"SAPSS Assistant Professor of Practice (Pre-Law)"

Job Details

Description

Position will provide teaching and service to cover courses in the pre-law specialization and pre-law minor; oversee recruitment and retention for pre-law in the College; and provide advisement/mentoring to pre-law students. This is a nine-month appointment with an anticipated start date of August 11, 2026. This is a full-time, renewable, non-tenure-track position. The position reports to the Director of School of Anthropology, Political Science, and Sociology.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

Examples of Duties

The candidate’s workload will be determined annually by the School Director based upon a workload equivalent of 24 credit hours of teaching. The workload assignment will consist of teaching three courses per semester (9 hours) plus indirect teaching and service (3 hours).

Teaching includes:

• Two introductory pre-law sections: POLS 230 (on-campus, Fall) and POLS 230 (online, Spring),
• At least one of the required Constitutional Law courses: POLS 333A and 333B,
• At least one of the following: POLS 435, POLS 436, POLS 437, POLS 438, POLS 475, or another course (POLS 416 or a course to be developed) that provides advanced preparation for applying to law school and a legal career.

Indirect teaching includes duties such as mentoring pre-law students, new course development, and directed readings.

Service to the pre-law specialization and the pre-law minor includes:

• Serving as the coordinator for the pre-law program in Political Science. This requires working with the Director and the Political Science pre-law faculty on assessing the pre-law specialization and the pre-law minor.
• Actively participating in recruitment and retention for the pre-law specialization, and for the School and College.
• Engaging in faculty governance and service responsibilities as designated by the Director.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor of Practice requires a PhD in Political Science or a closely related field or a JD.
• The candidate must also have teaching experience in law or pre-law and demonstrated commitment to student-centered pedagogy and mentoring diverse student populations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience advising students for careers in law.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching and service.

Required Documents: Submit a letter of application, CV, teaching statement, and three references.

Contact: Kenneth Mulligan, kmulliga@siu.edu

Supplemental Information

School of Anthropology, Political Science and Sociology candidates who have experience working with a diverse range of faculty, staff, and students and who can contribute to the climate of inclusivity are encouraged to identify their experiences in these areas in their cover letter. New faculty in the College of Liberal Arts are offered competitive startup packages, often including graduate teaching or research assistant support and summer salary, designed to jumpstart research scholarship. All applications are welcomed and encouraged and will receive consideration.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an R1 Opportunity University with a statewide economic impact of $2.7 billion dollars. We offer 200+ undergraduate degrees, minors and specializations, 79 master’s degrees, and 40 doctoral degrees. Our main campus is 1,136 acres, with additional acreage in University Farms, Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, and other facilities. The university is an essential part of the city of Carbondale and an important contributor to the culture of the entire region. While Carbondale includes many of the amenities of urban life, it retains its small-town flavor. Cost of living is considerably lower in the region than similar areas elsewhere, and many employees commute from nearby counties.

The Southern Illinois region is distinct from the rest of the state, boasting considerable natural beauty including the Shawnee National Forest, many state parks, national wildlife areas, and several lakes beloved for recreation. Local foods are readily available in the area, with a variety of eateries and a growing specialized food truck presence. The area is home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, an official wine appellation designation. The wineries extend the cultural reach of the community, hosting live music and continual art exhibits. The campus itself is a microcosm of the area, with a lake and forest on campus, as well as traditional collegiate architecture, quad, and residential halls. Students enjoy outdoor study areas as well as specialized computer labs scattered across campus, including in the three million volume Morris Library. To learn about employee benefits, employee tuition waivers, and find resources about Carbondale and the Southern Illinois region, visit: https://jobs.siu.edu/.

SIU Carbondale is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status.