Assistant Professor of Psychology

Southwestern College • Chula Vista, CA

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About The Position

Southwestern Community College District is seeking a full-time, tenure-track, equity-focused faculty member committed to serving its culturally diverse student population. The faculty member will foster an inclusive learning environment through equity-minded teaching, leadership, and service, supporting students pursuing university transfer, associate degrees, certificates, employment advancement, and personal growth. The position is directed by the Dean of the School of Education, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and may include day, evening, weekend, extension-site, online, or hybrid assignments. The successful candidate may be assigned to any of the district’s campus sites in Chula Vista, Crown Cove, National City, Otay Mesa, or San Ysidro.

The role includes teaching psychology, with an emphasis on Statistics (PSYC 270) and General Psychology (PSYC C1000), and potentially courses such as Human Sexuality, Research Methods, and SPSS. The faculty member will contribute to curriculum development, departmental leadership, shared governance, college initiatives, program review, and college committees. They will collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators; support student success and equity; and maintain professional and community connections. The position also involves contributing to partnerships and pathways related to transfer, career readiness, workforce development, and student success.

The successful candidate is expected to use inclusive, culturally responsive, student-centered teaching practices across instructional formats, including online courses. They will integrate student-success strategies into teaching and thoughtfully use artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in learning and assessment while promoting critical thinking, ethical use, academic integrity, and students’ uniquely human skills. The faculty member will support the department’s Zero Textbook Cost pathway and college and department initiatives aligned with California Community Colleges Vision 2030. They must obtain Southwestern Community College Distance Education Faculty Training (DEFT) certification or its equivalent within four months of hire.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in psychology; or bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in counseling, sociology, statistics, neuroscience, or social work; or equivalent.
• At least two years of post-secondary teaching experience, part-time or full-time.
• Ability to teach general lower-division psychology, particularly Statistics, General Psychology, and/or Human Sexuality.
• Ability to teach online psychology courses effectively.
• Ability to evaluate one’s teaching practice and its effectiveness in facilitating student learning.
• Ability to engage racially, ethnically, academically, and culturally diverse students, promote critical thinking, and emphasize cooperation and collaboration.
• Knowledge and practice of culturally responsive pedagogy and andragogy using student-centered, self-reflective, and student-capable approaches.
• Commitment to collegiality and collaboration in support of instruction, curriculum, student success, class schedules, and teaching rotations.
• Commitment to professional responsibilities and associations outside the classroom through contributions to department, division, and college activities.
• Sensitivity to and respect for students, faculty, and staff with diverse social, economic, cultural, ideological, ethnic, racial, gender, and ability backgrounds.
• Applicants with foreign degrees must have coursework evaluated by a professional association that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and submit the evaluation with the application.
• Candidates who do not possess the exact degree major(s) listed in the minimum qualifications must submit an equivalency application.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to teach across the psychology discipline, with emphasis on Statistics (PSYC 270) and General Psychology (PSYC C1000).
• Ability to teach additional courses such as Human Sexuality, Research Methods, and/or SPSS.
• Ability to contribute to departmental leadership and shared governance at department and college levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students from historically underrepresented populations and strong commitment to student equity and success.
• Teaching experience in a community college system or equivalent educational setting.
• Demonstrated ability to thoughtfully integrate AI and emerging technologies into teaching, learning, and assessment while promoting critical thinking, ethical AI use, academic integrity, and development of students’ uniquely human skills.
• Ability to support and contribute to the department’s existing Zero Textbook Cost pathway.
• Demonstrated ability to support and implement college and department initiatives aligned with California Community Colleges Vision 2030.
• Knowledge and skills to establish programs or partnerships supporting transfer, career readiness, and student success outside the classroom.
• Experience working in a community with a diversity pattern similar to Southwestern College’s service area.
• Experience teaching general lower-division psychology, especially Statistics, General Psychology, and/or Human Sexuality.
• Experience teaching online psychology courses.
• Work or research experience in psychology.
• Experience blending student-success strategies such as goal setting, time management, problem solving, study methods, and research skills into teaching.
• Experience developing industry and government partnerships, university center programs, workforce development, work-based learning, and career pathways.
• A short teaching demonstration may be required of candidates invited for an interview.

Responsibilities

• Teach psychology courses, with emphasis on Statistics (PSYC 270) and General Psychology (PSYC C1000), and address departmental instructional needs in courses such as Human Sexuality, Research Methods, and SPSS.
• Foster an inclusive, equity-minded learning environment that supports students’ educational goals and success.
• Participate in curriculum development and assume a lead role in curriculum development and implementation.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators to plan, develop, and execute college initiatives.
• Participate in program review and serve on college committees, contributing beyond teaching responsibilities.
• Contribute to departmental leadership and shared governance at the department and college levels.
• Maintain professional associations and connections with professional organizations and the community.
• Teach effectively in online courses and across applicable instructional delivery systems.
• Integrate student-success strategies such as goal setting, time management, problem solving, study methods, and research skills into courses.
• Thoughtfully integrate AI and emerging technologies into teaching, learning, and assessment while promoting critical thinking, ethical use, academic integrity, and uniquely human skills.
• Support and contribute to the department’s Zero Textbook Cost pathway.
• Support and implement college and department initiatives aligned with California Community Colleges Vision 2030.
• Contribute to programs and partnerships supporting transfer, career readiness, workforce development, work-based learning, career pathways, university center development, and student success.
• Work collegially with faculty and staff to enhance instruction, curriculum, student success, class scheduling, and teaching rotations.
• Obtain Southwestern Community College Distance Education Faculty Training (DEFT) certification or equivalent within four months of hire.
• Gain student-success strategy competencies during the first year if not already experienced in these areas.

Benefits

• Participation in the State Teachers’ Retirement System, a defined-benefit retirement plan through the State of California.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Employee-led affinity groups.
• Supportive employee onboarding practices.
• Opportunity for salary-schedule advancement through additional qualifying professional development and study.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level