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Department Of History and Politics for Jewish Studies

Faculty Employment Opportunity - Lecturer

Sonoma State University's beautiful 274-acre campus is located in Sonoma County wine country, an hour north of San Francisco. The campus offers the ideal setting for teaching and learning and access to a community of rich cultural, environmental, and recreational opportunities. Founded in 1960, SSU is one of the 22 campuses of the California State University System. As members of the largest public higher education system in the nation, we provide accessible, high-quality education.

The Department

The Minor in Jewish Studies, housed in the Dept. of History and Politics, offers students from any major on the SSU campus a cross-disciplinary concentration in the study of Jewish religion, culture, and people. Jewish Studies is by its very nature an interdisciplinary field of study, blending courses from a wide range of academic disciplines and perspectives. For a minor in Jewish studies, students must take three core courses and eight additional elective units of courses from at least two different areas of study.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to see the department's web page at: history.sonoma.edu

Duties of the Position

Teach JWST 200, Introduction to Jewish Studies. This is an interdisciplinary survey course that introduces students to the culture, literature, history, philosophy, religion, and academic traditions of Jewish people from antiquity to the present. In this course, we will analyze how Jewish people have deployed a wide range of intellectual discourse to gain an understanding of the meaning of their identify as Jews. The course will also provide a historical overview of the Jewish Diaspora, from the Middle East to Africa to Europe to the Americas. The readings and class discussions will divide into three parts covering the ancient, medieval, and modern periods.

The successful candidate will design and deliver lectures and discussion-based learning activities, assign and assess written work and examinations, and provide timely and constructive feedback to support student learning. They must also work effectively, respectfully, and collaboratively in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings, and will be prepared to join faculty, staff, students, and administrators in the University's shared commitment to ethical inquiry, civic engagement, social responsibility, and global awareness.

The course fulfills General Education requirement 3B - Humanities, and is expected to emphasize foundational historical skills, including critical reading of primary and secondary sources, analytical writing, and other related skills.

Required Qualifications

To be recommended for appointment, the candidate must have: 

A PhD in History, Jewish Studies, or related fields. ABD PhD candidates will also be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

See above, but experience teaching Jewish studies courses or similar course is preferred.

Rank and Salary

Full-time is a 15-unit workload per semester. Actual salary is dependent upon the number of units assigned, educational preparation, and availability of funds subject to any CSU system faculty contract salary increases.

• Salary commensurate with degree level and experience.
• Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $5,507 - $6,677 per full-time month.
• The full-time (15 units per semester) monthly base salary range indicated above is prorated to the number of units worked and are paid in six monthly payments for each full semester.
• Selection as a candidate in the applicant pool, does not guarantee employment. Temporary Faculty appointments are made on a part-time, temporary basis and contingent upon department needs and funding.
• Temporary Faculty appointments are made on a semester-by-semester basis.
• Relocation expenses will not be provided for temporary faculty appointments.
• Expenses incurred to attend an interview for temporary faculty positions are not reimbursed by the University.

Required Application Materials

• Cover letter indicating courses for which you would like to be considered
• Curriculum vitae
• Unofficial transcripts (Official transcripts may be required of the selected candidate)
• Teaching Philosophy
• Student Evaluations
• Contact Information for 3 References

Application procedures for temporary faculty already teaching in the department:

• Temporary Faculty with three-year appointments do not need to reapply.
• Temporary Faculty who had a paid appointment during the prior academic year with your department (either one or both semesters); this includes Lecturers on the Re-Employment list are not required to apply through the Recruitment Pool unless they would like to be evaluated to teach additional courses, not currently designated as qualified to teach.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, go to jobs.sonoma.edu and click on the Staff & Faculty Career Opportunities link. Find and select the faculty position you are applying for to view the description and select Apply Now. If you have not previously applied, you will be prompted to create an account. You can use this account to apply to multiple positions. Once you have submitted the application, a confirmation email will be automatically sent to you. Please do not send materials to facultysearch@sonoma.edu. If you encounter difficulties during the application process, please email facultysearch@sonoma.edu

Contact Information

Questions concerning the application process may be directed to: facultysearch@sonoma.edu

Questions concerning this position may be directed to:

Department Chair Name - Samuel Cohen

Department Chair Email - samuel.cohen@sonoma.edu

Please refer to the requisition job number on all correspondence and inquiries regarding this position.

The ADA Coordinator is also available (hraccomodations@sonoma.edu) to assist individuals with disabilities in need of accommodation during the hiring process.

Sonoma State University is a federally-designated Hispanic Serving Institution, as such we are committed to achieving the goals of equal opportunity and we endeavor to employ faculty and staff reflecting the linguistic, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the region and state. 

Guided by our core values as a university: diversity, sustainability, community engagement, and adaptability, Sonoma State University (SSU) offers an education that fosters intellectual, social, and personal growth. SSU is a public liberal arts and sciences university. As the only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges in the state of California, we are committed to preparing students for a life of active citizenship and public service. We have a vibrant campus life characterized by a lively co-curriculum that fosters broad-based intellectual and artistic opportunities in which the campus as a whole is actively engaged.

Sonoma State University is committed to creating a community in which bias and intolerance have no place.  It is our expectation that all students, faculty, and staff work together to honor this commitment and hold each other accountable to create an open and inclusive environment.

We are committed to facilitating spaces in which all can grow by building on our students' assets as they explore new knowledge. These efforts include fostering creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, experimentation, empathy, and communication. The successful candidate will be one who can collaborate with faculty, staff, administration, and students to achieve these goals. We are especially interested in candidates committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Equal Opportunity & Mandated Reporting

The University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. 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. Mandated Reporting: This position may be 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 as a condition of employment.

Employment Eligibility & Conditions

CSU Out of State Policy - Sonoma State University, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California. As of January 1, 2022 the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California. A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current employees who apply for this position.

Sonoma State University hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. All offers of employment are contingent upon presentation of documents demonstrating the appointee's identity and eligibility to work, in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Sonoma State University does not facilitate the process of applying for an H1B Visa for temporary positions.

Education Code 89521

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.

Annual Reports & Safety Information

Sonoma State University's Annual Security Report includes summaries of institutional policy relating to campus safety, drug and alcohol use, sexual assault, and other matters. The report is published in compliance with the Clery Act and includes three years of certain crime statistics that occurred in Clery Act defined geography. A paper copy of the report may be requested in person by emailing the Clery Compliance and Safety Office at clery@sonoma.edu.

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