Comparative Literature Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Department of English, Comparative Literature, and Linguistics
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Assistant Professor 
Fall 2027

The Department of English, Comparative Literature, and Linguistics at California State University, Fullerton, invites applications for a tenuretrack Assistant Professor position in Asian American Literature with an appointment to begin Fall, 2027.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment
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, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) 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. CSUF 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.

In addition, California State University, Fullerton is a leading public university known for its strong academic programs and commitment to student success. As one of the largest campuses in the CSU system, Cal State Fullerton fosters innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. The university values teaching, research, and service, creating an environment where students, staff, and faculty can thrive. Cal State Fullerton is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The university also received the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in 2021 and 2024 from Excelencia in Education, the nation's leading authority on Latinx student success. Cal State Fullerton is an equal opportunity employer with a diverse student population of over 45,000 and a faculty and staff population of 4,000. Cal State Fullerton is firmly committed to helping students achieve academic excellence, career success, and economic mobility. Joining Cal State Fullerton means becoming part of a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful impact. We continuously seek individuals from various disciplines who share the university's mission and core values. We welcome you to consider joining the Titan community. 

CSUF is committed to retaining all faculty and has established affinity groups you can join to support your success.

Position
The Department of English, Comparative Literature, and Linguistics at California State University, Fullerton, invites applications for a tenure-track position as an Assistant Professor of Asian American literature with a desired ability to also teach courses in children's literature or creative writing. The appointment will begin in Fall 2027. CSUF is dedicated to the goal of continuing to build a diverse community of scholars and learners and strongly encourages applications from candidates who can demonstrate through their teaching, research, or service that they can contribute to the diversity and excellence of our community.

For this tenure-track position in Asian American literature, scholars with comparative or transnational approaches are especially encouraged to apply. We are particularly interested in scholars with additional expertise in teaching creative writing or children's literature, and with tertiary teaching expertise in contemporary literatures, comparative literatures, and/or feminist/women's literature. The appointee will be expected to teach a wide range of courses in all areas of the English major, both at the upper-division and graduate (M.A.) levels, as well as lower-division, introductory, and general education courses. Teaching assignments may include courses in Asian American Literature, Asian Literature, survey courses in American or Comparative Literature, and/or courses in children's literature or creative writing. Faculty generally teach 3 to 4 classes per semester. A reduced teaching load is provided for the first two years. Evidence of an active research program and high-quality teaching is required. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the department, advise students, serve on committees, and participate in the broader university and disciplinary communities.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in English, Comparative Literature, or a related field with an emphasis in Asian American Literature or a related field is required by August 2027. ABDs must show evidence of degree completion prior to appointment.
• Ability to balance excellent teaching, scholarship, and service.
• Evidence of successful, high-quality teaching.
• Active research program with demonstrated evidence of, or clear potential for, high-quality peer-reviewed publication.
• Potential for collegial participation in departmental, campus, and disciplinary communities.
• Demonstrated commitment to working successfully with a diverse student population.
• A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in teaching children's literature or creative writing.
• Tertiary emphasis in contemporary literature, queer literatures, feminist or women's literatures.

Application
A complete online application must be received by electronic submission to be considered. To apply, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/workforce/careers.html, choose full-time faculty, search for the position 560855, and provide the following required materials:

• letter of interest
• curriculum vitae
• writing sample of no more than 25 pages
• a brief statement (500 words) addressing your past or potential contributions to diversity and inclusive excellence through research, teaching, and/or service:
  • Inclusive excellence is a strategic framework that recognizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in achieving organizational success and high-quality learning and teaching. It's a way of thinking and acting that integrates these values into all aspects of an institution, from curriculum and pedagogy to recruitment and hiring. Essentially, it means that excellence is not just about achieving high standards, but also about ensuring that all members of the community have the opportunity to thrive and contribute (Williams et al., 2005).
  • With the Inclusive Excellence Statement, we aim to learn about the applicant's perspective on their past and present contributions to and future aspirations for promoting and engaging with a diverse student population. This statement should showcase the candidate's professional experience, intellectual commitments, and/or willingness to teach and create an academic environment supportive of all students, including but not limited to those of diverse ages, abilities, cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, languages, religions, and sexual orientations.
  • Cal State Fullerton serves a student body that reflects the rich cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic mosaic of Southern California. Please provide concrete examples of how you, as a faculty member, will support our students in one or more of the following areas, which fall under the areas of awareness and understanding, experience and commitment, and future plans.
    1. Your contributions (past, present, or future) to embedding perspectives that are reflective of the student population into your teaching and/or scholarship.
    2. Your experience in service activities that are reflective of a diverse student population.
    3. Your experience and commitment to mentoring and providing opportunities to a diverse student body inside and outside the classroom environment. 
    4. Your experience integrating creative activities that are inclusive of the identities of our student body and communities.
• three letters of recommendation (see instructions below)
  • Finalistsmust submit three letters of recommendation. Please have these ready for thereferents to submit. On the References page of the online application, enter information and emailaddresses for three referents who will provide a confidential letter of reference for your application. Atthe appropriate time in the search process, they will receive a request via email along with information onuploading the letter. You can verify that CSUF has received each letter by loggingback into your applicant portal.
• graduate transcripts (unofficial copies are sufficient for initial review)

Please direct all questions about the position to: Dr. Irena Praitis, Chair of the Department of English, Comparative Literature, and Linguistics at ipraitis@fullerton.edu or call 6572783163.

Application Deadline
To be assured full consideration, all application materials must be received by October 1, 2026. The anticipated appointment date is August, 2027. 

The College and Department
The Department of English, Comparative Literature, and Linguistics is one of nineteen departments housed within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The mission of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences is to educate students to be culturally, globally, socially, historically, and environmentally astute, civically responsible alumni able to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is the largest college at Cal State Fullerton, offering 23 undergraduate degrees, 38 minors, and 15 graduate degrees. The 19 departments and programs employ over 450 faculty and 50 staff members serving more than 7,500 students and annually awarding over 2,000 degrees. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences offers students the breadth of a traditional liberal arts education in the humanities and social sciences while preparing them for a wide range of professions. Faculty members in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences are committed teacher/scholars who bring research and creative discovery to life for students in classrooms, labs, and individually mentored projects. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is committed to the University's strategic plan objective to "increase the number of tenured and tenure-track faculty, with a concentrated attention to those from historically underrepresented groups." For more information about the college, please go to http://hss.fullerton.edu/.

Compensation
The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range is $6,221 to $13,224 monthly (12 monthly payments per academic year). The anticipated hiring range is $7,121 to $7,263 per month.

Salary offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work (https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/california_equal_pay_act.htm). 

Summer research grants, moving expenses, startup funds, and a reduced teaching load may be available.

CSUF Benefits
An excellent comprehensive benefits package includes health/vision/dental plans; spouse, domestic partner, and dependent feewaiver; access to campus childcare; and a definedbenefit retirement through the state system and optional tax-sheltering opportunities. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/total-wellness/.

New employees hired by the CSU for the first time who first become CalPERS members on or after July 1, 2017, are subject to a 10-year vesting period for retiree health and dental benefits.

Additional Information
Multiple positions may be hired from this recruitment based on the strength of the applicant pool.

International Candidates
California State University, Fullerton, is not currently sponsoring any new H-1B petitions for staff, management, or faculty positions.

For tenure-track faculty positions, California State University, Fullerton is currently not sponsoring H-1B applicants subject to the $100,000 fee established by the "Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" issued on September 19, 2025. Individuals in the U.S. who hold a valid lawful nonimmigrant status visa can have a petition filed on their behalf to change their status to H-1B without being subjected to the fee. For example, the fee does not apply to an H-1B petition filed by an individual presently in the U.S. who is an F-1, J-1, or O-1 status holder.

CSU Policies
The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any...