Position Rank and Title
Assistant/Associate/Full Professor (Two positions: one open-rank, one Assistant Professor)
School/Department Name
Psychology, specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis
Compensation
Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: Assistant Professor: $88,000- $92,000; Associate Professor, $93,000-$115,000, Professor, $116,000—$130,000.
Target Start Date
August, 2027
Application Deadline
October 1, 2026 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)
Position Description
The Department of Psychology at San José State University is pleased to offer two tenure-track faculty positions in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). These hires will support a new, practice-focused Masters program in Applied Behavior Analysis and contribute to the Psychology Department broadly through research, undergraduate teaching, and service. One position is an open-rank (Assistant/Associate/Full Professor) search for an individual who will direct the new MS program. The other position is for an Assistant Professor who will serve as a core faculty member in the new ABA program.
For both positions, the area of specialization within behavior analysis is open. Required qualifications for the position include a Ph.D. in behavior analysis or related field, credentialing as a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D), capacity for leadership in a masters program in ABA, demonstrated scholarly productivity in behavior analysis, and awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a multicultural population. Desired qualifications include prior leadership experience in a graduate program that prepares students for professional practice and credentialing as BCBAs.
The vision of the Psychology Department is to provide high-quality education in psychology that fosters the development of students so that they will make contributions to society. We value a student-centered approach that emphasizes teaching, research, and applied training. The Department offers a BA in Psychology, MA in Research and Experimental Psychology, MS in Clinical Psychology, and MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. The MS Applied Behavior Analysis graduate program seeks to train students to provide evidence-based, culturally responsive, neurodiversity-affirming care in community, school, and clinic settings.
Required Qualifications
- A Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis, Psychology, Special Education or a related discipline, with certification as a Doctoral-Level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) or demonstrated plans to receive this certification within one year of the position start date
- Demonstrated scholarly productivity and an established research agenda in behavior analysis
- Commitment to, and demonstrated potential for, teaching excellence within the department’s MS ABA graduate program and BA Psychology program
- Ability to assume a leadership role in the Psychology Department’s new practice-focused MS ABA program, including duties related to curriculum development, program planning, accreditation, and student recruitment, enrollment and mentorship
- 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.
Preferred Qualifications
- Leadership experience as faculty in a graduate program that prepared students for credentialing and professional practice as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs)
- Demonstrated ability to form and sustain effective collaborative relationships with local service providers to support student practicum experiences in behavior analysis
- Potential to secure external funding to support research and/or enhance student instruction
- Ability to work effectively in a collegial atmosphere of shared governance
Key Responsibilities
- Teaching responsibilities for this position will include undergraduate courses and graduate coursework in psychology and applied behavior analysis, as needed. Undergraduate courses may include writing in psychology, research methods, human learning, applied behavior analysis, and others. Graduate course responsibility can include teaching a range of courses in a course sequence aligned with the Behavior Analysis Certification Board’s 5th edition task list.
- The candidate will be expected to develop a program of research in applied behavior analysis and encouraged to pursue both internal and external funding. The candidate must maintain a productive research program, which may consist of collaborative research across the University, with other academic institutions, or other external agencies. Student mentoring is valued in our department, and a successful candidate will mentor and support undergraduate and graduate students of diverse backgrounds in conducting research.
- The successful applicant should be prepared to take an active role in the MS in Applied Behavior Analysis graduate program, which includes serving as a mentor and advisor to graduate students, instructor in graduate courses, and member of the MS ABA Program Committee.
- The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
- Faculty shall organize all of 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 advising.