Assistant Professor of Psychology

California State University San Marcos; San Marcos (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

California State University San Marcos invites applications for an tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Psychology with a focus on Cognitive Psychology, starting Fall 2027.

The department seeks colleagues who can develop an active research program involving students and deliver undergraduate lectures and laboratory courses in cognitive psychology while contributing to graduate seminars in related areas.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated capacity to establish a robust cognitive psychology research program involving students.
• Ability to teach lecture courses and upper-division lab courses in cognitive psychology.
• Evidence of teaching excellence at the university level (course evaluations, peer observations).
• Ability to supervise master’s theses in the psychological science program.

Skills

Teaching

Student supervision

Education

Ph.D. in Psychology or related field

ABD acceptable; Ph.D. required by hire date

Job description

Rank: Assistant Professor

Department: Psychology

Starting Date: Fall 2027

California State University San Marcos expects to hire a tenure-track Assistant Professor for Fall 2027 with expertise in Cognitive Psychology.

The Psychology Department at California State University San Marcos serves over 2000 students, offering two in-person bachelor’s degrees in Psychological Science and Child and Adolescent Development, and two in-person master’s degrees in Psychological Science and Clinical Counseling Psychology. The department employs a teacher-scholar model (with tenure-line faculty teaching a 3-3 load), emphasizing psychology as an empirical science and the development of skills that include written and oral communication, information literacy, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and critical analysis of complex problems. Multicultural perspectives and ethical issues are integral to the department’s curriculum.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. in Psychology, Cognitive Science, or a related field prior to date of appointment (ABD applicants accepted; PhD required by hire date).
• Only candidates with demonstrated capacity to establish a robust cognitive psychology research program that can involve students will be considered.
• Applicants must have demonstrated evidence of teaching excellence at the university level (e.g., student evaluations/summaries, peer observation summaries) and must be able to supervise master’s theses in our psychological science program.
• Applicants must be able to teach lecture courses, and upper-division lab courses, in cognitive psychology.

DESIRED/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS :

• Evidence of an active research program specializing in cognitive psychology with the ability to involve both graduate and undergraduate students.
• Preference for the ability to teach needed courses within the existing curriculum, including undergraduate lecture and lab courses in cognitive psychology, research methods, and statistics, and graduate seminars in cognitive psychology, research methods, and statistics.
• Demonstrated intercultural competence with diverse groups in teaching, research and/or service.

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $7,438 - $7,667 per month

CSU Classification Salary Range: $6,221- $13,224 per month

TIMELINE:

A review of applications will begin on NOV. 13, 2026; however, the position will be open until filled.

CSUSM is currently not sponsoring applicants for H-1B employment that are subject to the $100,000 fee established by the “Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” issued on September 19, 2025. Applicants are responsible for determining the applicability of the fee.

CSUSM has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and was recently named one of the top 32 Colleges most friendly to junior faculty by the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education. Visit Faculty Opportunities for more information.

California State University San Marcos is an Equal Opportunity Employer strongly committed to promoting diversity in all areas of the campus community. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, physical or mental disability, gender or sex, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion or religious creed, sexual orientation and veteran or military status.

Per the California State University’s Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is prohibited from hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California. Working in the State of California is a condition of employment.

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 as a condition of employment.

This position is subject to employment verification, education verification, reference checks and criminal record checks. An offer of appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, including a criminal records check, and may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act or Clery Act Notification can be found at Clery Act Notification.

Advertised:

September 30, 2026 (9:00 AM) Pacific Daylight Time