Assistant Professor of Political Science

Comparative Politics Assistant Professor

The Department of Political Science invites applications for a tenure track position in Comparative Politics at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning August 2027. The successful candidate should have the PhD completed by August 2027. The department is open to various area and regional specializations, but is particularly interested in thematic fields such as environmental politics, migration, refugees, global health, democratic instability, media, social movements, and political economy and inequality.

Trinity University values both strong teaching and research. The successful candidate is expected to maintain a robust research agenda, supported by competitive summer research stipends and pre-tenure academic leave. The successful candidate will teach the lower division survey course in Comparative Politics and upper division courses in their areas of expertise. The candidate will also be expected to contribute to the university's general education curriculum, particularly its First-Year Experience. A strong commitment to undergraduate teaching is essential, as well as a demonstrated commitment to Trinity's value of intentional inclusion. There are many opportunities for Trinity faculty to be engaged in experiential learning, interdisciplinary teaching and research, and faculty-led study abroad programs. The teaching load consists of five courses per academic year.

Trinity University is a secular, independent, private institution, founded in 1869. Trinity offers high-quality science, liberal arts, and pre-professional programs as represented by the four schools (STEM, Arts & Humanities, Social Science and Civic Engagement, and Business) to approximately 2,500 undergraduate students from the U.S. and more than 45 countries. The attractive campus overlooks downtown San Antonio, a city rich in heritage and ethnic diversity. Additional information can be found on the Resource Guide to Trinity & San Antonio.

The Department of Political Science is part of the School of Social Science & Civic Engagement, home to six academic departments and four interdisciplinary programs. The School has a long record of involvement in interdisciplinary research and teaching, both within the School and across the University. It prizes experiential learning opportunities for Trinity students, including research with faculty, consulting for local civic organizations, and teaching in San Antonio schools.

Trinity University's political science department is composed of nine full-time faculty members, teaching a range of courses across the core subfields of American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory, as well as Public Law and Research Methods. The department supports interdisciplinary programs such as International Studies, Urban Studies, East Asian Studies, Environmental Studies, Mexican American Studies, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, German Studies, as well as Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Both the Department of Political Science and the University as a whole value and safeguard academic freedom for faculty members in their teaching and scholarship. Trinity is guided by a set of core values and is committed to implementing practices in pursuit of an inclusive campus for all students, faculty, and staff to feel welcomed and engaged in a community of learning.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Teaching

Teaching responsibilities will include both lower and upper-level courses in the candidate's area of interest and expertise that complement the department curriculum. Participation in the First-Year Experience program is expected. The teaching load is 3-2 courses per year.

Research

Consistent and productive scholarly activity is expected, including attendance at professional meetings, participation in professional organizations, presentations of papers at academic conferences, and publication of peer-reviewed research.

Service

Faculty are expected to advise and mentor our majors, and engage in service to the department, the university, the profession, and the community.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Required: A PhD in Political Science is required, to be completed by August 2027.

Preferred: A primary field of doctoral specialization in Comparative Politics

EXPERIENCE

Preferred: A demonstrated commitment to undergraduate education is preferred.

HOW TO APPLY

For internal applicants, please apply through Workday using the 'Jobs Hub' application, see instructions provided here.

For external applicants, when starting the application, select 'Apply Manually.' Only complete fields with a red asterisk, which are required. Please create your Workday application account using a personal email address, as you will need to maintain access to this account throughout the pre-hire process, if selected.

For all applicants, you do not need to complete the '(Work) Experience,' 'Education,' 'Certifications,' or 'Languages' fields - these details will be provided in your curriculum vitae.

In the 'Application Documents' field, please upload the following as seen below, each as a separate pdf file [note: a maximum of five (5) files can be uploaded]:

File 1: Cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, and Transcripts

File 2: Three letters of recommendation

File 3: Evidence of teaching effectiveness (such as a teaching philosophy and course evaluations)

File 4: Writing sample

File 5: Intentional inclusion statement - Intentional Inclusion is a core value at Trinity University. Please provide a brief (1-2 page) reflection on the ways that you might contribute to cultivating an environment where people feel welcomed, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential. Provide examples of how that relates to your teaching, research/scholarship and other professional activities.

Deadline to submit applications is September 30, 2026.

CONTACT INFORMATION

David Crockett

Search Committee Chair

Department of Political Science

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