Cardinal Bernardin Visiting Assistant Professor

University of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of South Carolina invites applications for a full-time, professional-track position as the Cardinal Bernardin Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies starting August 16, 2025. The position entails teaching undergraduate courses and engaging in scholarly contributions to religious studies focused on ethics and community outreach.

Qualifications

• Must possess a doctoral degree by the start date.
• Expertise in Catholicism and contemporary ethics is preferred.
• Experience in teaching Religious Studies at undergraduate levels.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses in Religious Studies, including required and topical courses.
• Deliver at least one public lecture during the term of appointment.
• Engage in service that supports religious studies scholarship.

Skills

Scholarship of Catholic Christian traditions

Contemporary ethics

Global dialogue

Pursuit of justice

Education

Doctoral degree in Religious Studies or related field

Job description

Logo:Posting Number:

FAC00246PO24

Advertised Title:

Cardinal Bernardin Visiting Assistant Professor

Campus:

Columbia

College/Division:

College of Arts and Sciences

Department:

CAS Religious Studies

Advertised Salary Range:

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package.

Part/Full Time:

Full Time

Hours per Week:

40

Position Category:

Full-time Equivalent (FTE)

Basis :

9 months

Work County:

Richland

Tenure Information:

Professional Track

Job Search Category:

Faculty

About University of South Carolina:

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Advertised Job Summary:

The faculty of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of South Carolina, Columbia campus, invites applications for a full time, professional-track position at the rank of “Visiting Assistant Professor,” to begin August 16, 2025. The position is a 9-month appointment with a teaching load of 5 courses for the academic year. This is a non-renewable position. The holder of this position will carry the title “Cardinal Bernardin Visiting Assistant Professor.”

The successful candidate will teach courses in Religious Studies at all undergraduate levels, including lower-division courses, such as “Morality, Ethics and Religion,” as well as topical/thematic courses tied to areas of the candidate’s expertise. We are interested in offerings of existing courses such as “Race and Religion,” “Religion, Medicines and Healing,” “Christian Ethics,” or “Religion and Literature.” We are also interested in special topics courses on subjects that the candidate may propose. The candidate must teach either 3 courses in the Fall term and 2 in the Spring term, or 2 courses in the Fall term and 3 in the Spring term. During the term of their appointment, the successful candidate will also be expected to deliver at least one public lecture at USC on an aspect of their research.

The Department of Religious Studies at USC Columbia is dedicated to thoughtful, critical, self-reflective research that contributes to knowledge about religious aspects of human life. Highlighting its faculty expertise, the Department is also dedicated to providing an undergraduate degree program, that enables students to develop skills required for creative, critical inquiry. Outside the classroom, the department is committed to service that supports religious studies scholarship, sustains university institutions, and benefits South Carolina communities through educational outreach. For more information about the Department of Religious Studies, please visit our website at: https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/religious_studies/index.php

This position is supported by the Cardinal Bernardin Fund, created in memory of Joseph Cardinal Bernardin (d. 1996), who was raised in the Columbia, SC area and served as a priest in the Charleston Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, later becoming Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta, Archbishop of Cincinnati and finally Archbishop of Chicago. The Cardinal Bernardin Fund supports research, teaching and public engagement associated with aspects of the life, work and legacy of Cardinal Bernardin, specifically contemporary ethics, global dialogue with diverse cultural and spiritual communities, and pursuit of a just society.

Required Education and Experience:

The candidate must have a doctoral degree in hand by the start date for the position. The degree may be in Religious Studies, History, Anthropology, Theology, Divinity, or another closely related academic field.

Preferred Qualifications:

The successful candidate will be a scholar of Catholic Christian traditions and communities. Their work should also intersect with contemporary ethics, global dialogue with diverse cultural and spiritual communities, and/or the pursuit of a just society. Specific topics and subfields might include, but are not limited to, the Global South; multiple “Catholicisms” within the Church; minority, poor and immigrant communities in the United States; ethics of health, life and well-being; intra-Catholic dialogue and interreligious dialogue, and the pursuit of justice within the Church and in society at large.

Desired Start Date:

08/16/2025

Job Open Date:

12/09/2024

Open Until Filled:

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicant:

All applicants must apply online at USCJobs at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Applications must include: (1) a cover letter that describes their research and teaching interests, (2) a curriculum vitae, and (3) a sample of written scholarship of 10,000 words or fewer in length, and (4) the names, email addresses and professional information for three references who are sending letters of recommendation. Applications are not complete until 3 signed letters from references are received.
The Search Committee will begin reviewing complete applications on Monday, February 3, 2025, and will continue reviewing applications until the position is filled. Initial interviews will be conducted with potential candidates online; finalists will be invited to USC Columbia Campus for presentations and further interviews.
Inquiries about this position may be directed to the Chair of the Department of Religious Studies, Prof. Adam M. Schor ([e-mail]).


Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This position is open until filled. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

Quicklink for Posting:

https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/177449

EEO Statement:

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.