Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in The Department of Sociology & Criminology

About the job

Details

The Department of Sociology & Criminology at the University of Utah invites applications for a career-line faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor (Lecturer) to begin July 1, 2027. We seek an outstanding educator who demonstrates excellence in teaching, commitment to student engagement, and pedagogical innovation. Candidates should be able to teach courses that contribute to the department’s population and health program area.

Preferred candidates will be able to teach in one or more of the following areas:

• Medical Sociology

• Sociology of Mental Health

• Social Epidemiology

• Health and Social Policy

• Families in Society

• Population Studies, including Demographic Methods

• Technology, Social Media, Health and Wellbeing

• Artificial Intelligence, Society & Human Relationships

The successful candidate will teach in one or more of these areas in addition to generalist sociology courses, such as Introduction to Sociology, Research Methods, or Social Theory.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Sociology by start date. PhD in closely allied disciplines such as Criminology or Demography will be considered.

• Demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching

• Evidence of pedagogical innovation and student engagement

• Ability to teach population and health courses and core sociology courses

Department, University, and Surrounding Area

The University of Utah, a Research-1 institution and member of the Association of American Universities, is the flagship institution of higher education in Utah. The Department of Sociology and Criminology awards BA/BS in Sociology, BA/BS in Criminology, Master of Statistics, and PhD degrees, and plans to launch an MS in Criminology in the near future. At the undergraduate level, it serves approximately 900 undergraduate students across the Criminology and Sociology majors; these majors are some of the most diverse at the University of Utah. The department also has a well-regarded doctoral program. Located in Salt Lake City, a dynamic, growing metropolitan area of 1.3 million people, the University community has unparalleled opportunities for intellectual growth, collaboration, and public engagement. Along with countless hiking trails and multiple ski resorts within minutes (and eight national parks within hours) of campus, the city of Salt Lake is home to a major international airport with direct flights to numerous U.S. and international destinations. In 2023, the Human Rights Campaign scored Salt Lake City a perfect 100 on its Municipal Equality Index (https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/MEI-2023-Salt-Lake-City-Utah-1.pdf).

Notice

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

[

https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/

](https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/)

This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

Special Instructions for Candidates

Application Instructions. Please submit the following:

• Cover Letter highlighting the candidate’s professional experience, teaching experience and philosophy, and fit for the department and position

• Curriculum Vitae

• Statement of Teaching Philosophy

• Syllabi and teaching evaluations from all teaching assignments in the past 3 years

• Two Letters of Recommendation

Review of applications will begin January 15, 2027, and continue until the position is filled. Please address any inquiries regarding the position to Dr. Megan Reynolds (megan.reynolds@soc.utah.edu). For technical assistance or questions about the application process, contact Kari Moore (kari.moore@utah.edu).