Assistant Professor of Political Science (Public Law)

University of Arkansas • Fayetteville, AR

13h • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Political Science in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in Political Science, beginning in August 2027. The department is particularly interested in candidates whose research and teaching focus on public law, with preferred specializations in jurisprudence, immigration law, family law, environmental law, or political theory. The expected teaching load is two courses per semester.

The position includes teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, conducting research in the candidate’s area of expertise, and contributing to departmental service. The successful candidate may participate in Fulbright College’s multidisciplinary Democracy as a Public Good cluster hire, which supports research, mentoring, collaboration with scholars and Arkansas communities, and work addressing challenges facing democratic culture.

This is an in-person position. Most university classes are face-to-face, and in-person participation in office hours, student advising, and departmental, college, and university committee meetings is essential. Regular, reliable attendance and the ability to maintain collegial working relationships are essential job duties.

The Department of Political Science has 22 full-time faculty and is committed to strengthening its faculty, student body, and curriculum. This is a designated research position subject to the Arkansas Research Education Protection Act of 2025. Before an offer is issued, the University must request and obtain additional background information and may conduct an additional review. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. The position is eligible for university benefits.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Political Science or a closely related field from an accredited institution, conferred by August 2027.
• A record of publication or submission of research in reputable scholarly outlets.
• Evidence of effective teaching, shown through teaching evaluations, sample syllabi, or a teaching portfolio.
• Demonstrated ability to teach an undergraduate Introduction to American Government course.
• Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate coursework in at least two areas of public law.
• A well-defined and coherent research agenda.
• Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance and the ability to maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships.
• Proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Research agenda grounded in political or legal theory and supported by advanced analytical, methodological, and empirical skills, focused on aspects of public law.
• Demonstrated potential for publishing in top-tier outlets.
• Commitment to undergraduate and graduate education and willingness to contribute to the department’s existing strengths in teaching and research.
• Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate coursework in political theory.
• Demonstrated potential to secure external grant funding.
• Demonstrated potential for a national and international scholarly reputation.
• Research and teaching specialization in jurisprudence, immigration law, family law, environmental law, or political theory.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses, with an expected load of two courses per semester.
• Conduct research in the candidate’s area of expertise.
• Contribute to the service needs of the department.
• Participate in in-person office hours, student advising, and departmental, college, and university committee meetings.
• Contribute to research and collaboration opportunities connected with the Democracy as a Public Good cluster hire, if participating.

Benefits

• University contributions to health, dental, life, and disability insurance.
• Tuition waivers for employees and their families.
• 12 official holidays.
• Immediate leave accrual.
• Choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.
• The University describes its workplace culture as promoting a healthy work-life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree