Assistant Professor Psychology

California State University San Marcos; San Marcos (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

California State University San Marcos invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Cognitive Psychology starting Fall 2027. The department serves 2000+ students and emphasizes empirical science, teaching, and mentoring across undergraduate and graduate programs.

Minimum qualifications include Ph.D. in psychology or cognitive science by hire date, evidence of teaching excellence, ability to supervise master’s theses, and capability to teach both lecture and upper-division lab

Qualifications

• Evidence of teaching excellence at university level (student evaluations, peer observations).
• Ability to supervise master’s theses in psychological science.

Responsibilities

• Establish a robust cognitive psychology research program involving students.
• Teach lecture courses and upper-division labs in cognitive psychology.
• Contribute to graduate education with seminars in cognitive psychology, research methods, and statistics.

Skills

Teaching experience

Cognitive psychology

Research program leadership

Student supervision

Education

PhD in Psychology or Cognitive Science

PhD by hire date or ABD accepted

Job description

California State University San Marcos expects to hirea tenure-track Assistant Professor for Fall 2027withexpertiseinCognitive Psychology.

The Psychology Department at California State University San Marcos servesover2000 students, offering twoin-personbachelor’sdegrees in Psychological Science and Child and Adolescent Development, and two in-person master’sdegreesinPsychological Science and ClinicalCounseling Psychology.Thedepartmentemploys a teacher-scholar model(with tenure-line faculty teaching a 3-3 load),emphasizingpsychology 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 tothe 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 havedemonstratedevidence of teaching excellence at the university level (e.g., student evaluations/summaries, peer observation summaries) and must be able to supervisemaster’stheses in our psychological science program.
• Applicantsmustbe 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 forthe 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 groupsin teaching,researchand/or service.

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

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

APPLICATION:

All applications must include:

• Cover letter that addresses the above minimum and desired/preferred qualifications
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of research interests
• Evidence of research productivity (up to three representative publications)
• Statement of teaching philosophy
• Evidence of teaching success (Student Evaluations, peer observation,evidence of ability to communicate with and serve students of a variety of abilities and backgrounds, etc.)
• Contact information for three professional references.

TIMELINE:

A review of applications will begin onNOV. 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 feeestablishedby the “Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” issued on September 19, 2025. Applicantsare responsible fordeterminingthe 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.

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 isrequiredtocomply withthe requirementsset forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

This position is subject to employment verification, education verification, referencechecksand 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.