2026-27 Lecturer Pool Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

California State University (CSU), Chico is a comprehensive and residential public university, holding Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation. Chico State operates as part of the 22-campus CSU system, which educates the most ethnically, economically, and academically diverse student body in the nation. The University enrolls over 14,000 students, with over half identifying as first-generation college students. Chico State is committed to recruiting outstanding candidates who embrace values predicated on the primacy of student success and the elimination of equity gaps, have demonstrated experience working with diverse populations, and will contribute to policies, programs, and practices that support an inclusive, accessible, and equitable learning and working environment.

Anticipated hiring range: Generally at or near the minimum of the appropriate range, commensurate with education and experience. Most new lecturers are hired at the Lecturer A or B rank.

Pay

• Lecturer A/2 Full-Time Equivalent Salary Range: $5,507 – $6,677 per month
• Lecturer B/3 Full-Time Equivalent Salary Range: $6,221 – $13,224 per month
• Lecturer C/4 Full-Time Equivalent Salary Range: $6,825 – $14,523 per month
• Lecturer D/5 Full-Time Equivalent Salary Range: $8,593 – $15,211 per month

About the role

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences is collecting application materials for a pool of lecturers with positions available as determined by need during the 2026-27 academic year. Appointments from the lecturer pool are temporary and often made just prior to the start of the academic term.

Education

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies has demand-based needs for a part-time lecturer (or lecturers) primarily for the following general education (GE) courses:

• GEOG 101: Earth Systems and Physical Geography
• GEOG 102: Peoples, Places, and Environments
• GEOG 105: California Cultural Landscapes
• GEOG 301W: Global Economic Geography
• GEOG 303: Geography and World Affairs
• GEOG 304: Sustainability and Resilience
• GEOG 305: Mobile, Wired, and Tracked: Our Digital Planet
• GEOG 352: The United States
• GEOG 427: Environmental Impact Analysis

Note: The lecturer(s) will be assigned to selected courses from this list, based on current needs. Scheduling decisions may result in emergency hires with short preparation timelines. Applicants must be residents of California upon the commencement of this hire.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Geography or a closely related field from an accredited university by the time of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior teaching experience at the undergraduate level in Geography, particularly in lower-division GE courses, laboratory courses, and/or online courses.

Responsibilities

• Developing course content, teaching, grading, and holding office hours.
• Writing a syllabus and using a learning management system (Canvas).
• Teaching assignments based upon qualifications of the individual and the needs of the department.

Benefits

This position may qualify for benefits including tuition fee waiver (if eligible). California State University, Chico offers a number of benefits to its employees (e.g., sick leave, vacation, health insurance). For more information and eligibility criteria, visit CSU Chico Benefits.

The Department

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies (website) offers two options in the Bachelor of Arts degree, four minors, and two certificates. Faculty guide students in well-rounded and high-impact learning both inside and outside the classroom. Many courses address sustainability and climate resilience issues related to wildfire, ecosystem health, global and local food systems, civic engagement, urban development, and environmental policy. The department has a state-of-the-art computer lab for geospatial technology as well as applied field opportunities at the University’s Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve—one of the largest and ecologically diverse reserves in California.

About Chico State

Graduate and undergraduate programs boast high-quality research experiences, exceptional faculty mentoring, and civic and global engagement opportunities. The campus motto, “Today Decides Tomorrow,” is brought to life by inclusive pedagogy, experiential learning, and co-curricular programming. The Chico Experience prepares students to be critical thinkers, engaged citizens, and inspired stewards of environmental, social, and economic resources.

The campus is located in Northern California, 90 minutes from the state capital, Sacramento, and a three-hour drive from the San Francisco Bay Area. Chico offers year-round natural beauty, outdoor leisure activities, and a thriving arts, music, and events scene.

We acknowledge and are mindful that Chico State stands on lands originally occupied by the Mechoopda, and we recognize their distinctive spiritual relationship with this land, the flora, the fauna, and the waters that run through campus.