Career Center

The Environmental Studies Program in the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California, seeks to hire an outstanding faculty member to fill a full-time teaching-track or practice-track faculty position beginning in August 2022 (open rank: Lecturer, Assistant Professor (Teaching), Associate Professor (Teaching), Professor (Teaching), Assistant Professor of the Practice, Associate Professor of the Practice, Professor of the Practice).  The Environmental Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program that aims to educate the next generation of environmental leaders and focuses mostly on undergraduate degree programs, with a small number of students in thriving Master’s programs.

We are looking for a candidate with broad training in the environmental social sciences, with expertise in the areas of Environmental Justice, Sustainability and Community Resilience, and/or inclusive Public Policy and Environmental Governance.  People working in the area of community based participatory action research, socio-environmental systems, and/or traditional ecological knowledges are particularly encouraged to apply.  

This position is a full time teaching position with a workload profile of teaching (80%) and service (20%) which typically amounts to 5 classes per academic year (20 units).  As such, the desirable candidate will have an established record of excellence in undergraduate teaching. We particularly seek a candidate who will be able to teach Environmental Issues in Society and Environmental Ethics, as well as develop a freshman general education seminar and upper division elective in their area of expertise. There is also the potential to develop a general education class in Sustainability and to teach Senior Seminar.  In addition, the use of experiential learning in pedagogy is highly valued, as our program has a history of providing off-campus courses and experiences.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary department with strong ties to the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies. USC is located in the heart of Los Angeles, a large city that is both committed to becoming a leader in sustainability, and a place that faces equity, environmental and economic challenges common to urban areas globally.  USC therefore provides numerous opportunities to engage in impactful sustainability research, teaching, and service with the local community and local government, while also having global impact including via a large, diverse, and international student body.  Additionally, sustainability is a key priority for USC and the candidate will find an environment that is supportive of the development of new classes and programs in their area of expertise, as well as faculty colleagues across the University that are committed to sustainability education, research, and practice.

USC has a well defined teaching track with potential for promotion based on teaching and service excellence and provides competitive salary and benefits.  Additionally, the Environmental Studies Program has an established mentoring program to support the successful merit review and promotion of it’s teaching faculty.  While the position is a teaching position, those with demonstrated excellence and effectiveness in the public practice of a field of expertise may be hired under the Practice track.  Appointments are fixed-term with the possibility of renewal contingent on need and performance and review by the program faculty, the program Director and Dean.  

Minimum Qualifications: PhD from an accredited institution in a social science discipline of relevance to areas of research/expertise listed above or equivalent experience in the appropriate field of study.

Applicants are required to submit an electronic USC application which include the following materials:

• CV

• Cover letter

• Teaching statement

• Statement on contributions to Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

• Evidence of teaching excellence

• Three letters of recommendation

USC is an equal-opportunity educator and employer, proudly pluralistic and firmly committed to providing equal opportunity for outstanding persons of every race, gender, creed and background. The university particularly encourages members of underrepresented groups, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply. USC will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. Further information is available by contacting uschr@usc.edu.