Tenure-Track Faculty Position Announcement

Department: Elementary Education

Faculty Hire Number: #25-12

Rank:  Assistant Professor

Effective Date of Appointment: August 20, 2025 (Subject to Budgetary Approval)

Salary Scale: $80,004 to $84,000. (Dependent upon qualifications)

CSUN’s Commitment to You:

CSUN is committed to achieving excellence through teaching, scholarship, learning and inclusion. Our values include a respect for all people, building partnerships with the community and the encouragement of innovation, experimentation, and creativity. CSUN strives to cultivate a community in which a diverse population can learn and work in an atmosphere of civility and respect. CSUN is especially interested in candidates who make contributions to equity and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence for all members of the university community.

As a Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI), inclusiveness and diversity are integral to CSUN’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and engagement. As of Fall 2023, CSUN enrolls ~36,000 students, where 55.7% are Latinx, 19.7% are White, 8.9% are Asian-American, 5.0% are Black/African American, 0.1% are Native American, and 0.1% are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. 

For more information about the University, visit: http://www.csun.edu

About the College:

For more information about the College of Education, see: https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education

About the Department:

For more information about the Department of Elementary Education, see: https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/elementary-education

Position:

The department of Elementary Education at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is seeking a tenure-track faculty member in Early Childhood Education at the rank of Assistant Professor.

The successful candidate will teach early childhood (age 3-8) elementary education courses in credential (e.g., stand-alone ECE methods, language arts, or reading methodology courses and/or integrated courses) and MA programs (e.g., language arts seminar courses); coordinate and lead early childhood education program; collaborate in field-based university/TK-12 partnership programs, and supervise student teachers and interns in linguistically and culturally diverse PK-3^rd grade school settings; develop and/or participate in grant projects that support innovation in curriculum and pedagogy in urban schools and teacher education; collaborate with faculty in the Child and Adolescent Development Department and Educational Psychology Early Education faculty to implement integrated undergraduate and 5^th year post-baccalaureate teacher preparation programs; mentor graduate students in MA degree program(s); participate in student advisement, committee work, and innovative field-based programs.

Some classes may be assigned at off-campus locations: The successful candidate must be willing to teach courses on campus, in clinical settings, and online as needed. This position is highly collaborative; thus, the successful applicant will engage with faculty, students, and school and community partners in a manner that highlights creativity, collegiality, and innovation. Most classes are scheduled in the late afternoons and evenings. The normal teaching assignment is 12 units per semester, plus student advisement and committee assignments. Tenure track faculty are typically given a reduced load of 3 units (equivalent to one class assignment) each semester during the first two years of employment. Opportunities for reassigned time for research, coordinator positions, and/or other projects are also available.

In addition to teaching, the position requires weekly office hours, attending faculty meetings, participation in assessment of student learning, and service to the department, college, and university. The successful candidate may be required to teach on weekdays, evenings, weekends, and/or online and will be held to the standards and requirements of the college and department in which he/she/they is/are housed for recommending tenure and promotion. Given CSUN’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and engagement in a diverse environment, the successful candidate will help the Department achieve equitable academic outcomes for all students through teaching, student mentorship, scholarship, and service.

Required Qualifications:  

• Applicant must have an earned doctorate in Early Childhood Education (ages 3-8), Human Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education, Child and Adolescent Development, Elementary Education, Teacher Education, Curriculum and Instruction, or related discipline from an accredited institution. ABD considered (to be completed by the date of appointment).
• Applicant must have a minimum of 2 years successful PK-3 teaching experience.
• Applicant must demonstrate awareness of effective developmentally appropriate strategies in literacy and mathematics instruction
• Applicant will have familiarity with Early Childhood Literacy and Math Standards and/or Common Core education frameworks
• Applicant must demonstrate knowledge of theories and practices associated with 21^st Century skills, including but not limited to digital literacies, critical theory, culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy, and/or sociocultural theory.
• Applicant must demonstrate a commitment to justice-oriented teacher education.
• Applicant must demonstrate strong potential for scholarship in early childhood and/or literacy-related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Applicant will have a minimum of 3 years successful combination of Preschool and TK-3 teaching experience in a classroom setting and/or a combination of teaching experience, early childhood coaching, literacy coaching, professional development, or district leadership experience.
• Applicant will have experience developing, coordinating, and leading programs.
• Applicant must demonstrate knowledge of English language development for culturally and linguistically diverse classroom settings.
• Applicant will demonstrate understanding of Early Childhood Literacy and Math Standards, Common Core education frameworks, including core competencies, instructional design, and implementation.
• Applicant will have familiarity with and knowledge of NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) professional preparation standards.
• Applicant will have experience with creating student-centered learning environments, integrating technology, working at the intersections of early childhood and primary grade literacy and math constructs, facilitating developmentally appropriate interdisciplinary/project-based/inquiry-based/play-based learning for young children.
• Applicant will have experience teaching pedagogy and/or methods courses in Early Childhood and Literacy education in pre-service, induction, and/or graduate programs.
• Applicant will have experience mentoring a diverse body of students according to the tenets of equity and inclusion.
• Applicant will have experience implementing the theories and practices associated with 21^st Century skills, including but not limited to digital literacies, critical theory, culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogies, and sociocultural theory. 
• Applicant will have a clear track record of using their research, teaching, mentorship, and/or service to advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in Early Childhood/literacy and teacher education.

Application Deadline:

Screening of applications will begin October 1^st, 2024. Priority will be given to applicants who meet the screening deadline; however, the position will remain open until filled.

How to Apply:

Candidates should apply by completing the CSUN online application. To apply and for more detailed information on the application and hiring process, please visit this link: www.csun.edu/careers  

Applicants must submit a cover letter (no more than 2 pages) that addresses the qualifications and responsibilities described above and highlights accomplishments; and a curriculum vitae to the website in the section above. In later stages of the search process, applicants may be requested to provide additional materials, such as professional work samples, and work produced through student mentoring.

At time of appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must have authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work in the United States.

General Information:

In compliance with the Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, California State University, Northridge has made crime-reporting statistics available on-line here. Print copies are available by request from the Department of Police Services, the Office for Faculty Affairs, and the Office of Equity and Diversity.

The person holding this position may be considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside of California.

CSUN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, and disability. Our nondiscrimination policy is set forth in Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Department of Elementary Education at 818-677-2621.