Assistant Professor of Political Science (Public Law) Tenure-Track Position

Position Description

The Department of Political Science, Law, and International Studies invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor specializing in Public Law, with a start date of Fall 2027. We seek a colleague whose research and teaching center on courts, constitutional law, judicial behavior, and the role of law in U.S. politics. The successful candidate will contribute to a vibrant department with strengths across the major subfields of Political Science.

The successful candidate will:

• Teach five (5) courses per year (2-3 or 3-2), most of which will be lower-division courses in public law and U.S. politics and upper-division courses in constitutional law (civil liberties, civil rights, and/or separation of powers) and judicial politics.
• One of the courses will be within Pacific’s CORE Seminar series.
• Maintain a productive research agenda with promise of peer-reviewed publication.
• Advise students within the department and provide service to the department, college, university, and profession commensurate with rank.

Faculty within the Department have diverse research interests, value high quality teaching, and share a strong commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. The Department offers majors in Political Science, Political Science with a concentration in Criminal Justice, and International Studies as well as minors in International Studies, Political Science, Pre-Law Studies, and Public Affairs. For more information about Pacific’s Political Science department, visit: http://www.pacific.edu/Academics/Schools-and-Colleges/College-of-the-Pacific/Academics/Departments-and-Programs/political-science.html

Minimum Qualifications

A Ph.D. in Political Science or a closely related field is required by the time of appointment. Evidence of a productive research agenda with promise of peer-reviewed publication is required.

Preferred Qualifications

We welcome candidates whose work draws on empirical and interpretive approaches to the study of law and courts. Substantive areas of specialization may include, but are not limited to, judicial behavior and decision-making, constitutional development, federalism and separation of powers, rights and civil liberties, comparative judicial politics, criminal justice, or the intersection of law and political institutions. Demonstrated effectiveness in undergraduate teaching is strongly preferred. Experience and sensitivity in working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Demonstrated experience in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting. Ability to engage and integrate culturally responsive practices and knowledge in their work.