FR-26/27 World Literatures - Assistant Professor

California State University, Chico; Fresno (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of English at California State University, Fresno seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor in World Literatures.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, supervise MA thesis committees, conduct scholarly research, and engage in campus and community service activities. Fall 2027 start; typical load is 3/3 with course releases for research.

Qualifications

• Expertise in comparative ancient, classical, medieval, renaissance/early modern and/or contemporary world literatures, including indigenous world literatures.
• Demonstrated ability to teach World Literatures courses (e.g., ENGL 30, 101, 112, 113, 114, 118, 167).
• Evidence of a research and publication agenda in world literatures.
• Commitment to shared governance and campus/community service.
• Commitment to inclusive, accessible education and collaboration with diverse campus community.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, faculty, staff, and campus community.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate students and supervise MA thesis committees.
• Conduct scholarly research and engage in campus/community service activities.
• Teach courses in World Literatures and related areas, including General Education and special topics.
• Propose topics courses aligned with research interests; typical load is 3/3 (4-unit courses).
• New tenure-track faculty receive one course release per semester for the first two years.

Skills

Comparative literatures

Teaching World Lit courses

Research & publication

Service to campus/community

Inclusive education

Communication with campus

Education

PhD in English/Comparative Literatures

ABD considered

Job description

FR-26/27 World Literatures - Assistant Professor

Job no: 562694
Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: Fresno
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Faculty - Letters/Humanities, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time

World Literatures
Assistant Professor

Tenure Track
Fall 2027 (August 2027)

The Department of English in the College of Arts and Humanities at California State University, Fresno seeks applicants for a tenure-track position in World Literatures. Preference will be given to candidates with background in comparative methodologies; and in ancient, classical, medieval, renaissance/early modern and/or contemporary world languages and literatures, including indigenous world literatures. The position brings a disciplinary focus of global diversity to students within the department, College of Arts and Humanities, and University.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate students, serve on M.A. thesis committees, conduct scholarly research, and engage in campus and community service activities. Primary teaching responsibilities include foundational literatures, theory, and advanced writing courses for English majors, courses in World Literatures, myth and folklore, special topics, and General Education courses. Faculty proposals of topics courses in areas of research are welcomed and encouraged. Typical course load in English is 3/3 (4-unit courses), with a possible course release for research on a competitive basis. Per union-negotiated contract, new tenure-track faculty receive one course release per semester for the first two years.

Qualifications

Education (from an accredited institution or foreign equivalent):

• An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in English, Comparative Literatures, or other closely related discipline.
• Applicants nearing completion of the doctorate (ABD) may be considered. Degree must be completed by August 1, 2027.

Required

• Expertise in comparative ancient, classical, medieval, renaissance/early modern and/or contemporary world literatures, including indigenous world literatures.
• Demonstrated ability to teach departmental courses in World Literatures, including ENGL 30, 101, 112, 113, 114, 118, 167.
• Evidence of a promising and relevant research and publication agenda in the field of world literatures.
• Demonstrated ability and commitment to contribute to university shared governance and service to campus and community.
• A commitment to student success through inclusive, accessible, and transformative education and to working collaboratively and respectfully with students, faculty, staff in our diverse community.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with students, faculty, staff and members of the campus community.

Preferred

• Background in comparative methodologies.
• Background in pre-1700 world literatures.
• Expertise in one or more ancient and/or modern world languages other than English.
• Experience teaching college courses in World Literatures.
• Experience teaching discipline-specific (English Studies/Comparative Literatures) college courses in research and writing.

Committee Information and Search process

Our Literature program, which offers B.A. and M.A. degrees, shares space with English Education, Creative Writing, and the Rhetoric and Writing programs of the Department of English. We believe the best English classrooms are communities in which teachers and students work together to analyze, construct, and apply meaning. Class sizes are typically up to 25 for undergraduate courses and 15 for graduate courses. Faculty members have ample opportunity to design new courses in response to changes in the field, student interests, and their own scholarly leanings. Students from the department have gone on to national and international graduate programs and are successful in a wide variety of careers.

English Department faculty are scholars of literature, rhetoric, and teacher education, as well as award-winning creative writers. Our faculty include Fulbright recipients, NEH Summer Scholars, research fellows, and MLA Delegates. Our department is home to several thriving literary journals and hosts multiple conferences and literary readings. We also have a strong tradition of serving in leadership positions of campus-wide governance, academic programs, and in the faculty union.

Across campus there are numerous opportunities for collaboration with other departments and programs, including American Indian Studies; Asian American Studies; Africana Studies; Armenian Studies; Chicano and Latin American Studies; Hmong Studies; and the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department. The Fresno State Library houses the national MELUS archives. The Arne Nixon Center for Children’s Literature is home to one of the nation’s best collections of LBGTQ literature for young readers.

English Department faculty and students are actively engaged with local communities. A service-learning class for aspiring secondary English teachers offers students experience working with local community literacy projects. The department organizes a Young Writers Conference that for over 40 years has drawn 400+ high school students and educators from all over the region annually. Department members and alumni participate in a variety of local organizations and events including the Reel Pride Film Festival, the Fresno Area Council of English Teachers, Fresno LitHop Festival, the Fresno Rogue Fringe Festival, the Fresno Poets’ Association, and Respite by the River Reading series.

Faculty joining the university are expected to follow department, university, and Modern Language Association guidelines for AI best practices in teaching and research.

About Fresno State

California State University, Fresno is an engaged University. We focus on broadening students' intellectual horizons, fostering lifelong learning skills, developing the leaders of tomorrow, promoting community involvement, and instilling an appreciation of world cultures. We nurture cultural competence by celebrating the rich diversity of the campus community and welcoming the participation of all. Members of the University community are expected to work effectively with faculty, staff, and students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The campus is ranked 2nd in the nation by Washington Monthly for tuition (and tax) dollars; ranked No. 31 for social mobility in U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings; and received a 4.5-star rating on a 5-star scale in Money’s 2025 Best Colleges list.

Tenure-Track Faculty members gain a clear path to tenure through the University's Probationary Plan Process. For additional information, please visit: www.fresnostate.edu/academics/facultyaffairs/procedures/facultyrtp/ . We value our commitment to the success of our faculty by providing services from the Center for Faculty Excellence to Research and Sponsored Programs.

Commensurate with qualifications and experience the anticipated hiring salary is $6,250 per month for Assistant Professor (12 monthly payments per academic year). As a member of the 23-campus CSU System, we offer an extremely competitive benefits package. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

Territorial Acknowledgement

The Fresno State campus sits in the midst of the San Joaquin Valley, a valley rich in the traditions and representation of Native American peoples and cultures. We are grateful to be in the traditional homelands of the Yokuts and Mono peoples, whose diverse tribal communities share stewardship over this land

Other Campus Information

In compliance with the Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, California State University, Fresno has made crime-reporting statistics available to applicants, students, and employees online at www.fresnostate.edu/police/clery/index.shtml. Print copies are available by request from the Campus Police Department.

A background check (including criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily for this position. Any offer of employment may be withdrawn, or employment may be terminated based upon the results of the background investigation.

The person holding this position is considered a "limited reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements outlined in CSU Executive Order 1083 Revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment. You can obtain a copy of this Executive order by accessing the following website: http://www.calstate.edu/eo/EO-1083.html.

California State University, Fresno is an Affimiative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status.

Out of State Employment

Per CSU-wide policy (HR2021-04), all faculty who will begin initial employment (or return from a 12-month break in service) on or after January 1, 2022, are required to perform their work from within the State of California. Faculty hired prior to January 1, 2022, must be available to perform work in the State of California if their assignment is in-person.

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on-or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The systemwide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/

Advertised: Oct 02 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Mar 31 2027 Pacific Daylight Time