Assistant Professor - Sociology, Specialization in Health and Human/Technology Interaction

San José State University • San Jose, CA

10d • $88,000 - $92,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences (SISS) at San José State University (SJSU) invites applications from scholars in the areas of Human/Technology Interaction, Social Psychology, Sociology of Health and Illness/Mental Illness, and/or Science and Technology Studies (STS). Candidates are expected to teach and develop courses in their area of specialty and core sociology topics. The ideal candidate will have a strong research agenda focusing on the societal impacts of emerging technologies and scientific knowledge at the individual and interactional levels. The SISS Department offers BA degree programs in Sociology, Asian American Studies, and Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies and minor programs in Sociology, Asian American Studies, Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies, and Native American and Indigenous Studies. With more than 400 majors and 35 faculty members, SISS is a growing and vibrant department community. The SISS department is part of the College of Social Sciences, which is committed to equitable and inclusive teaching and learning. The College sees faculty and student success as inextricably linked, and strives to provide culturally-sustaining, and academically-affirming approaches to supporting and engaging students and faculty. We provide opportunities for faculty development around asset-based, holistic student success, and support scholarship of engagement that addresses issues that affect our campus and community. In all of our endeavors, we strive to build leadership capacity and foster a culture of support and belonging for faculty, staff, and students. The Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and San José State University value institutional excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll more than 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher-scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill-building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve. We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Institutional Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community—particularly in relation to student success.

Requirements

• A doctorate in sociology from an accredited university by the start of the appointment
• Demonstrated commitment to social scientific scholarship in the areas of health, mental health, human/technology interaction, health technology, and/or science and technology studies.
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence and potential and willingness to teach other sociology courses such as introduction to sociology, research methods, and social theory.
• Research potential, demonstrated through peer reviewed publications and presentations
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

Nice To Haves

• Strong record of teaching excellence, teaching experience
• Demonstrated record of service and leadership
• Willingness to examine and participate in professional development around one’s instructional, relational, and pedagogical practices to more effectively engage and support historically underserved students.
• Demonstrated understanding of how historical patterns of exclusion within higher education influence student participation and outcomes.
• A demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively, including across disciplines.
• An established research agenda.

Responsibilities

• Teaching and developing undergraduate courses in specialty areas as well as core courses in the sociology major.
• Participating in General Education and program assessment.
• Maintaining an active research agenda.
• Participating in student mentorship and advisement
• Participating in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• Demonstrating awareness of and experience in understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advising.

Benefits

• Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule
• Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $88,000 - $92,000
• Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

What This Job Offers

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