Assistant Professor

Position Overview

Position Rank and

Title:

Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies

School/Department Name: Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $86,000-$90,000

Faculty employee benefits are competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s benefits package.

Target

Start Date:

August 2026

Final date to receive applications: October 30, 2025 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies at San José State University invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies beginning in August 2026. We welcome applicants from all fields of environmental studies who apply an environmental justice lens to their work, including ecology, racial ecologies, marine/coastal studies, natural history, wildlife conservation, environmental education, public/environmental health, natural resource analysis, environmental economics, and environmental law and policy.

Teaching and research should highlight how environmental change affects underserved communities. Teaching load will include lower division introductory courses (e.g., ENVS 1, ENVS 10), upper division and graduate core courses (e.g., ENVS 110, ENVS 200), and development of a new course in the area of specialization. A record of effective teaching, scholarly achievements, and service is essential for tenure and promotion.

The School is home to nationally recognized interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs with multiple degrees. The curriculum aims to equip students to create sustainable, resilient communities. The Environmental Studies programs focus on topics ranging from wildlife conservation to renewable energy. For more information about our programs, visit the Environmental Studies page /envs/.

The School values inclusive excellence and is committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll nearly 40,000 students, with about 45% of undergraduates being first-generation, and 38% receiving Pell Grants. We are a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). We seek teacher-scholars who cultivate inclusive spaces for mutual learning and knowledge exchange.

We invite applicants to include a Statement of Inclusive Excellence to share how lived and professional experiences will contribute to student success and inclusive education. A guide to writing this statement is available in the Inclusive Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Environmental Studies or a related field, by August 17, 2026
• Strong background in quantitative or qualitative research methods
• Evidence of or potential for teaching effectiveness in environmental studies
• Evidence of or potential for a productive research program in environmental studies
• Demonstrated commitment to school, college, and university service
• Awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might be gained in cross-cultural study or comparable experience

Key Responsibilities

• Teach lower division, upper division, and graduate level Environmental Studies courses; develop a new course in the area of specialization if desired
• Advise majors/minors, supervise undergraduate and graduate student research, engage in departmental and college service; supervise at least two new graduate Master of Science students each year
• Oversee a defined research program producing peer-reviewed publications and seek external funding to support research and department activities
• Participate in shared governance through department, college, and university committees
• Organize courses within the Canvas learning management system (LMS)
• Demonstrate awareness of and experience with diverse student populations through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement

Note:

All San José State University…