"VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR/INSTRUCTOR"

Job Details

About Occidental College
Founded in 1887, Occidental is a nationally recognized, private college of the liberal arts and sciences, dedicated to providing a gifted and diverse group of students with a total educational experience of the highest quality -- one that prepares them for leadership in an increasingly complex, interdependent and pluralistic world.

FULL TIME NON-TENURE TRACK VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR/INSTRUCTOR
Department of Religious Studies

POSITION SUMMARY
The Religious Studies Department at Occidental College seeks a full-time non-tenure track Assistant Professor/Instructor to teach 3 courses/semester (6 courses total) during the 2026-27 academic year.
We are seeking courses in religion in the Americas that will build on our existing offerings. Applicants should be prepared to teach introductory courses (such as, “Introduction to American Religion”), as well as courses already in our course catalog, courses of their own design, or a mixture of both. We are especially interested in applicants who can teach courses that meet the College’s core requirements, including Pre-1800, US Diversity, Global Connections, and Regional Focus.
“Visiting Professor” is a faculty category bargained between the College and the non-tenure track faculty union. Visiting faculty are hired to replace permanent faculty who are on leave and to meet other short-term curricular needs. Visiting faculty may engage in scholarly activities, but scholarship is not a responsibility of the position. There are no plans for this position to be renewable beyond AY2026-27.

QUALIFICATIONS
Required Qualifications
• Applicants must be trained in Religious Studies or a related field, with a focus on religion in the United States and/or the Americas
• Candidates must hold a PhD or be doctoral candidates at the ABD stage in Fall 2026
• Demonstrated commitment to and excellence in undergraduate teaching
• Record of/commitment to creating equitable learning opportunities and inclusive pedagogies for a diverse student body
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission of the College
Preferred Qualifications
• At least 1 year of experience teaching at the college-level (as instructor of record or teaching assistant) and record of pedagogical success

SALARY RANGE
EXPECTED SALARY RANGE (Nine-month appointment): $62,500-$67,500.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Application Deadline and Instructions
To be assured full consideration, your application materials must be received by midnight Eastern time (9:00 pm Pacific time) on Monday, January 12, 2026.
Applicants must submit a complete application package in Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/177852
A complete application includes all of the following:
• Cover letter in which you describe your interest in the position, as well as the education, experience, and/or skills you possess that are relevant to the required and preferred qualifications listed above. In your cover letter, please also explain how your teaching and service align with the mission of Occidental College. (3 pages, 1.5 spaced max.)
• Curriculum Vitae
• A list of between four to six courses that you are prepared to teach, with one-paragraph descriptions each. (In your descriptions, you might include the main learning objectives, the topics covered, the units into which the course will be divided, student assignments, and any other distinguishing features of the course.)
• A teaching statement/philosophy that discusses your chief pedagogical goals and the pedagogical practices you employ to meet these goals, as well as your record of/commitment to creating and advancing equitable learning opportunities and inclusive pedagogies for a diverse student body. (2 pages at 1.5 spaces max.)
If you have any questions about the position, the application materials, or the application instructions, please contact: Professor Amy Holmes-Tagchungdarpa at tagchung@oxy.edu or call 232 259-1354.