Pool for Part-time lecturer for the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies

Job Description:

Pool for Part-time lecturer for the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies

Description

Hutchins School of Liberal Studies

The University

Sonoma State University’s beautiful 274-acre campus is located in Sonoma County wine country, an hour north of San Francisco. The campus offers the ideal setting for teaching and learning and access to a community of rich cultural, environmental, and recreational opportunities. Founded in 1960, SSU is one of the 22 campuses of the California State University System. As members of the largest public higher education system in the nation, we provide accessible, high-quality education.

The Department

The Hutchins School of Liberal Studies is an interdisciplinary school within the College of Education, Counseling and Ethnic Studies at Sonoma State University. A nationally recognized leader among Interdisciplinary Studies programs, the Hutchins School is committed to innovative, student-centered pedagogy; multi-disciplinary inquiry; and the development of critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills that will help students navigate the multicultural and multiracial American landscape. In small seminar classes, students and faculty engage topics from a variety of perspectives. Various concentrations within the undergraduate major prepare students for careers and postgraduate study in a wide range of fields, including the pursuit of elementary teaching credentials, such as Multiple Subject or Education Specialist, which prepares students to serve California’s diverse student population.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to see the department’s web page at: https://hutchins.sonoma.edu/

Duties of the Position

Candidates with expertise in more than one academic field and experience in interdisciplinary, seminar-based pedagogy (as well as large lecture formats) are sought for a pool of applicants to fill temporary, part-time positions which may become available. The department is particularly interested in candidates with an educational background and experience in psychology, education, child development, and/or sociology, or the physical and social sciences, to teach the following courses, in face to face, hybrid or synchronous online formats:

• General Education courses (LIBS 204, ‘Ethnic Studies, Story, Film’)
• Teacher track service courses (LIBS 304, ‘We Hold These Truths,’ LIBS 308 ‘Cultures Through Film,’ LIBS 312, ‘Schools in American Society,’ LIBS 327, ‘Literacy, Language, and Pedagogy,’ LIBS 330, ‘The Child in Question,’ and LIBS 392, ‘Performing Arts for Children’).
• Seminar courses in the major core areas (Core A: Society and Self; Core B: The Individual and the Material World; Core C: The Arts and Human Experience; Core D: Consciousness and Reality). Courses which have been taught in these areas include: ‘The Biased Brain,’ ‘Climate Change and Society,’ ‘Rebellion,’ ‘Sleep & Dreams,’ ‘Masculinities,’ ‘Bollywood,’ ‘Everyday Design,’ ‘Anthropology of Humor,’ ‘The Civil Rights Movement,’ and ‘Children’s Literature.’
• Writing Intensive (WIC) courses in Humanities and Social Science disciplines.

Please consult the Hutchins’ department website for descriptions of the concentrations and courses. Applicants should list any of the above service courses they are interested in teaching in their cover letter, any course of their own creation which would fit this area of study.

Required Qualifications

• M.A. or M.S. degree(s) or above in all fields including arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences, etc. Applied degrees are also considered.
• A minimum of one year’s teaching experience using Socratic seminar pedagogy required; must have taught college level seminar courses.
• Successful applicants must possess disciplinary expertise and pedagogical abilities appropriate to the course emphases noted above (i.e., Ethnic Studies for LIBS 204; American Studies, History, or Political Economy, or similar for LIBS 304; Film, Development Studies, or similar for LIBS 308; Education, Sociology, or similar for LIBS 312; Developmental Psychology, Human Development, Early Childhood Education or similar for LIBS 330).
• Instructors must have an interdisciplinary educational background and/or teaching experience, be skilled at leading seminar discussions, working with student writing, and have the ability to work with undergraduates with varying levels of academic proficiency.

Rank and Salary

Full-time is a 15-unit workload per semester. Actual salary is dependent upon the number of units assigned, educational preparation, and availability of funds subject to any CSU system faculty contract salary increases.

• Salary commensurate with degree level and experience.
• Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $5,507 - $6,677 per full-time month.
• The full-time (15 units per semester) monthly base salary range indicated above is prorated to the number of units worked and are paid in six monthly payments for each full semester.
• Selection as a candidate in the applicant pool, does not guarantee employment. Temporary Faculty appointments are made on a part-time, temporary basis and contingent upon department needs and funding.
• Temporary Faculty appointments are made on a semester-by-semester basis.
• Relocation expenses will not be provided for temporary faculty appointments.
• Expenses incurred to attend an interview for temporary faculty positions are not reimbursed by the University.

Required Application Materials

• Cover letter indicating courses for which you would like to be considered
• Curriculum vitae
• Unofficial transcripts (Official transcripts may be required of the selected candidate)
• Teaching Philosophy

Application procedures for temporary faculty already teaching in the department:

• Temporary Faculty with three-year appointments do not need to reapply.
• Temporary Faculty who had a paid appointment during the prior academic year with your department (either one or both semesters); this includes Lecturers on the Re-Employment list are not required to apply through the Recruitment Pool unless they would like to be evaluated to teach additional courses, not currently designated as qualified to teach.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, go to jobs.sonoma.edu and click on the Staff & Faculty Career Opportunities link. Find and select the faculty position you are applying for to view the description and select Apply Now. If you have not previously applied, you will be prompted to create an account. You can use this account to apply to multiple positions. Once you have submitted the application, a confirmation email will be automatically sent to you. Please do not send materials to [email protected] . If you encounter difficulties during the application process, please email [email protected]

Application Deadline

First consideration will be given to applications received by 11/1/2026. The position will remain open until filled. Early response is encouraged.

Contact Information

Questions concerning the application process may be directed to: [email protected]

Questions concerning this position may be directed to: Wendy Ostroff at [email protected]

Please refer to the requisition job number on all correspondence and inquiries regarding this position.

The ADA Coordinator is also available ( [email protected] ) to assist individuals with disabilities in need of accommodation during the hiring process.

Our Commitment

Sonoma State University is a federally-designated Hispanic Serving Institution, as such we are committed to achieving the goals of equal opportunity and we endeavor to employ faculty and staff reflecting the linguistic, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the region and state.

Guided by our core values as a university: diversity, sustainability, community engagement, and adaptability, Sonoma State University (SSU) offers an education that fosters intellectual, social, and personal growth. SSU is a public liberal arts and sciences university. As the only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges in the state of California, we are committed to preparing students for a life of active citizenship and public service. We have a vibrant campus life characterized by a lively co-curriculum that fosters broad-based intellectual and artistic opportunities in which the campus as a whole is actively engaged.

Sonoma State University is committed to creating a community in which bias and intolerance have no place. It is our expectation that all students, faculty, and staff work together to honor this commitment and hold each other accountable to create an open and inclusive environment.

We are committed to facilitating spaces in which all can grow by building on our students’ assets as they explore new knowledge. These efforts include fostering creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, experimentation, empathy, and communication. The successful candidate will be one who can collaborate with faculty, staff, administration, and students to achieve these goals. We are especially interested in candidates committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Equal Opportunity & Mandated Reporting

The University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status. Mandated Reporting: This position may be 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 as a condition of employment.

Employment Eligibility & Conditions

CSU Out of State Policy - Sonoma State University, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California. As of January 1, 2022 the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California. A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current employees who apply for this position.

Sonoma State University hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. All offers of employment are contingent upon presentation of documents demonstrating the appointee’s identity and eligibility to work, in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Sonoma State University does not facilitate the process of applying for an H1B Visa for temporary positions.

Education Code 89521

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Annual Reports & Safety Information

Sonoma State University's Annual Security Report includes summaries of institutional policy relating to campus safety, drug and alcohol use, sexual assault, and other matters. The report is published in compliance with the Clery Act and includes three years of certain crime statistics that occurred in Clery Act defined geography. A paper copy of the report may be requested in person by emailing the Clery Compliance and Safety Office at [email protected] .

View Benefits Summary

Advertised: Oct 08 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: