"Assistant Professor - Environmental Studies"

Job Details

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies

School/Department Name: Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $86,000-$90,000

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date: August 2026

Application Deadline: October 30, 2025 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies beginning in August 2026. We welcome applicants from all fields of environmental studies who apply an environmental justice lens to their work, including ecology, racial ecologies, marine/coastal studies, natural history, wildlife conservation, environmental education, public/environmental health, natural resource analysis, environmental economics, and environmental law and policy. Successful applicants’ teaching and research will highlight the ways in which environmental change affects underserved communities. Their teaching load will include courses in the Environmental Studies lower division introductory courses (e.g., ENVS 1, ENVS 10), upper division and graduate level core courses (e.g., ENVS 110, ENVS 200), and the development of a new course in their area of specialization. A record of effective teaching, scholarly professional achievements and impactful service is essential for tenure and promotion.

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies is home to nationally recognized and accredited interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs that include four undergraduate and four graduate degrees. Our curriculum equips students with the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to create sustainable, resilient communities. Anchored in shared values, research, and partnerships, we create innovative yet practical solutions and thought leadership that utilize the San Francisco Bay Area as a unique living lab and address the existential challenges facing human and natural environments. The Environmental Studies programs focus on topics ranging from wildlife conservation to renewable energy. A link to our programs can be found at https://www.sjsu.edu/envs/.

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies in the College of Social Sciences and San José State University value inclusive excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll nearly 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher-scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill-building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.

We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Inclusive Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community—particularly in relation to student success and inclusive education. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Inclusive Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Environmental Studies or a related field, by the August 17, 2026
• A strong background in quantitative or qualitative research methods
• Evidence of or potential for teaching effectiveness in environmental studies
• Evidence of or potential for a productive research program in environmental studies
• Demonstrated commitment to School, College, and university service
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Primary academic assignment responsibilities include teaching lower division, upper division, and graduate level Environmental Studies courses and, if desired, the development of a new course in the applicant’s area of specialization.
• Advising majors and minors, supervising undergraduate and graduate student research and projects, and engaging in departmental and College of Social Science service. Applicants must be willing to supervise at least two new graduate Master of Science students each year
• Oversee a clearly defined research program that will produce peer-reviewed publications and that seeks external funding to support research and department activities.
• The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.

Other Duties Note that all San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution.

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned and required based on their role (e.g., Data Security, FERPA, Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities of the campus to continue.

Application Procedure Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents: letter of interest, curriculum vitae, inclusive excellence statement, statement of teaching interests/philosophy, research plans, three reference letters. Inquiries may be directed to the School Director: Katherine Cushing (katherine.cushing@sjsu.edu).