Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor Position
School/Department Name: School of Social Work
Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range for Assistant Professor: $92,000 - $99,000 [to be confirmed by the Dean].
Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.
Target Start Date: August 19, 2026
Application Deadline: First review due date is January 31, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled or closed.
Position Description
The School of Social Work at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for a full-time, tenure-line position in generalist and advanced generalist social work practice with diverse populations beginning August 2026. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in children, youth, and families (including child welfare), macro social work, and/or a passion for teaching at the bachelors level. However, candidates with a specialization in any of the following curriculum areas are encouraged to apply: practice, research, theory, human behavior, policy, and/or related areas. Candidates should also have research and/or practice experience relevant to artificial intelligence, health technology, and/or health equity. Given our Transcultural Perspective and mission focusing on serving marginalized and oppressed populations, as well as history of community-partnered applied research and practice, and interprofessional engagement, we are seeking candidates with experience and a research agenda relevant to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
This is an opportunity to join a dynamic, successful, and diverse School community of students, staff, and faculty. The School of Social Work at San José State University has over 50 years of history and has been continuously accredited of its BASW and MSW programs from the Council on Social Work Education. Our MSW program offers 2-year full-time, 3-year evening-only, and online/hybrid options, as well as certificate, credential, and workforce development opportunities. The School is currently responsible for over $30 million of grants, stipends, and scholarships, and offers training programs for workforce development, including areas of Adult Protective Services, Public Behavioral Services, Integrated Behavioral Services, Pupil Personnel Services Credential, Wellness Coaches, and other specific interests. Distinct among social work programs is our nationally recognized Transcultural Perspective, our diversity model, which is woven throughout the curriculum to honor cultural strengths, enhance well-being, and promote social justice.
While social work programs share commitments to diversity and equity, our School stands out for its location in one of the most diverse regions in the U.S., strong San Francisco Bay Area community partnerships, and a global outlook that integrates local and international practice. Our faculty combine research expertise with deep community engagement, creating extensive opportunities for students through internships, applied research, and workforce pipelines in areas of practice including child welfare, mental health, health, and aging. www.sjsu.edu/socialwork
The School of Social Work and San José State University value inclusive excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. The university enrolls nearly 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher-scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill-building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.
We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Inclusive Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community—particularly in relation to student success and inclusive education. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines.
Required Qualifications[1]
- A Doctorate in Social Work, Social Welfare, or related field[2] , and an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program;
- Demonstrated expertise in the use of artificial intelligence or health technology in social work (engagement, assessment, intervention, research, etc.);
- Research and scholarship, including publications or potential for publications, a strong research trajectory, extramural funding/potential for funding;
- Teaching experience appropriate to academic specialty; a minimum of two years of social work practice experience, if teaching practice courses
- [3] Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following:
- Demonstrated working knowledge of the trends in the social work profession in the context of diversity, globalization, and environmentalism, including specializations with certain cultural and/or language groups;
- Demonstrated interest in advancing knowledge and practice in artificial intelligence, health technology, and/or health equity;
- An active and well-articulated research agenda, coupled with interest and ability to secure external grant funding;
- Ability to teach in both in-person and online environments;[4]
- Evidence of both BASW and MSW teaching and student mentoring;
- A minimum of two years of teaching experience at the university level;
- Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills;
- Demonstrated ability to be collegial and collaborative.
Key Responsibilities
- Promote the mission of the School of Social Work;
- Design and teach introductory and advanced level courses in social work at the BASW and MSW levels;
- Develop and sustain an ongoing record of research, scholarly, and/or creative activities (RSCA) and other professional engagement;
- Participate in admissions and advising;
- Attend meetings and perform committee and other service at the department, college, and university levels;
- Participate in curriculum development to meet the needs of the program and its diverse student population;
- Participate in the activities and preparation needed to maintain accreditation;
- The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments;
- Faculty shall organize all their classes within Canvas Learning Management System (LMS);
- The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies and advisement.
Other Duties
Note that all San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution.
Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned and required based on their role (e.g., Data Security, FERPA, Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities of the campus to continue.
Application Procedure
Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents [departments may specify length of items below (e.g. 2 pages)]:
- letter of interest (500 words maximum)
- curriculum vitae
- statement of teaching interests/philosophy (500 words maximum)
- research plans (500 words maximum)
- Three references with contact information or three references we may contact for letters
- Inquiries may be directed to:
Dr. Soma Sen, Professor and Assistant Director, School of Social Work (soma.sen@sjsu.edu)
Dr. Peter Allen Lee, Director and Professor, School of Social Work (peter.a.lee@sjsu.edu)
Conditional Offer
The work for this faculty position may only be performed in the State of California and requires establishing an on-campus presence. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which 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 employee who was conditionally offered the position.
San José State University: Silicon Valley's Public University
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — one of the most innovative regions in the world — San José State University is the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a leading transformative educational institution, San José State is an essential partner in the technological, economic, cultural, and social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California. SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge research, world-class scholarship, student-centered learning, diverse communities, and commitment to social justice, allow SJSU to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good locally and globally.
Equal Employment Statement
San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion, Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff as well as University programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.
Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.
Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is available at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.