Assistant Professor of Political Science

Job Description

Position Summary:

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 political behavior and/or political psychology. We are open with respect to theoretical orientation, substantive focus, and methodological approaches, but expect the hire to teach courses on American political behavior broadly-defined 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 include Introduction to American Government and Politics, a graduate seminar in American political behavior broadly-defined, and upper division undergraduate courses on political behavior and/or political psychology. 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

Essential Job Duties: 

• 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.

Supervision:

• No direct supervision required.

Conditions of Employment:

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

Minimum Qualifications: 

• 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 political behavior and/or political psychology.
• Demonstrated ability to teach effectively at the undergraduate and/or graduate level. 
  • Primary teaching and scholarly emphasis in American Politics with a specialization in political behavior and/or political psychology.
  • Including a large introductory survey class on American government and politics as well as some combination of upper division undergraduate courses on political behavior and/or political psychology.

Application Instructions:

• 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, and 6) evidence of teaching effectiveness (syllabi, teaching evaluations, letters of observation).
  • As the system only allows for 5 uploaded documents, please combine Cover Letter and CV into one document prior to uploading.
• Three reference letters will be requested of candidates via the Candidate Home page. Please ensure they are submitted by October 28, 2026.
  

Salary Range

Required Application Documents

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.

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.

• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.

• Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

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.

EEO

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.