Assistant Professor, Recreation

Northwest Missouri State University•Maryville, MO

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Professor teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the School of Health Science and Wellness, primarily in the Recreation, Parks, Sports, and Tourism program, including Therapeutic Recreation. The teaching assignment includes courses in the undergraduate recreation core curriculum and graduate recreation programs, with possible teaching opportunities in related health science disciplines. The role also involves advising students, supervising field experiences and internships, and contributing to scholarship and service at the departmental, college, and university levels. The position is full-time on a 9-month contract. Teaching includes on-campus and web-based courses totaling 24–26 credit hours per academic year, with the option for additional summer pay. Faculty develop and revise course materials, use classroom technologies and the course management system, and support continuous improvement of instruction. Other duties include creative and scholarly work, professional and community engagement, committee service, student recruitment and retention, and academic guidance. The majority of work is conducted on campus in classrooms. Faculty are expected to maintain regular on-campus office hours and attend school, college, and committee meetings. The position may supervise graduate and undergraduate students involved in class, departmental, or research projects, and possibly students employed within the department.

Requirements

Terminal degree in Parks, Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation, Leisure Studies, or a closely related field, with at least one graduate degree in Parks, Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation, or a leisure-related field; candidates nearing completion of a doctoral degree will be considered.
Successful professional experience in a recreation, parks, tourism, sport, therapeutic recreation, or related setting.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Effective organizational and time-management skills.
Commitment to collaboration in professional practice and instructional settings.
Proficiency with standard computer applications and instructional technologies.
Ability to work effectively with students, faculty, staff, and community partners.
Candidates without the CTRS credential may be considered but will be required to obtain CTRS certification within a specified timeframe after hire.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated teaching experience.
Scholarly activity in a recreation-related field.
Professional engagement.
Professional certification or credential relevant to the discipline, such as Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP), or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in leisure, recreation, and therapeutic recreation, including on-campus and web-based courses totaling 24–26 credit hours per academic year.
Develop and revise course syllabi, lesson plans, and related instructional materials.
Use and manage classroom technologies and the course management system to support student learning.
Identify and implement instructional best practices and contribute to systematic program development, implementation, and evaluation.
Establish a line of creative and scholarly research and participate in knowledge generation and sharing.
Publish or present scholarly work in accordance with school promotion and tenure guidelines.
Participate in professional and community organizations and serve on departmental, college, and university committees.
Attend regular meetings and participate in program and institutional policy development and decision-making.
Assist with student recruitment, advisement, development, and retention.
Ensure course materials align with course and program learning outcomes.
Model effective oral and written communication that engages students and supports learning.
Provide academic guidance to students in health sciences programs.
Supervise field experiences and internships.
Supervise graduate and undergraduate students involved in class, departmental, or research projects, and possibly student employees.