Assistant Professor of Literature and Writing Studies

CSU Careers | CSU

Rank: Assistant Professor
Department: Literature and Writing Studies
Starting Date: Fall 2027

The Literature and Writing Studies Department at California State University San Marcos seeks to hire a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the field of Writing, Rhetoric, and Composition, with expertise in related fields. We are looking for a colleague who will work closely with our department’s General Education Writing (GEW) Program while also making contributions to our Literature & Writing Studies curriculum. The candidate will have the opportunity to partner with the current GEW Director in overseeing and researching particular aspects of the GEW Program. Service opportunities may also include working with faculty across CSUSM to administer the all-campus writing requirement, coordinating with campus partners such as the CSUSM Writing Center and Library, mentoring master’s-level graduate students, and chairing graduate theses. Depending on expertise and interest, the candidate will have the opportunity to rotate in and out of the GEW Program Director position and make other contributions to Literature & Writing Studies department leadership. Tenure track faculty at CSUSM teach three 3-unit courses per semester.   Located in North County San Diego, CSUSM is a diverse Hispanic and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution committed to access, community engagement, and innovative teaching. CSUSM has been ranked #1 in social mobility by CollegeNET.   Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Writing, Rhetoric, and Composition or a related field (ABD applicants accepted; PhD conferral required by hire date). Applicants whose degree is in a related field should explain how their doctoral training prepares them to contribute to a Literature and Writing Studies program and meet the responsibilities of the position.
• Qualified candidates will have engaged in scholarly work related to one or more of the areas described above.

  Preferred Qualifications

• An interest in first-year writing instruction and writing program administration, we seek a colleague who will contribute to the larger Literature & Writing Studies department’s undergraduate and graduate programs.
• We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in cultural and/or decolonial rhetorics (which might include Native American and Indigenous rhetorics, Chicanx and Latinx rhetorics, African American rhetorics, Asian and Pacific American rhetorics, or comparative rhetorics), civic rhetoric, visual culture, film studies, creative writing, or related fields.

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $7,438 - $7,667 per month

CSU Classification Salary Range: $6,221- $13,224 per month

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the CSUSM Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• CV
• Cover Letter (2 pages max)
• Teaching Philosophy (1 page max)
• One sample first-year writing syllabus
• One sample syllabus for a course you would like to develop for our LTWR major
• Contact information for three references

Additional materials may be requested before the interview. Review of applications will begin November 02, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. 

CSUSM is currently not sponsoring applicants for H-1B employment that are subject to the $100,000 fee established by the “Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” issued on September 19, 2025. Applicants are responsible for determining the applicability of the fee. 

CSUSM has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and was recently named one of the top 32 Colleges most friendly to junior faculty by the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education. Visit Faculty Opportunities for more information.  

California State University San Marcos is an Equal Opportunity Employer strongly committed to promoting diversity in all areas of the campus community.  We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, physical or mental disability, gender or sex, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion or religious creed, sexual orientation and veteran or military status.  

Per the California State University’s Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is prohibited from hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California. Working in the State of California is a condition of employment.   

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.  

This position is subject to employment verification, education verification, reference checks and criminal record checks. An offer of appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, including a criminal records check, 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.  

Education Code 89521 Requirements: 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. 

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act or Clery Act Notification can be found at Clery Act Notification.