Sociology Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Tenure Track Faculty Position
Assistant Professor of Social Work
Department of Sociology
College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
Salary Range: $86,864 - $90,864

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty  position in the Department of Sociology. Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 22-campus California State University system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students participate in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn- by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model.

The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university's nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus's more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 baccalaureate and 29 master's degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 2 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility, and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor's degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. In 2022, the campus launched the Black Thriving Initiative recognizing that Cal Poly Pomona's future as a university is linked to the success of its Black community. More information about our Principles of Community can be found here. 

The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour's drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP.

Student Population: Cal Poly Pomona is the number one polytechnic university in the nation for student diversity and economic mobility. Our caring and inclusive campus community is committed to helping anyone who dreams of success achieve it. In Fall 2024, Cal Poly Pomona served more than 25,000 students and close to 2,000 graduate students, mostly residents of California. Over half of Cal Poly Pomona students are first-generation college students, 70% receive financial aid, and 42% are low-income students. The university enrolls 57% percent of historically underrepresented students. Our diverse student body identifies as 54% Hispanic/Latinx, 21% Asian, 13% White, 4% two or more races, 3% unknown, 2% African American/Black, 2% International, less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native American. Forty-five percent of students enroll in our STEM majors and our top five enrolled programs across the university include mechanical engineering, computer science, civil engineering, psychology, as well as finance, real estate, and law.  

The College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences: Cal Poly Pomona's College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS) brings to life a vibrant hands-on experience through disciplines in the humanities, performing arts, and social sciences. As the heart and soul of the campus, the College's mission is to cultivate one's intellectual development, ethical reasoning, and aesthetic sensibility to support creative and critical thinking in a dynamic world of competing challenges. We are a community diverse in backgrounds, expertise, and thought, committed to improving the human condition and to bettering the world. Our faculty, students, and staff are devoted to creating an inclusive environment where all can thrive through the College's programs, research activities, creative performances, community outreach, and signature experiences. Learn more about the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences and our 12 distinct departments at www.cpp.edu/class.

Department of Sociology: The Department of Sociology currently consists of 17 tenured/tenure track faculty covering two undergraduate majors: General Sociology and Criminology. The department also offers a Sociology degree with a specialty in Social Work, which we are in the process of developing into a CSWE accredited BSW program, with an anticipated launch in Fall 2027.

Our interdisciplinary faculty play a central role in developing students' sociological imaginations and equipping them with analytical skills to examine the complex challenges facing contemporary society. Through expertise in areas including racial and ethnic inequality, education, sport, politics, gender, disability, and policing and punishment, faculty provide students with broad perspectives on social institutions, social problems, and diverse communities. The Department also has a strong tradition of fostering student research and leadership, public scholarship, and campus and community partnerships that support student and faculty professional development and departmental values of equity, belonging, and inclusion. Grounded in a shared commitment to social justice, our faculty prepare students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to pursue meaningful careers and contribute to positive social change.

Position description: Our department's current search is for a tenure-track faculty to teach courses in social work, with a particular interest in candidates whose teaching, research, and practice focuses on micro-level social work. Antiracist and anti-oppressive perspectives are welcomed additional foci. The position requires excellence in teaching, advising, professional and scholarly achievements, and a commitment to service to the department, university, and community. CPP faculty are expected to teach the equivalent of four courses per semester, with junior faculty provided one course release each semester for their first two years. The prospective hire will also play an essential role in developing the Sociology Department's BSW degree and the overall growth of the social work program. Successful candidates will demonstrate sensitivity to issues of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, religion, disability, and sexuality. Candidates are strongly urged to familiarize themselves with our program, department, university, and mission.

Minimum requirements include:

• Ph.D. in Social Work, Sociology or related social sciences field from an accredited university. Doctoral degree must be completed by the start of the appointment;
• Master's in Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE accredited university;
• University teaching experience as instructor of record and/or teaching assistant;
• Three references' names and contact information.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Evidence of ability to teach courses across the Department's curriculum
• Evidence of teaching excellence through student evaluations, examples of pedagogical innovation, and other evidence of a commitment to teaching;
• Evidence of an active scholarly agenda that provides opportunities for student research;
• Evidence of ability to serve as an academic advisor and research mentor to a diverse undergraduate student body;
• Evidence of curriculum and/or program development experience
• 2 years post-MSW practice experience

Application Process:

A completed application will consist of:

• Cover letter in which you describe your interest in the position, relevant experience, and how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications (2 page maximum);
• Curriculum vitae;
• Teaching Philosophy Statement (2-page max) that addresses Cal Poly Pomona's commitment to excellence in education;
• A Research Statement (2-page maximum);
• Unofficial transcripts (undergraduate and graduate);
• Names and contact information for three references.

Semi-finalists for the position will be required to complete a virtual interview.

Finalists for the position will be invited for an in-person interview and are required to:

• Provide official transcripts for highest degree before the on-campus interview;
• Provide three letters of reference
• Make a teaching demonstration and research presentation

Please direct inquiries to Search Committee Chair, Dr. Melissa Barragan at mbarragan@cpp.edu. 

The position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than September 14, 2026.

Applications accepted only via PageUp-online application portal-for University hires.

Disclosures

Education Code 89521 Requirements:

Pursuant to 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.

Background Check: 

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be satisfactorily completed.  Offers of employment are conditional and may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information.  Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Out of State Employment:

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California.  It is also expected that faculty establish an on-campus presence to fulfill their responsibilities.

Mandated Reporter: 

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 as a condition of employment.

International Candidates:

Cal Poly Pomona 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), Cal Poly Pomona 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 avpfa@cpp.edu. We strongly recommend that faculty review their individual circumstances carefully with their personal immigration legal counsel.

Clery Act:
In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), Cal Poly Pomona's Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report are available for viewing at Cal Poly Pomona's Annual Security Report and Cal Poly Pomona's Annual Fire Safety Report.

EEO Statement: 

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Pomona complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California's Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU's Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly Pomona is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty in...