Description
Teaching Professor (open rank) in Law, Criminal Justice, & Society
The Law, Criminal Justice, and Society (LCJS) program at the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for a full-time, appointment-stream teaching professor to begin in the 2026-27 academic year. This is an open-rank search; the successful candidate will be hired at the rank of Teaching Assistant Professor, Teaching Associate Professor, or Teaching Professor. For information on these ranks, see (https://www.as.pitt.edu/faculty/governance/criteria-promotion-appointment-evaluation-and-reappointment-appointment-stream).
LCJS is seeking a teaching-oriented colleague who can help our students develop their ability to think conceptually, theoretically, and otherwise rigorously about criminal justice institutions in a larger social context. We are looking for a scholar with research & teaching experience/interests at the nexus of criminal justice and society, especially with a focus on social inequality and including those who bring a comparative approach and/or relevant professional or lived experience. The teaching load is a 3-3. The successful candidate will teach two in-person or asynchronous sections of a foundations course (LCJS 0100, Intro to LCJS), two in-person or asynchronous sections of a CJ Institutions course (LCJS 1400, The System of CJ, and/or 1420, Corrections), and two in-person or synchronous sections of the writing-intensive capstone, Ethics in Criminal Justice (LCJS 1700). For course information, see here (https://catalog.upp.pitt.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=235&poid=73581&hl="lcjs"&returnto=search)
LCJS warmly welcomes candidates who are committed to intellectual rigor, pedagogical excellence, and the support of pluralism in all its forms, including cultural backgrounds, educational perspectives, and experiences in relevant fields.
Just below are the essential and desired additional criteria for each of the three possible ranks, starting with Teaching Assistant Professor.
Essential criteria, rank of Teaching Assistant Professor:
(1) A PhD in criminology, criminal justice, or a related social science or public policy field by the time the appointment begins
(2) Teaching experience/interests at the nexus of criminal justice & society
(3) Strong commitment to continuous improvement as an undergraduate instructor and to working effectively with diverse undergraduate student audiences, including nontraditional and adult students
(4) Ability and willingness to teach asynchronous online courses (Canvas LMS) and to assist with curriculum development of such courses.
Desired additional criteria, rank of Teaching Assistant Professor:
(1) Strong evidence of successful undergraduate teaching
(2) A commitment to excellence in teaching that includes the ongoing research necessary for the fulfillment of that commitment
(3) Willingness to develop & support undergraduate research and pre-professional experiences, especially through engagement with the local community
(4) Teaching and/or research approach oriented to social inequality and/or comparative analysis
Essential criteria, rank of Teaching Associate Professor:
(1) A PhD in criminology, criminal justice, or a related social science or public policy field
(2) Teaching experience/interests at the nexus of criminal justice & society
(3) Commitment to continuous improvement as an undergraduate instructor and to working effectively with diverse undergraduate student audiences, including nontraditional and adult students
(4) Ability and willingness to teach asynchronous online courses (Canvas LMS) and to assist with curriculum development of such courses.
(5) At least 5 years' full-time university teaching experience or equivalent
(6) Strong evidence of successful undergraduate teaching
(7) Willingness to develop & support undergraduate research and pre-professional experiences, especially through engagement with the local community
Desired additional criteria, rank of Teaching Associate Professor:
(1) A commitment to excellence in teaching that includes the ongoing research necessary for the fulfillment of that commitment
(2) Teaching and/or research approach oriented to social inequality and/or comparative analysis
(3) Experience with academic program management, curriculum development, and/or developing & supporting undergraduate research and pre-professional experiences, especially through engagement with the local community
Essential criteria, rank of Teaching Professor:
(1) A PhD in criminology, criminal justice, or a related social science or public policy field
(2) Teaching experience/interests at the nexus of criminal justice & society
(3) Commitment to continuous improvement as an undergraduate instructor and to working effectively with diverse undergraduate student audiences, including nontraditional and adult students
(4) Ability and willingness to teach asynchronous online courses (Canvas LMS) and to assist with curriculum development of such courses.
(5) At least 10 years' full-time university teaching experience or equivalent
(6) Strong evidence of successful undergraduate teaching
(7) Willingness to develop & support undergraduate research and pre-professional experiences, especially through engagement with the local community
(8) Strong evidence of service to department/university and/or profession (research and other forms of mentorship of students count as service to the department/university, and research contributions as service to the profession)
Desired additional criteria, rank of Teaching Professor:
(1) A commitment to excellence in teaching that includes the ongoing research necessary for the fulfillment of that commitment
(2) Teaching and/or research approach oriented to social inequality and/or comparative analysis
(3) Experience with academic program management, curriculum development, and/or developing & supporting undergraduate research and pre-professional experiences, especially through engagement with the local community
Application requirements:
(1) Cover Letter of 1-2 pages addressed to Wes Hiers, Director of LCJS, that specifies expected rank, summarizes qualifications for the position, and, as needed, provides additional relevant information not solicited by other application requirements.
(2) Current CV, including a list, by university/year, of undergraduate courses taught, and with time in professional positions clearly delineated
(3) Teaching Portfolio [20 pages max] that includes a statement of teaching philosophy and/or pedagogical practices, a summary of evidence of teaching effectiveness, and an abbreviated syllabus for two courses that includes, for each, a course description, assessments/requirements, and a schedule of assigned materials
(4) Supplement to Teaching Portfolio that, in a single PDF, provides student-evaluation-of-teaching reports (at least one year if available, and up to three years) and, if relevant, other evidence of teaching effectiveness that is summarized in the Teaching Portfolio (if student evaluations are not available, please address why in the Cover Letter)
(5) Contact Information (full name, title, and email) for three people able to provide confidential professional letters of recommendation. Letters will be requested only for candidates who advance to the later stages of the search process.
To apply, visit http://join.pitt.edu.
Review of applicants will begin February 9, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. The appointment requires administrative and budgetary approval. The position is scheduled to begin on August 15, 2026. Questions may be directed to Wes Hiers (wjh16@pitt.edu).
Law, Criminal Justice, & Society (LCJS) launched in Fall 2021, and now has 390 majors and 300 minors across the College of General Studies (CGS) and the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences (DSAS). To learn more, start here (https://www.cgs.pitt.edu/lcjs-ba).
About the University of Pittsburgh & the City of Pittsburgh
Ranked among the top 5 percent of 1,000 universities in 65 countries and in the top 100 most innovative universities in the world, the University of Pittsburgh is home to more than 700 degrees and certificate programs, as well as more than 15,000 faculty and staff across 22 schools, colleges, and campuses. Pittsburgh is consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in America, offering diverse and vibrant cultural scenes with relatively affordable living costs. The city is home to renowned universities, including the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, as well as top-tier healthcare centers and research institutions like UPMC. Additionally, Pittsburgh has become a hub for tech companies such as Google, Facebook Reality Labs, Duolingo, and PNC Financial Services Group. The city boasts year-round sports enthusiasm for the Steelers (NFL), Pirates (MLB), and Penguins (NHL). Its thriving arts scene features notable cultural landmarks, including the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and the Andy Warhol Museum.
The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.
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