Assistant Professor of Japanese

UNCW; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of North Carolina Wilmington invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Japanese to begin August 2027. The Japanese program seeks a pedagogue with strong language teaching ability and a vision for growing the minor and program offerings.

ABD applicants are welcome under specific PhD confirmation timelines. The successful candidate will teach Japanese language and culture courses, advise students, and contribute to study abroad programs and departmental service.

Qualifications

• PhD or EdD in Japanese language and culture with at least 18 graduate credits in Japanese language, literature, culture or pedagogy.
• ABD applicants will be considered; if PhD/EdD is not confirmed by Aug 1, 2027, appointment may be Lecturer for the first year and PhD must be confirmed by July 1, 2028.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Japanese and English.
• Evidence of an active research agenda.
• Experience teaching Japanese at the university level.

Responsibilities

• Teach Japanese language and culture courses.
• Advise students and student organizations; collaborate with related programs.
• Coordinate study abroad programs in Japan with the minor.
• Engage in department and university service.
• Develop courses on contemporary Japanese language, culture, or society.

Skills

Japanese pedagogy

English/Japanese communication

Research agenda

University teaching

ABD acceptable

Education

PhD or EdD in Japanese language and culture

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Please note that a minimum of three references are required for all applications. Note:. If ABD at time at application one of the references included in application must be dissertation chair.
The reference contact information you provide may be used to request reference letters during the screening process.

Questions about the position or the online application process should be directed to CHSSA Recruitment Specialist Jennifer Itell @ [e-mail] .

College College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and The Arts - 321 College

Dept/School

Dept/School World Languages and Cultures - 32221

Vacancy Number

Vacancy Number 16F-828

Position Number

Position Number 618

Location of Workplace

Location of Workplace Main UNCW Campus

Brief Summary of Work for this Position

The Department of World Languages and Cultures at the University of North Carolina Wilmington seeks applications for a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Japanese to begin August 2027.

The Japanese program at UNCW is currently small but over capacity, with high student interest and enrollment demonstrating a potential for growth. We seek a candidate with exceptional language teaching capability and a vision for contributing to continued program development, with the goal of demonstrating the value of Japanese study to the university and students. Teaching responsibilities include a regular research-intensive load of five courses per year.

The successful candidate will teach Japanese language and culture courses, work together with the Japanese minor program coordinator to offer study abroad programs in Japan, advise students and relevant student organizations, collaborate with related programs, produce scholarship, and provide department and university service.

The successful candidate will be responsible for at least one course on an aspect of contemporary Japanese language, culture, or society (e.g. arts and entertainment, business and finance, demographic challenges, politics, sociolinguistics, technology, tourism and recreation, and so on). The research area is thus open to all candidates who can demonstrate how their research contributes to potential growth in the Japanese minor and the Japanese program broadly.

The successful candidate is expected to be an expert in Japanese language pedagogy from the beginning to upper-intermediate levels of proficiency. Special consideration will be given to candidates with the demonstrated ability to build connections with other academic, extracurricular, or community-based programs.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• PhD or EdD in the field of Japanese language and culture, or closely related discipline (such as Second Language Acquisition or Asian Studies, with at least 18 graduate credit hours in Japanese language, literature, culture, pedagogy, etc.)
  • Please note: ABD applicants will be considered; however, if PhD or EdD is not confirmed by August 1, 2027, appointment will be at the rank of Lecturer for the first academic year of employment and PhD must be confirmed by July 1, 2028 for eligibility of continued employment. In addition, one of the references included in application must be dissertation chair.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Japanese and English
• Evidence of an active research agenda
• Potential to contribute to courses in the Japanese minor
• Experience teaching Japanese as a foreign language at the university level

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Experience developing and/or teaching courses in Japanese contemporary culture, language and society, or Japanese for specific purposes including business
• Experience with leading or developing study abroad programs, internships, work opportunities for Japanese learners, or community-based partnerships

Required Certifications or Licensure

Primary Function of Organizational Unit

The Department of World Languages and Cultures in the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts is one of the largest academic units at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. With over 50 faculty members, we offer on-campus and online master’s degrees in Spanish; on-campus and online post-baccalaureate certificates in Hispanic Studies; a combined BA/MA program in Spanish; bachelor’s degrees in French, German, and Spanish; and minors in Classics, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian. We also offer classes in American Sign Language, Arabic, and Italian.

College/School Information

The College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts ( CHSSA ) is home to 14 academic departments and offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs including the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, and Master of Public Administration as well as combined bachelor’s/master’s degree programs in Spanish and English. CHSSA also houses the Interdisciplinary Studies program(s), Gender Studies and Research Center and the Academic Resource Center, which offers full-service, professional advising for all CHSSA undergraduate students.
In addition, CHSSA offers a full complement of interdisciplinary minors and post baccalaureate certificates including: Africana studies, American studies, Asian studies, classical studies, conflict management and resolution, emergency and disaster management, forensic science, Hispanic studies, journalism, Latin American studies, medical humanities, Middle East and Islamic studies, Native American studies, professional writing and publishing, science and medical writing, and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
CHSSA contributes significantly to the curriculum that comprises UNCW’s University Studies Program, through which all undergraduates gain a foundation in the liberal arts and develop the transferable skills essential for life in the twenty-first century. CHSSA strives in its undergraduate programs and in its University Study offerings to nurture creative thinking, intellectual curiosity, and academic integrity in students while providing them with a solid foundation of knowledge in their chosen fields. Graduate programs in CHSSA are designed to develop intellectual competence and to prepare the student for careers in business, industry, government, teaching or for further study at the doctoral level.
Applied learning is a hallmark of the student experience in CHSSA . Each of CHSSA’s departments requires an applied learning experience as a part of the curriculum for its undergraduate majors. Examples include faculty-directed research, internships, service learning, and capstone courses and projects, all of which challenge students to integrate various strands of knowledge and to apply that knowledge to broader, real-world or real disciplinary situations.
Upon completion of their studies, all CHSSA students will have the necessary preparation for rewarding careers, advanced study, effective citizenship, and meaningful lives. CHSSA offers limitless opportunities to engage in collaborative and interdisciplinary research and service while also making a positive societal impact. Come and join our vibrant academic environment that values discovery, innovation, and creativity.

University Information

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.
A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to- BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation’s only bachelor’s degree program focused on coastal engineering.

EEO Statement

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents – except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

Eligibility for Employment

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Number of Openings

Position Type

Position Type Permanent

Job Posting Date

Job Posting Date 10/30/2026

Job Close Date

Job Close Date 12/01/2026