Assistant Professor of Political Science

The Department of Political Science at Colorado State University invites applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in American politics with a specialization in public law, legal studies, administrative law and/or law and courts. We are open with respect to theoretical orientation, substantive focus, and methodological approaches, but expect the hire to teach courses in American Constitutional Law and pursue a robust scholarly agenda producing peer-reviewed journal articles and/or books. The successful candidate will join a department committed to scholarly excellence and will be expected to build a program of research that actively pursues external funding through federal, foundation, or other sponsored grants appropriate to their subfield, contributing to CLA’s growing profile in high-impact, externally supported research. The teaching load is 2-2, and courses to be covered will include Introduction to American Government and Politics, upper division undergraduate courses in American Constitutional Law, US Civil Rights and Liberties, and other classes that align with the candidate’s expertise or those that meet department needs. Finally, the hire will be expected to contribute to the College of Liberal Arts’ Strengthening Democracy initiative. Strengthening Democracy is a signature initiative of the College of Liberal Arts focused on the questions, challenges and possibilities shaping democracy in Colorado and beyond. We aim to bring scholars, students, policymakers and community partners together for collaborations and conversations in the classroom, community and research.

Full consideration date will be Monday, October 26th, 2026, 11:59PM MST

• Teach and mentor students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including course and curriculum development.
• Conduct and publish research, pursue external funding, and contribute to scholarly advancement in the field.
• Provide service to the department, university, profession, and community in support of CSU’s mission.

• No direct supervision required.

• Pre-Employment Background Check (required for all new hires).

• Terminal degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in the relevant discipline.
  • To be obtained by August 16th, 2027.
• Evidence of research productivity or strong potential to establish a sustainable scholarly program (e.g., publications, presentations, grant activity).
  • Active and productive research agenda in Public Law, Legal Studies, Administrative and/or Law and Courts.
• Demonstrated ability to teach effectively at the undergraduate and/or graduate level. 
  • Primary teaching and scholarly emphasis in American Politics with a specialization in Public Law, Legal Studies, Administrative Law and/or Law and Courts.
  • Including a large introductory survey class on American government and politics as well as the specified constitutional law sequence.

Applicants should submit: 1) Cover letter, 2) Curriculum Vitae, 3) Graduate school transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable at this stage of the search), 4) Research statement, 5) An academic writing sample, 6) Evidence of teaching effectiveness (syllabi, teaching evaluations, letters of observation).

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

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Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.