Assistant Teaching Professor or Instructor

The University of Southern Mississippi • Hattiesburg, MS

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and Security invites applications for a full-time, nine-month, non-tenure-track Assistant Teaching Professor or Instructor of Criminal Justice. The position is based on the Hattiesburg campus, with a teaching load of four courses per semester in fall and spring. Courses may be delivered in person and/or online. The successful candidate will be qualified to teach a range of criminal justice courses and will teach, advise, and mentor students while engaging in scholarship or professional development and service activities.

The school is interdisciplinary and serves more than 500 students pursuing undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice, Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Biology, and Forensic Chemistry. It also offers undergraduate minors in Criminal Justice, Security Studies, and Forensic Science, and a fully online graduate program in Criminal Justice. The school is housed in the renovated Paul H. “Bud” Holmes Criminal Justice Building, which includes teaching and research laboratories, modern classrooms, a computer laboratory, faculty and student lounges, and a mock courtroom.

Applicants must apply online and submit a cover letter describing their potential for high-quality teaching, scholarship or professional development, and service; a curriculum vitae; a statement of teaching philosophy and goals; contact information for three professional references; and unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Official transcripts are required before a campus interview. Priority consideration is given to applications received by November 22; the position remains open until filled. Applicants must be authorized to work full-time in the United States without visa sponsorship. The anticipated start date is August 2027.

Requirements

• For Instructor: Earned master’s degree in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Security Studies, or a closely related field from an accredited university, or an earned J.D. from an ABA-approved law school housed within an accredited university.
• For Assistant Teaching Professor: Earned Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Security Studies, or a closely related field from an accredited university. ABD candidates may be considered if the Ph.D. is expected to be earned by the appointment date. A J.D. alone does not meet the minimum qualification for this rank.
• Ability to teach effectively at the university level in online and traditional settings. Instructor candidates must be able to teach in an undergraduate criminal justice program; Assistant Teaching Professor candidates must be able to teach in undergraduate and graduate criminal justice programs.
• Ability to engage effectively in scholarship or professional development and service activities in the discipline.
• Ability to advise and mentor students effectively at the university level.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Specialized knowledge in criminal justice, criminology, security studies, or a closely related field, demonstrated through graduate-level coursework and/or professional experience.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States full-time without visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to teach a wide range of criminal justice courses; for Assistant Teaching Professor candidates, at undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Teaching, mentoring, and service experience at the undergraduate level for Instructor candidates, or at the university level for Assistant Teaching Professor candidates.
• Experience delivering online courses using Canvas or a similar learning management system.
• Professional experience in criminal justice, security, law, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collegially with students, staff, and faculty from diverse backgrounds, programs, and colleges.

Responsibilities

• Teach four courses per semester during fall and spring.
• Deliver instruction in online and face-to-face formats.
• Advise and mentor undergraduate students.
• Prepare and submit syllabi, grades, and other required course documentation in a timely manner.
• Engage in scholarship or professional development and service activities in accordance with school, college, and university expectations.
• Attend school, college, and university meetings and recruitment events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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