Program: Early Childhood Studies
Rank: Assistant/Associate Professor, Tenure Track
Title: Assistant/Associate Professor of Early Childhood Studies (STEAM Focus)
Effective Date of Appointment: August 19, 2025
California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) opened in 2002 as the newest campus in the California State University system. Since that time, the University has grown and developed into one of the premier public universities, not only in the California State University system, but also in the nation. Indeed, U.S. News & World Report listed CSUCI as 29th among “Regional Universities West” in its 2023 edition of Best Colleges Rankings. In 2023, CollegeNET ranked CSUCI 71st out of over 1,400 schools in its “Social Mobility Index.” In 2020, Money Magazine rated CSUCI as the 15th “Most Transformative College” in the nation.
CSUCI is a public comprehensive university that engages students in critical inquiry and is dedicated to educating leaders for a global society. The University is located in Ventura County and is home to more than 4,959 undergraduate and 168 graduate students. Approximately 48% of CSUCI’s students are Pell Grant eligible, and approximately 60% are first-generation college students. CSUCI is also proud to be designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), with 61% of its undergraduate students self-identifying as Latinx, 23% as White, 6% as Asian/Asian American, 4% as multiracial, and 2% as Black/African American. In 2022, CSUCI was among the first institutions to be recertified with Excelencia in Education’s "Seal of Excelencia” for its facilitation of Latinx student success.
CSUCI is committed to diversifying its faculty in order to address students’ ever-changing needs in the 21st century. The University is also taking steps to confront racism and to advocate for social justice. To this end, CSUCI encourages applicants to apply who are motivated to serve and contribute to the university’s tenure-track body, which self-identifies as 54% White, 24% Latinx, 11% Asian/Asian American, and 4% Black/African America.
Diversity Statement:
CSUCI is committed to recruiting individuals who are dedicated to furthering inclusive excellence in our campus community. We seek to enhance our diverse University population by welcoming people from all backgrounds, and by working to sustain an environment where colleagues can not only work and learn, but also create and thrive.
Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.
CSUCI’s Commitment to You:
CSUCI is committed to helping newly hired faculty develop a sense of belonging in a collaborative and supportive community dedicated to providing resources and opportunities for establishing and sustaining a research agenda and engaging in continuous improvement in equitable teaching and learning.
About the Program:
The School of Education (SOE) at California State University, Channel Islands, invites applications for an Assistant or Associate position in Early Childhood Studies with an appointment to begin Fall 2025. The SOE strives to prepare educators to uplift, inspire, and engage all students, families, and communities with whom they work and work to advance issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and teaching/educating for justice.
The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Studies (ECS) prepares CI students to work effectively with young children from birth through eight years of age and their families. Our program develops the knowledge and skills necessary to work with the youngest community members, including the embedding of substantive training in dual language learning and special abilities. In completing the major, ECS students acquire the competencies to serve young children, including those who are dual language learners or have special needs within the natural settings of home, community, and schools. The academic program offers core curricula and fieldwork in early childhood development and pedagogy while highlighting partnerships in the context of family, culture, language, and society. Upon completion of the BA in Early Childhood Studies, graduates are eligible for the Child Development Teacher Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Studies is accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
CSU Channel Islands seeks candidates for an Assistant or Associate Professor to teach, do research, and engage in service in the Early Childhood Studies Department. The position has a special emphasis on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) (young children birth through age 8).
Minimum Degree Requirements:
Doctoral degree in Early Childhood Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Teaching and Learning, Child Development, or a closely related area.
Required Qualifications:
1. ABD (completed Doctorate by August 2025) or completed Doctorate in Early Childhood Curriculum & Instruction, Teaching and Learning, Child Development, or a closely related area.
2. Experience as lead teacher in early childhood classroom(s) (birth through age 8) for a minimum of three years.
3. An emerging record of scholarship with a focus on STEAM (birth through age 8).
4. Experience working with marginalized groups in the community, with a special focus on Latinx populations.
5. Evidence of commitment to social justice issues and experience working with diverse communities and environments.
Additional requirements for appointment at the Associate Professor level (with tenure)
- Earned doctorate in Early Childhood Curriculum & Instruction, Teaching and Learning, Child Development, or a closely related area.
- Established record of scholarship with a focus on STEAM (birth through age 8).
- Must meet standards for tenure at CSUCI.
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Applicants should demonstrate the commitment to effectively work with and engage a diverse student population and evidence of how they would successfully mentor minoritized students with special focus on Latinx, Black/African American, American Indian, and Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander students
Preferred Qualifications:
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Bilingual, Spanish/English.
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Teaching credential (PK-3) or equivalent
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Experience working with dual language learners
CSU Channel Islands seeks candidates for an Assistant or Associate Professor in Early Childhood Studies (emphasis on STEAM) to teach courses and/or supervise student teachers in the Early Childhood Studies Department (birth through age 8). Successful candidates should be able to teach a variety of courses in the current (BA in ECS) and future programs, BA in ECS with Integrated Teacher Education Program PK-3 Credential, MA in ECS, MA in ECS with PK-3 Credential. Our programs embed the importance of teaching and learning, guidance, STEAM, anti-bias, curriculum and instruction, inclusion (as it relates to young children with special needs), and dual language learners. The successful candidate is expected to have an active or emerging research agenda and provide service to the Early Childhood Studies Department, the School of Education, the University, the profession, and the broader community.
Screening of applications will begin October 24, 2024. Priority will be given to applicants who submit applications prior to the screening deadline; however, the position will remain open until filled.
Applicants must submit the following materials:
- Cover letter in response to the required qualifications
- Current Curriculum Vitae
- Research Statement: Statement must include a description of areas of research interests and active or emerging scholarly work, including but not limited to publications, conference presentations, and future scholarly projects with a specific focus on STEAM.
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Teaching Statement related to the field of early childhood education, specifically early childhood teacher preparation in a Hispanic Serving Institution.
- A statement describing your experience mentoring and/or working with minoritized students with a special focus on Latinx, Black/African American, Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander and American Indian students, and
- A teaching philosophy describing how you plan to engage and interact with students, with a special focus on Latinx, Black/African American, Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander, and American Indian students.
In later phases of the search process, applicants may be requested to provide verification of terminal degrees, licenses and certificates.
Compensation:
California State University Tenure Track (Academic Year) Salary Schedules can be found at
Starting salaries at CSU Channel Islands are equity-minded and are generally at the lower half of the salary range.
The University offers excellent fringe benefits.
Evidence of degree(s) required at time of hire.
At time of appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must have authorization from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to work in the United States.
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.
CSUCI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of 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 CSU Executive Order 1096.
Per CSU-wide policy (HR2021-04), all faculty who will begin initial employment (or return from a 12-month break in service) on or after January 1, 2022 are required to perform their work from within the State of California. Faculty hired prior to January 1, 2022 must be available to perform work in the State of California if their assignment is in-person.
Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Faculty Affairs at academicpersonnel@csuci.edu.