English - Adjunct Instructor (Ongoing)

Sacred Heart University; Fairfield (CT); On-site; USD 4,000 - 5,000; Part time

Job summary

Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, invites applications for adjunct faculty in English and First Year Writing. The position involves teaching core program courses, including Experiencing Literature (ENG 201) and the First Year Seminar, and contributing to a robust liberal arts curriculum.

The successful candidate will hold an MA, MFA, or PhD, demonstrate excellent teaching and references, and be able to work across areas outside their specialization.

Qualifications

• The successful candidate will have an MA, MFA, or PhD, excellent teaching skills and references, and ability to work outside her or his area of specialization.

Responsibilities

• Teach service courses, including First Year Seminar (FYWS) and Experiencing Literature (ENG 201).
• Promote a collegial environment and apply SHU's mission and values to create an inclusive space for students and colleagues.

Skills

Teaching

Curriculum alignment

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

MA/MFA/PhD in English or related field

Job description

Posted Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 4:00 AM

As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers nearly 90 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 388 Colleges–2023 Edition, and Best Business Schools–2023 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. www.sacredheart.edu

The College of Arts & Sciences Department of English has initiated a search for new adjunct faculty for the core program courses in English andFirst Year Writing . We are seeking faculty to teach inExperiencing Literature (the foundational core program course in literature) and/or theFirst Year Writing Seminar (the core program in writing for freshman). The English and Writing faculty at Sacred Heart are dedicated to providing solid oral and written communication skills and literary competency in our courses for the core curriculum. We seek to share our love of the written and spoken word while at the same time preparing students for professional life upon graduation from the University. Our goals include:

• Coordinating our curriculum with the University's mission
• Vigorous faculty development
• Remaining current in our discipline
• Creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation
• Focusing on each student as a unique human being, the whole person.

Requirements

The successful candidate will have an MA, MFA, or PhD, excellent teaching skills and references, and ability to work outside her or his area of specialization. The job will consist of teaching service courses, including our First Year Seminar (FYWS) and our foundational core course, "Experiencing Literature" (ENG 201).

They will also actively promote a collegial environment and consciously apply our mission and values to create a safe space where all may thrive and succeed.

Sacred Heart University is a space that respects and embraces differences, recognizes the unique contributions that individuals can make, and creates a community that maximizes the potential of all faculty and staff. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.