"Lecturer in Political Science"

Lecturer in Political Science

College: College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and The Arts - 321 College

Dept/School: Public & International Affairs - 32421

Vacancy Number: 16F-709

Position Number: 659

Location of Workplace: Main UNCW Campus

Brief Summary of Work for this Position:

The Department of Public and International Affairs (PIA) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington invites applications for a position as a nine-month non-tenure-track lecturer to support our undergraduate degree in Political Science, with a specialization in American Politics with start date of August 2026.

This is a one-year position that is renewable annually, contingent upon satisfactory performance, departmental needs, and the availability of funding. The university provides opportunities for promotion to higher non-tenure track ranks for eligible instructors.

The position requires an active teaching agenda and carries a 4-4 teaching load. The candidate will teach primarily in the undergraduate political science program but may contribute to PIA's other graduate and undergraduate programs. The position also includes the possible opportunity for additional summer school teaching. While some asynchronous online instruction will be expected, instructors must be available to teach on-campus courses in Wilmington.

The successful candidate should have the potential for innovation and leadership in both teaching and service. Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate courses, directing undergraduate student research as needed, providing service to PIA, and keeping up with new and developing knowledge and issues in the field. We seek to hire an individual who complements our existing strengths, specifically our department's commitment to undergraduate education in political science and public policy.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Masters Degree in Political Science at the time of application, with a specialization (with at least 18 credit hours) in American Politics.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• PhD with a specialization in American Politics and Public Policy
• Ability to teach at least two classes a semester in American National Government and contribute to the upper-level course requirements including Political Behavior, Public Opinion, State and Local Government, Public Policy and/or Congress
• Prior teaching experience with both face-to-face and asynchronous online courses.

Required Certifications or Licensure:

N/A

Primary Function of Organizational Unit:

The Department of Public & International Affairs is comprised of 16 faculty and is home to a B.A. in Political Science (PLS) and a series of professional master's programs - Master of Public Administration Program (MPA), an online Executive PLS Program (EMPA), a dual M.S. in Environmental Science/MPA Degree, M.S. in Coastal and Ocean Policy (MCOP), and a M.A. and graduate certificate in Conflict Management and Resolution. Additional information about the PIA department and the PLS program can be found at http://uncw.edu/pia/, http://uncw.edu/PLS/.

Special Notes to Applicants:

Prior to the official appointment to the university, the candidate(s) selected for hire must be able to demonstrate eligibility to teach assigned courses by successfully meeting the credentialing requirements based on official transcripts and other documentation as required.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59PM EST on Monday, January 12, 2026 the posting closing date. To apply, please complete the online application below and attach the following materials as an Adobe PDF document including:

1. Cover Letter/Letter of Application that responds to the minimum and preferred qualifications listed above, addressed to Dr. Jennifer Horan, PLS Search Committee Chair.
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. List of 3 Professional References
4. Other: If needed, applicants may upload additional materials under the Other category

Note that letters of application without the requested components will not meet the application requirements.

Please note that a minimum of three references is required for all applications. References will be requested during the screening process. For questions about the position, contact Search Chair Dr. Jennifer Horan at horanj@uncw.edu.

For questions about the online application process, contact Conswalia Green at greenc@uncw.edu or 910-962-3220.