Phd In Political Science Jobs in Massachusetts (NOW HIRING)

The Department of Political Science & Legal Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences at Suffolk University invites applications for a full-time tenure track Assistant Professor position in our Undergraduate Law program beginning July 1, 2027. We are seeking a teacher-scholar with a teaching and research program focused on equity and inclusion in the law that may include a specialization in contracts, family law, domestic violence, employment law, intellectual property, legal research and writing, immigration law, or related fields of the law.
Candidates should provide evidence of commitment to excellent teaching and scholarly potential. The Undergraduate Law Program prepares students for law school and careers as non-lawyer legal professionals. The Department includes undergraduate majors in Political Science, International Relations and Undergraduate Law, a Paralegal Studies Certificate and Associate Degree Program (for Non-Lawyer Legal Professionals) as well as Master of Arts degrees in Applied Public Policy and Global Public Policy. Preference will be given to those who have experience teaching legal research and writing and working with paralegals and/or supervising legal staff. Candidates should be able to contribute to the college's core curriculum. In addition to demonstrating excellence in teaching and research, the successful candidate is expected to advise and mentor undergraduate students, and engage in service with the department, college and university. The workload for this position is 45% teaching, 35% research, and 20% service with a 5-course teaching load per year.
Suffolk's Political Science & Legal Studies Department's faculty are teacher scholars with a strong commitment to student development by providing high quality instruction to a diverse student body. Faculty in the department are award-winning teachers recognized for innovative pedagogical practices, community leaders civically engaged in advancing social justice, internationally recognized policy and political consultants and active researchers and scholars. Initiatives such as Suffolk Votes, the non-partisan university-wide initiative to raise political awareness and impact by increasing student voter participation, reflect the department's key role in Suffolk's Community Engagement Carnegie Classification. Department faculty take advantage of our location in the heart of Boston to design exciting real-world learning opportunities at the Court House and the State House. Close connections with Suffolk Law School, which has top-ranked skills clinics, provide students in the Undergraduate Law program with rich pre-professional opportunities as does our thriving Center for Restorative Justice.
The successful candidate will contribute to a rich tradition of community-engaged teaching and experiential education that prepares our diverse, substantially first-generation college students-40% of whom are Pell eligible-for careers and civic engagement. The successful candidate will have a commitment to inclusive pedagogy and curricular diversity, mentoring and advising students-especially first-generation college students-as well as conducting impactful research. We seek candidates excited about centering best practices pedagogy focused on active, applied and experiential learning in their teaching; a commitment to ongoing and continuous improvement in teaching is expected. Familiarity with and experience using pedagogical methods that enable students across racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and ability groups to reach their maximum potential is a valuable qualification.
Candidates must hold a JD (combination JD and PhD in a relevant field also invited) by July 2027. Experience teaching undergraduates is preferred.
Completed submissions must include: cover letter; CV; law school transcript; statement of Teaching Philosophy; Diversity Statement; a statement of research interests and agenda; if the candidate has teaching experience, the last two active semesters of student course evaluations; and three names of reference. For full consideration, applications should be submitted by November 1, 2026, though applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Initial interviews will be via Zoom followed by on-campus interviews.
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Learn more about CAS faculty here. To learn more about the Political Science & Legal Studies Department visit our website. Inquiries about the position should be addressed to Search Chair Stephanie Jirard, Political Science & Legal Studies Department, at stephanie.jirard@suffolk.edu.
The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $105,000.
Salary Transparency
Suffolk University provides salary ranges as a good faith estimate of what it reasonably expects to pay for a role at the time the position is posted. The actual salary offered to the selected candidate will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to, the position's scope and responsibilities, the candidate's experience, education, training, and applicable legal requirements. The listed pay range reflects base salary only and does not include additional benefits or compensation.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Suffolk University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. The University strives to recruit, develop and retain faculty and staff committed to educational excellence, the robust exchange of ideas, and engage in membership in a diverse and inclusive community.