Assistant Professor Department of Criminology and Justice Studies #26-03

Tenure-Track Faculty Position Announcement

Department: Criminology and Justice Studies

Faculty Hire Number: #26-03

Rank: Assistant Professor

Effective Date of Appointment: August 19 2026(Subject to Budgetary Approval)

Salary Scale: $80000(Dependent upon qualifications)

CSUNs Commitment to You:

CSUN is committed to achieving excellence through teaching scholarship learning and inclusion. Our values include a respect for all people building partnerships with the community and the encouragement of innovation experimentation and creativity. CSUN strives to cultivate a community in which a diverse population can learn and work in an atmosphere of civility and respect. CSUN is especially interested in candidates who make contributions to equity and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence for all members of the university community.

As a Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI) inclusiveness and diversity are integral to CSUNs commitment to excellence in teaching research and engagement. As of Fall 2024 CSUN enrolls nearly 37000 students where 56.3% are Latinx 18.9% are White 8.7% are Asian American 5.3% are Black/African American 0.1% are Native American and 0.1% are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

For more information about the University visit:

About the College:

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences motto is Locally Engaged Globally Prepared. This is reflected in all we do ranging from faculty to students. We are the home of educators who are committed to decreasing the distance between communities and the campus. Our faculty connect to communities through applied research internships and clinics and as a result of engagement with faculty-led initiatives students are prepared to contribute to solving global problems and competing in the global market. We are equipping students with the tools for achievement to successfully address social problems. Scholars in the College are preparing the next generation of educators researchers and leaders

For more information about the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences see: the Department:

The Department of Criminology and Justice Studies was established in Fall 2017. The Criminology and Justice Studies undergraduate program promotes the theoretical analytical and practical understanding of crime victimization and the criminal justice system from a social scientific perspective. The program provides a foundation for the study of criminology and the legal system based on critical thinking and application theory and research methodology understanding diversity and global perspectives writing and fundamentals of law and ethical practice. The department also emphasizes the intersections between the academic and professional which provide students with a meaningful learning environment rooted in pursuing social justice. Partnerships between the department and both the University community and the community-at-large provide the fertile ground for these intersections.

For more information about the Department of Criminology and Justice Studies see: Department of Criminology and Justice Studies at California State University Northridge (CSUN) is seeking a tenure-track faculty member in Criminology and Justice Studies at the rank of Assistant Professor with a primary specialization in mental health substance use or disability in the criminal legal system and a sub-specialization in forensic psychology disability studies and/or social inequality.

Responsibilities:

• Teaching assignments: The standard teaching assignment is 9 units (3 courses) per semester for the first two years and then 12 units (4 courses) per semester thereafter. However there may be opportunities for course reductions through external or internal research grants and/or university/college/departmental service assignments. CSBS also generally permits teaching one fully online (asynchronous) course per semester. Other course styles such as hybrid teaching (e.g. online and in-person combination) are also common.
• Teaching responsibilities for the successful candidate will include core courses in the Criminology and Justice Studies undergraduate program along with courses in mental health substance use or disability in the criminal legal system that emphasize perspectives from forensic psychology disability studies and/or social inequality. Candidates who intend to teach law courses should also hold a JD to be eligible to teach those courses.
• Mentorship and collaboration: The successful candidate will be expected to participate in high-impact mentoring practices that promote the academic success of university students particularly first-generation and underrepresented students including advising them toward accomplishing their short- and long-term professional objectives. The department college and university provide opportunities for mentorship support.
• Research expectations: The successful candidate will be expected to produce peer-reviewed scholarly publications participate in professional conferences regularly and remain current in their research field through professional addition student involvement in research is highly encouraged.
• Service responsibilities: The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to department college and university committees advise students and connect to community-based agencies in crime and justice. CSBS further emphasizes community engagement that prepares our students for careers that impact both the local community and global society.

In addition to teaching the position requires weekly office hours attending faculty meetings participation in assessment of student learning and service to the department college and university. The successful candidate may be required to teach on weekdays evenings weekends and/or online and will be held to the standards and requirements of the college and department in which they are housed for recommending tenure and promotion. Given CSUNs commitment to excellence in teaching research and engagement in a diverse environment the successful candidate will help the Department achieve equitable academic outcomes for all students through teaching student mentorship scholarship and service.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. from an accredited institution in Criminology Criminal Justice Sociology Psychology Social Work/Social Welfare or a closely related area with a primary specialization in mental health substance use or disability in the criminal legal system and a sub-specialization in forensic psychology disability studies and/or social inequality. Evidence of degree(s) required by the appointment start date. The J.D. alone is not sufficient for this position.
• Evidence of or clear potential for excellence in teaching Criminology and Justice Studies courses using student-centered pedagogy
• Evidence of or clear potential for inclusive approaches to mentoring students including first-generation students and those from historically underserved backgrounds
• Evidence of or clear potential for successful scholarly publication.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of or clear potential for engaging students in research including first-generation students and those from historically underserved backgrounds
• Evidence of or clear potential for developing interdisciplinary links with programs and/or departments across the University
• Evidence of or clear potential for effective engagement with students through inclusive approaches that support success beyond the classroom such as career readiness
• Evidence of or clear potential for building partnerships that expand opportunities for students through community engagement applied research or experiential learning

Application Deadline:

Priority application deadline is October 24 2025 and applications received after this date may be considered on an as-needed basis. However the position will remain open until filled.

How to Apply:

Candidates should apply by completing the CSUN online application. To apply and for more detailed information on the application and hiring process please visit this link:

Applicants must submit the following to the website in the section above:

• a letter of application (cover letter) not to exceed 2 single-spaced pages including a section about past and future scholarly work and a brief description of inclusive approaches across teaching scholarship and service.
• a curriculum vitae (CV) that includes contact information for three professional references
• a teaching and mentorship statement not to exceed 2 single-spaced pages describing inclusive approaches to teaching and mentorship prior experiences and plans to engage students including first-generation students and those from historically underserved backgrounds
• evidence of or clear potential for excellence in teaching such as sample syllabi sample assignments peer evaluations and/or student evaluations
• unofficial graduate transcripts

In later stages of the search process applicants may be requested to provide additional materials including teaching evaluations examples of scholarly publications letters of recommendation from their professional references and verification of terminal degrees licenses and certificates.

At the time of appointment the successful candidate if not a U.S. citizen must have authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work in the United States.

Inquiries should be addressed to:

Dr. Nayan Ramirez
Search Committee Chair

General Information: