Child Development Jobs in Modesto, CA (NOW HIRING)

Faculty Employment Opportunity

POSITION:

Assistant Professor of Child Development: The Department of Psychology and Child Development invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning Fall 2026. We seek a developmental scholar with a strong background in child development and expertise in a focus area of their choice - such as culture and diversity, dual language learners, parenting, physical/motor development, children with disabilities, early intervention, or other related areas.  We are looking for someone excited about teaching, committed to working with a diverse student population, and eager to contribute to a highly collaborative undergraduate and graduate program.

Our mission is to prepare knowledgeable, reflective, and equity-minded professionals who serve young children and families across the region, and beyond, in educational and social service settings. A key component of that training takes place at our brand-new, on-campus, NAEYC-accredited Child Development Center. This state-of-the-art laboratory allows faculty and students to engage directly with young children and families, supporting both outstanding professional preparation and meaningful applied research. Additionally, our program maintains strong community connections, providing observational and internship opportunities interwoven in the curriculum

Teaching & Student Mentorship
Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in child development theory, research methods, application/laboratory integration, and other developmental topics
Utilize our on-campus Child Development Center as a live instructional resource, integrating direct observation and applied experiences into coursework
Advise and mentor undergraduate students; supervise undergraduate interns and lab students
Demonstrate teaching excellence with a diverse student body

Scholarship
Maintain an active scholarly agenda
Pursue external funding opportunities in support of research and programmatic initiatives
Integrate the on-campus Child Development Center as a site for applied or community-engaged research when appropriate

Service & Collaboration
Participate actively in department, college, and university service
Contribute to student advising, recruitment, and retention efforts
Engage with local early childhood programs, school districts, Head Start agencies, and other community partners

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Ph.D. in child development or related area, at time of appointment
Ability to teach across the curriculum (i.e., child development theory, research methods, application/laboratory integration, and other developmental topics)
Demonstrated evidence of effective teaching at undergraduate level

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience integrating an NAEYC-accredited laboratory school or child development center into instruction or research
Experience teaching or supervising students in applied early childhood settings (e.g., preschool, Head Start, transitional kindergarten, infant/toddler programs)
Fluency or proficiency in Spanish or other languages spoken in Central Valley communities
Familiarity with California Preschool Learning Foundations, NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practice, and/or related professional frameworks
Experience with undergraduate internship supervision or graduate student mentorship and thesis advising
Record of community-engaged scholarship or regional partnerships

HOW TO APPLY & DEADLINE:

A complete application must include: an application letter specifically addressing the position description and qualifications; unofficial photocopies of graduate transcripts; a statement of teaching philosophy; evidence of teaching proficiency; a sample of research; professional curriculum vitae, including the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references. Official transcripts will be required at the time of hire.

Optional: [OTHER MATERIALS].

To apply for this position, please click the "Apply Now" button on this page.

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact:

Dr. Danielle Turley, Search Committee Chair
Department of Psychology & Child Development
College of Science
California State University, Stanislaus
One University Circle Turlock, CA
email: dturley@csustan.edu
Department Website: https://www.csustan.edu/cdev 

Screening of completed application files will begin on May 11, 2026. The position will remain open until filled. This appointment begins on August 17, 2026.
Please note that the CSU does not use automated decision systems or artificial intelligence tools in making hiring or selection decisions. All applicant evaluations and employment decisions are made by human reviewers, using structured candidate responses and job-related criteria to ensure fairness, consistency, and compliance with FEHA.

COMPENSATION:

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.  Anticipated hiring range is $7,064-$7,315 per month for Assistant Professor (12 monthly payments per academic year).  As a member of the 23-campus CSU System, we offer an extremely competitive benefits package.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT and THE COLLEGE, CAMPUS, AND AREA: 

California State University, Stanislaus serves the San Joaquin Valley and is a critical educational resource for a six-county region of approximately 1.5 million people. The University is fully committed to creating a culture of diversity and inclusion - one in which every person in the University community feels safe to express their views without fear of reprisal. Widely recognized for its quality academic programs, the University has 10 nationally accredited programs and 662 faculty members. 94 percent of full-time faculty hold doctorates or terminal degrees in their fields. The University offers 43 undergraduate majors, 16 master's programs, 7 post-graduate credentials, a doctorate in education and serves more than 10,000 students. New instructional facilities have been built for the unique pedagogy of professional programs, laboratory sciences and performing arts.

Stanislaus State continues to receive national recognition with its ranking as one of the best 384 colleges in the nation by The Princeton Review. The University was one of 12 public universities in the nation to be recognized by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for demonstrating exceptional performance in retention and graduation rates. In addition, U.S. News and World Report ranks Stanislaus State in its top 10 among public universities in the West, while Washington Monthly honored Stanislaus State as the West's No. 1 university for the money. Stanislaus State also is recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The university is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, National origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status. You can learn more about federal equal employment opportunity protections by accessing the Department of Labor's notices: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf 

Individuals with disabling conditions who require accommodation during the recruitment process may contact the ADA Coordinator at (209) 667-3159.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. The CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. The CSU prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California.

Stanislaus State is not currently sponsoring faculty for H-1B work status if they are subject to the $100,000 fee established under the Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers issued on September 19, 2025. For faculty already in the United States who hold a valid nonimmigrant visa (such as F-1, J-1, or O-1), Stanislaus State is able to consider filing a petition to change their status to H-1B based on the current determination that the fee does not apply. For questions, please contact the Office of Faculty Affairs at facultyaffairs@csustan.edu. We strongly recommend that faculty review their individual circumstances carefully with their personal immigration legal counsel.

The CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. The CSU prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California.

MANDATED REPORTER PER CANRA

The person holding this position is 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, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment.

CLERY ACT DISCLOSURE

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, crime report statistics are available at: http://www.csustan.edu/UPD/pages/CampusCrimeStatistics/index.html