Applied Policy Analysis-Social Problems and Public Policy Making (APA 625)-Adjunct Lecturer
About The Position
Goucher College’s Graduate & Professional Studies seeks a non-tenure-track adjunct lecturer to teach Social Problems and Public Policy Making (APA 625), a three-credit graduate course in the M.A. in Policy Analytics program. The course is offered synchronously online via Microsoft Teams and is scheduled to start on January 25, 2027. Adjunct contracts are renewed semester by semester, subject to factors including enrollment, instructor availability and performance, and student success. The course critically examines the relationship between social policy and social justice in the United States. It considers universal and population-specific approaches to welfare provision and their implications for equity and inclusion. Students analyze policy domains including health care, economic inequality, racial justice, gender equity, and environmental justice in the context of broader social, economic, and cultural developments. They develop and apply theoretical and empirical tools to analyze political and ideological conflicts over social issues and their effects on policymaking. The instructor teaches scheduled weekly sessions, develops or adapts course materials, facilitates seminar-style discussion and applied analysis, and supports students’ policy projects. The role also includes maintaining course materials and grades in Canvas, holding virtual office hours, responding to student messages within 48 hours, providing timely feedback, submitting grades by university deadlines, and following university policies on academic integrity, accessibility accommodations, and FERPA. The course is taught on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. Applicants must reside in one of the listed eligible states or jurisdictions and be able to provide proof of U.S. work eligibility; visa sponsorship is not offered.
Requirements
- A master’s degree or Ph.D. in a relevant field, such as public policy, political science, public administration, sociology, or a closely related field.
- Subject-matter expertise in U.S. social policy and at least one of the course’s policy domains.
- Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful engagement with diverse perspectives in the classroom.
- Ability to work with students from diverse disciplinary and professional backgrounds, including students without strong math or coding foundations, and guide them through individual projects and team-based work.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- At least one year of college-level teaching experience; M.A.-level teaching experience is preferred.
- Ability to begin teaching January 25, 2027, and teach on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings.
- Applicants must reside in Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, or Virginia.
- Ability to provide proof of eligibility to work in the USA; visa sponsorship is not offered.
Nice To Haves
- Previous experience teaching a similar course.
- Substantial professional policy expertise.
- Professional experience in policymaking, advocacy, government, nonprofit, or community organizations.
- Research or applied work on health policy, poverty and inequality, racial or gender equity, or environmental justice.
- Skill with both qualitative and quantitative methods for policy analysis.
- Experience with online or hybrid teaching and active-learning techniques.
- Candidates with a master’s degree and applicable work experience are highly encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities
- Teach all scheduled weekly sessions using the approved course description and learning outcomes.
- Develop or adapt a syllabus, readings, assignments, and rubrics.
- Lead seminar-style discussion and critical analysis of policy cases, including health care, economic inequality, racial justice, gender equity, and environmental justice.
- Teach students to apply theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence to policy debates, including universal versus targeted approaches to welfare provision.
- Guide students through applied work such as policy briefs, stakeholder analyses, or research papers.
- Foster an inclusive classroom where students engage respectfully across differing political and ideological views.
- Provide timely, substantive feedback and submit final grades by university deadlines.
- Hold regular virtual office hours and respond to student messages within 48 hours.
- Maintain course materials and grades in Canvas.
- Follow university policies on academic integrity, accessibility accommodations, and FERPA.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Mid Level
