Job Details

Faculty - Assistant Professor - Political Science

Position Number: 6642204
Location: Orem, UT
Position Type: Liberal Arts - Political Science

Faculty - Assistant Professor - Political Science

Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Job Type: FT Faculty
Job Number: FY2605033
Closing: 11/15/2025 11:59 PM Mountain
Location: 800 W University Parkway, Orem
Division: VP Academic Affairs

Position Announcement

The History and Political Science Department at Utah Valley University invites applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Political Science to begin in the Academic Year 2026-2027. The successful candidate will be required to teach upper-division courses in Comparative Politics, with a regional focus on Latin America, Middle East, or Africa. The candidate will also be required to teach lower- and upper-division courses in Peace and Justice Studies and direct the Peace and Justice Studies program. The ideal candidate will be expected to maintain an active record of scholarly activity commensurate with a 4/4 teaching load and collaborate professionally with other faculty and staff, while enhancing UVU's dual-integrated mission with a focus on engagement and student success by contributing to the department's continuing applied politics approach.

The History and Political Science Department currently consists of 11 full-time faculty members in Political Science and serves almost 300 students majoring in Political Science. Our approach to professional education is student-centered and demands a high level of faculty-student engagement, with substantial institutional support for engaging students in faculty research. As the largest university in the state of Utah, Utah Valley University is a rapidly growing regional university of more than 46,000 students and is located in Orem, Utah at the foot of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City. Utah Valley University is an open enrollment institution that values candidates whose experiences in teaching and scholarship have prepared them to contribute to the university's commitment to student success, engaged learning, rigorous academic programs, and faculty-mentored research.

Physical Requirements:
General classroom environment.

Benefits Summary:
UVU offers an excellent benefits package which includes a generous leave policy, paid holidays, affordable medical and dental insurance options, life and AD&D insurance, tuition waiver (undergraduate resident) for employee and dependents, and substantial employer contribution to a retirement plan.

Qualifications / Licenses / Certifications

Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university with an earned doctoral degree in Political Science, with an emphasis on Comparative Politics and Peace Studies. Candidates who are ABD will be considered if the doctorate is completed (with dissertation defended and accepted by graduating institution) by June 30, 2026.
Evidence of effective college-level teaching in both lower-division and upper-division courses in Political Science.
Ability and desire to participate in scholarly work with undergraduate students consistent with a teaching university.

Preferred Qualifications:
Previous teaching experience at the college level in Comparative Politics and Peace and Justice Studies.
Demonstrable experience of program administration.
Frequent and consistent engagement in teaching-related professional development activities.
Ability and desire to mentor and conduct research with undergraduate students.

Documents Needed to Apply
Required:

Curriculum Vitae
Cover Letter
Teaching Philosophy
Research Statement
Writing Sample of research
SRI/Student Rating of Instruction - previous three (3) years of student evaluations or similar teaching evaluations if available.
Graduate Transcripts
Sample syllabus on the desired subject(s)

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Ability to effectively teach through implementation of appropriate pedagogy, clear presentation and preparation, and maintaining a student-centered approach to education;
Ability and willingness to teach face-to-face, hybrid, and/or online classes;
Knowledge of and demonstrated use of engaged teaching techniques and methods;
Skilled in effective oral and written communication, including the ability to communicate to different audiences and in a diverse setting;
Knowledge of and openness to multiple approaches to the teaching of political science;
Ability to manage, motivate, and evaluate students in lower and upper division courses;
Demonstrable experience of teaching in an environment that includes students of diverse backgrounds with different abilities and educational backgrounds;
Ability to remain familiar with and contribute to advancing current scholarship in political science, and communicate scholarly work through presentations and publications;
Ability to include undergraduate researchers in scholarly activities and supervise student-driven research;
Ability and willingness to continue university faculty's commitment to shared governance at both the department and college level; and
Ability to work collegially and collaboratively with faculty and staff across the institution.

EEO Statement:

UVU employment decisions are made on the basis of an applicant's qualifications and ability to perform the job without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and over), disability, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or other bases protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

To apply, please visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/uvu/jobs/5109129/faculty-assistant-professor-political-science

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