Assistant Professor of Child Development
About the role
The Department of Psychology and Child Development invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning Fall 2026. We seek a developmental scholar with a strong background in child development and expertise in a focus area of their choice — such as culture and diversity, dual language learners, parenting, physical/motor development, children with disabilities, early intervention, or other related areas. We are looking for someone excited about teaching, committed to working with a diverse student population, and eager to contribute to a highly collaborative undergraduate and graduate program.
Responsibilities
- Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in child development theory, research methods, application/laboratory integration, and other developmental topics
- Utilize our on-campus Child Development Center as a live instructional resource, integrating direct observation and applied experiences into coursework
- Advise and mentor undergraduate students; supervise undergraduate interns and lab students
- Demonstrate teaching excellence with a diverse student body
Requirements
- Ph.D. in child development or related area, at time of appointment
- Ability to teach across the curriculum (i.e., child development theory, research methods, application/laboratory integration, and other developmental topics)
- Demonstrated evidence of effective teaching at undergraduate level
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience integrating an NAEYC-accredited laboratory school or child development center into instruction or research
- Experience teaching or supervising students in applied early childhood settings (e.g., preschool, Head Start, transitional kindergarten, infant/toddler programs)
- Fluency or proficiency in Spanish or other languages spoken in Central Valley communities
- Familiarity with California Preschool Learning Foundations, NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practice, and/or related professional frameworks
- Experience with undergraduate internship supervision or graduate student mentorship and thesis advising
- Record of community-engaged scholarship or regional partnerships
How to Apply
A complete application must include: an application letter specifically addressing the position description and qualifications; unofficial photocopies of graduate transcripts; a statement of teaching philosophy; evidence of teaching proficiency; a sample of research; professional curriculum vitae, including the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references. Official transcripts will be required at the time of hire. Optional: [OTHER MATERIALS]. To apply for this position, please click the "Apply Now" button on this page. If You Have Questions Regarding The Position, Please Contact Dr. Danielle Turley, Search Committee Chair Department of Psychology & Child Development College of Science California State University, Stanislaus One University Circle Turlock, CA email: dturley@csustan.edu Department Website: https://www.csustan.edu/cdev
Screening of Completed Application Files
Screening of completed application files will begin on May 11, 2026. The position will remain open until filled. This appointment begins on August 17, 2026.
Compensation
Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Anticipated hiring range is $7,064-$7,315 per month for Assistant Professor (12 monthly payments per academic year).
About the Department and the College, Campus, and Area
California State University, Stanislaus serves the San Joaquin Valley and is a critical educational resource for a six-county region of approximately 1.5 million people. The University is fully committed to creating a culture of diversity and inclusion – one in which every person in the University community feels safe to express their views without fear of reprisal. Widely recognized for its quality academic programs, the University has 10 nationally accredited programs and 662 faculty members. 94 percent of full-time faculty hold doctorates or terminal degrees in their fields. The University offers 43 undergraduate majors, 16 master's programs, 7 post-graduate credentials, a doctorate in education and serves more than 10,000 students. New instructional facilities have been built for the unique pedagogy of professional programs, laboratory sciences and performing arts. Stanislaus State continues to receive national recognition with its ranking as one of the best 384 colleges in the nation by The Princeton Review. The University was one of 12 public universities in the nation to be recognized by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for demonstrating exceptional performance in retention and graduation rates. In addition, U.S. News and World Report ranks Stanislaus State in its top 10 among public universities in the West, while Washington Monthly honored Stanislaus State as the West’s No. 1 university for the money. Stanislaus State also is recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education. CSU Stanislaus values shared governance: Joint statement on shared governance
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The university is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, National origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status.
WORK LOCATION REQUIREMENTS
The CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. The CSU prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California.
MANDATED REPORTER PER CANRA
The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment.
CLERY ACT DISCLOSURE
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, crime report statistics are available at: http://www.csustan.edu/UPD/pages/CampusCrimeStatistics/index.html.