English - Assistant Teaching Professor (Cluster Hire with Catholic Studies)

Sacred Heart University • Fairfield, CT

58d • Onsite

About The Position

Sacred Heart University's College of Arts & Sciences invites applications for six (6) on-ground, full-time teaching faculty positions to lead sections of the University's signature seminars: First-Year Writing Seminar (FYWS 125) and The Human Journey Seminars: Great Books in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition (CIT 201 and CIT 202). These seminars make up 9 credits of the academic foundational core and are taken by all undergraduate students in their first and second year. Faculty course assignments will not be exclusive to one department. Candidates with cross-disciplinary degrees and teaching specialties are highly encouraged to apply. For example, we would welcome applicants with expertise in fields such as Irish Studies, American Catholic Studies, Art History, Theatre and Performance Studies, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Medieval Studies, Health Humanities, or Digital Humanities. Positions are open-discipline across the humanities and might include qualified candidates with terminal degrees in History, English, Creative Writing, Comparative Literature, Music, Philosophy, Politics, and Theology. Commitment to seminar pedagogy and student writing is essential, regardless of candidate's disciplinary background in the humanities. All candidates must be able to facilitate student discussion in small classes (capped at no more than 20) with strong ability to relate to and inspire students to think about big and enduring human questions. This requires sympathetic engagement with students and great texts, excitement to contribute to Sacred Heart's mission, and a commitment to humanistic learning and creative composition. The First Year Writing Seminar collaborates with the University's Laudato Si' Office for Sustainability and Social Justice, so candidates should be able to speak to these priorities. The Human Journey Seminars are offered by the University's interdisciplinary Catholic Studies department and collaborates with the Center for Catholic Studies. These positions will be at the rank of Assistant Teaching Professor (non-tenure track) and carry a 24-credit teaching load (4/4) as well as academic advising and service responsibilities. These positions will be housed in the Department of English or Department of Catholic Studies with the expectation of teaching assignments across programs. There may also be opportunities to offer foundational core classes in other humanities disciplines as appropriate to training and expertise. Ability to work well with colleagues and chairs across department boundaries will be crucial to candidate success. This search aims to support the University's commitment to the liberal arts, the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, and collegiality, encouraging faculty and student research by teaching in a range of humanities courses and innovative programs. Sacred Heart's liberal arts offerings foreground human questions, creative thought and experimentation through critical thinking, intentional reflection, and courageous civil discourse.

Requirements

• PhD or MFA in hand by August 2026
• Commitment to seminar pedagogy and student writing
• Ability to facilitate student discussion in small classes (capped at no more than 20)
• Strong ability to relate to and inspire students to think about big and enduring human questions
• Sympathetic engagement with students and great texts
• Excitement to contribute to Sacred Heart's mission
• Commitment to humanistic learning and creative composition
• Ability to speak to priorities of Sustainability and Social Justice
• Ability to work well with colleagues and chairs across department boundaries
• Commitment to teaching a foundation in the liberal arts
• Supporting and advising first-year students

Nice To Haves

• Expertise in fields such as Irish Studies, American Catholic Studies, Art History, Theatre and Performance Studies, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Medieval Studies, Health Humanities, or Digital Humanities
• Terminal degrees in History, English, Creative Writing, Comparative Literature, Music, Philosophy, Politics, and Theology

Responsibilities

• Lead sections of the University's signature seminars: First-Year Writing Seminar (FYWS 125) and The Human Journey Seminars: Great Books in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition (CIT 201 and CIT 202)
• Facilitate student discussion in small classes (capped at no more than 20)
• Academic advising
• Service responsibilities
• Teaching assignments across programs
• Offer foundational core classes in other humanities disciplines as appropriate to training and expertise
• Engage in service to the department, college, university, and profession through academic advising, committee work, faculty governance, and other service-related activities
• Contribute their presence to a collegial and collaborative environment, consciously applying our mission and values to create spaces where all may thrive and succeed

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees