Forensic Behavioral Science Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

 California State University, Fresno
College of Social Sciences
Department of Criminology
https://socialsciences.fresnostate.edu/criminology

Criminology- Law Enforcement or Victimology
Assistant Professor

Tenure Track

Fall 2027 (August 2027)

The Department of Criminology in the College of Social Sciences at California State University, Fresno is seeking applicants for a tenure-track position, at the rank of Assistant Professor. They will teach both undergraduate and graduate students, conduct scholarly and applied research, and engage in service-related activities. Other duties will include but are not limited to advising and mentoring criminology and forensic behavioral sciences majors, participating in program development, actively engaging in research and problem-solving activities, grant writing, and committee service at all levels of university governance. Specific assignments will be dependent on department needs.

Substantive teaching and research areas are open; however, the Department of Criminology is specifically looking for candidates who can contribute to our Law Enforcement and/or Victimology options. Specific areas of interest within these options are open. Successful candidates must be able to teach in our existing curriculum.

Our students: California State University, Fresno is committed to serving our students with a focus on inclusion. Fresno State has been recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI); an Asian American/Native American/Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI); and has been designated to the Community Engagement Classification and the Leadership for Public Purpose Classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Qualifications:

Required Education (from an accredited institution or foreign equivalent):

1. An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in criminology, criminal justice, or closely related social science discipline OR
2. Applicants nearing completion of the doctorate (ABD) may be considered; however, for appointment, the doctorate must be completed by August 1, 2027.

Note: Candidates with only a J.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D. are not eligible for this position.

Required Experience:

1. Ability to teach core curriculum courses. Candidates are strongly encouraged to review our department's catalog page to review course requirements for CRIM majors: https://catalog.fresnostate.edu/preview_entity.php?catoid=6&ent_oid=556

Preferred Qualifications:

1. A record of excellence in teaching at the university level (experience as a graduate teaching assistant is acceptable)
2. A record of scholarly presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and research experience/knowledge in areas related to law enforcement and/or victimology consistent with the candidate's years of experience
3. Demonstrated research experience in the aforementioned areas of specialization that may be applied to criminological and/or criminal justice issues at the local, state, national, and/or international level
4. Show ability or promise to include and supervise student research

 Application Procedures:

Review of applications will begin on 9/07/2026. Applications received after this date may be considered until the positions are filled. These position automatically closes on March 31, 2027. Note: All positions at Fresno State are subject to funding availability.

Apply online at:  https://careers.fresnostate.edu/

For full consideration, apply online at https://careers.fresnostate.edu/ by September 06, 2026

Attach the following:

1. Letter of interest or cover letter specifically addressing which of the two areas (Law Enforcement or Victimology) you are applying for and describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications described above. If you believe you could contribute to more than one of the options, please express this in your letter
2. Current curriculum vitae
3. A scholarly writing sample 
4. Names and contact information of three professional references

Candidates invited for an on-campus visit must submit the following within the designated deadline.  The Search Chair will send information and requests for these items:

1. Three current letters of recommendation (dated within 12 months of full consideration date)
2. Official transcripts

A research presentation is a required component of the on-campus interview process.

Committee Information and Search process:

For Summer inquiries:
       Chadley James, Ph.D. 
       chadleyj@csufresno.edu 

Search Chair:       
       Dr. Jordan Pickering
       Department of Criminology
       Email: jpickering@mail.fresnostate.edu

About Fresno State

California State University, Fresno is an engaged University. We focus on broadening students' intellectual horizons, fostering lifelong learning skills, developing the leaders of tomorrow, promoting community involvement, and instilling an appreciation of world cultures. We nurture cultural competence by celebrating the rich diversity of the campus community and welcoming the participation of all. Members of the University community are expected to work effectively with faculty, staff, and students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The campus is ranked 2nd in the nation by Washington Monthly for tuition (and tax) dollars; ranked No. 31 for social mobility in U.S. News and World Report's 2025 Best Colleges rankings; and received a 4.5-star rating on a 5-star scale in Money's 2025 Best Colleges list.

Tenure-Track Faculty members gain a clear path to tenure through the University's Probationary Plan Process.  For additional information, please visit:   www.fresnostate.edu/academics/facultyaffairs/procedures/facultyrtp/.  We value our commitment to the success of our faculty by providing services from the Center for Faculty Excellence to Research and Sponsored Programs.

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.  The anticipated hiring range is $6,221-$6,751 per month for an Assistant Professor (12 monthly payments per academic year).  As a member of the 23-campus CSU System, we offer an extremely competitive benefits package.

Territorial Acknowledgement:

The Fresno State campus sits in the midst of the San Joaquin Valley, a valley rich in the traditions and representation of Native American peoples and cultures. We are grateful to be in the traditional homelands of the Yokuts and Mono peoples, whose diverse tribal communities share stewardship over this land. 

Other Campus Information:

In compliance with the Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, California State University, Fresno has made crime-reporting statistics available to applicants, students, and employees online at www.fresnostate.edu/police/clery/index.shtml.  Print copies are available by request from the Campus Police Department.

Any offer of employment may be withdrawn, or employment may be terminated based upon the results of the background investigation.

The person holding this position is considered a "limited 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. You can obtain a copy of this Executive order by accessing the following website: http://www.calstate.edu/eo/EO-1083.html.

California State University, Fresno is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click http://fresnostate.edu/adminserv/smokefree/index.html

California State University, Fresno is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer consistent with CSU's Nondiscrimination Policy, as well as state and federal law. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status.   Fresno State's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring, and retention. We are proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer.

Out of State Employment
Per CSU-wide policy (HR2021-04), all faculty who will begin initial employment (or return from a 12-month break in service) on or after January 1, 2022, are required to perform their work from within the State of California. Faculty hired prior to January 1, 2022, must be available to perform work in the State of California if their assignment is in-person. Faculty assignments include in-person duties that require an on-campus presence.

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The systemwide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/

Education Code 89521 Requirements:
Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended.  Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant's current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Fresno State's ability to sponsor employment-based visas will depend on institutional priorities, budget availability, and current federal regulations. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States.