black student success, and it is a top ten institution for promoting student social mobility. John Jay is proud to serve a diverse and dynamic student body of 15,000 students that includes nearly fifty percent students who are first in their family to attend college as well as students who are immigrants, from low-income families, or from other historically underrepresented groups in higher education.

The College participates in the doctoral programs of the Graduate Center of CUNY, and offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees both in traditional criminal justice-related fields of study as well as in a robust portfolio of liberal arts and sciences programs that highlight themes of justice across the arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences.

The College seeks staff and faculty members who thrive in multicultural academic environments and are committed to access and excellence in higher education.

ABOUT JOHN JAY’S DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

The Department of Political Science has 26 full-time faculty members with a strong commitment to research excellence and student success. The department offers a major and a minor in Political Science, as well as a major in Law and Society. We serve over 1000 students across the two majors. Many of our faculty also teach in master’s programs offered through John Jay and the political science and other doctoral programs offered through CUNY’s Graduate Center.

LAW AND SOCIETY PROGRAM AT JOHN JAY

The Law and Society major at John Jay is a globally recognized leader in Law and Society scholarship and undergraduate education. With over 850 students and a vibrant and award-winning faculty, this interdisciplinary major is housed within the Department of Political Science. The major curriculum integrates with many of the Liberal Arts programs across John Jay College. We see our students as carriers of important knowledge about the impact of sociolegal processes in their own communities and work to incorporate that knowledge in our curriculum and teaching. Current faculty teaching in the program conduct historically attuned sociolegal research in postcolonial studies, gender studies, knowledge production, political economy, critical carceral and migration/immigration studies, environmental justice, critical legal geography, and international human rights. Our faculty members are dedicated teachers who strive to provide a transformative educational experience that prepares students not only for their future careers but also for a lifetime of engaged citizenship. We are also publicly engaged scholars who produce research that challenges the status quo in pursuit of a more just and equitable world.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Department of Political Science at John Jay College of the City University of New York invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Law and Society to begin in Fall 2027. The Ph.D. discipline is open provided candidates are demonstrably grounded in the critical Law and Society scholarly tradition. In addition to having an active research agenda, the successful candidate will bring enthusiasm and commitment to teaching and curriculum development. The candidate will also be responsible for advising students and actively participating in college and departmental service.

We invite applications from candidates whose research and teaching interests can complement the major’s existing strengths in interrogating how systems of law produce and are produced through political struggle. We particularly welcome candidates whose research combines sociolegal approaches with other critical scholarly traditions.

Applicants must demonstrate that they are qualified to teach undergraduate courses that train students in interdisciplinary sociolegal approaches. The successful candidate will teach the Senior Research Colloquium in addition to other required courses in the program (Introduction to Law and Society, Research Methods in Law and Society). These courses require a background in the Law and Society scholarship and substantial expertise in some form of social science research methods. The successful candidate will also be able to teach substantive and experiential learning courses in our curriculum (e.g., Law in Everyday Life, Law and Activism, Global Law and Society, Law and Inequality, and the Legal Disruption Project) and to create new courses related to their interests.

The successful candidate should be enthusiastic and well-prepared to work with students from a wide range of backgrounds and demonstrate a commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment. As demonstrated in John Jay College’s Seven Principles for a Culturally Responsive, Inclusive, and Anti-Racist Curriculum -- https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/john-jays-seven-principles -- the College seeks a faculty member who thrives in a multicultural, collaborative academic environment and is committed to both access and excellence in higher education.

QUALIFICATIONS

Ph.D. degree in a Law and Society-related social science or history field. Outstanding ABDs will be considered. Candidates with a Ph.D. in Law will only be considered if there is evidence of substantial expertise in social science research methods. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to teaching, the potential for scholarly productivity, and an ability to cooperate with others for the good of the institution. *Candidates holding only a J.D. will not be considered.

COMPENSATION

$59,256- $114,091 Salary commensurate with education and credentials.

CUNY offers faculty a competitive compensation and benefits package covering health insurance, pension and retirement benefits, paid parental leave, and savings programs. We also provide mentoring and support for research, scholarship, and publication as part of our commitment to ongoing faculty professional development.

CLOSING DATE

Application Review Begins: November 15

Posting closes on: December 1

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Faculty

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

Job ID: 32921

Location: John Jay College

Job Type: Full-Time