DATE POSTED: 8/20/2025

The Social and Behavioral Sciences Concentration at Soka University of America (SUA) invites applications for a Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology, beginning August 1, 2026. This position has a two-year term. We seek a psychological scientist with training and research in basic or applied psychology.
The successful candidate will demonstrate their ability to excite and engage classes of 16 or fewer students, to develop a productive program of research and scholarship, and to engage in service. The position favors candidates with an interest in interdisciplinary teaching and research.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must hold a PhD in Psychology or a doctoral degree in a psychology-related discipline by the time of employment.
Candidates should demonstrate responsiveness toward and understanding of diverse student backgrounds, especially regarding socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, culture, ability/disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to the university’s mission to develop global citizens. Having the ability and willingness to work collegially is essential, as is an understanding of our interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum.

As part of a five-course annual teaching load between August 1st and May 31st, the successful applicant will normally teach up to four courses in psychology, including Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Disorders, and Personality Psychology, as well as up to two courses in our interdisciplinary general education program, for example, Core 100, Core 200, Modes of Inquiry, and/or Learning Cluster (see our Undergraduate Catalog.)
The selected candidate will demonstrate a strong background in teaching and scholarship as well as evidence of ongoing research activity. They should describe a plan to maintain an active research program involving undergraduates. SUA provides resources to support faculty research year-round through institutional research funds and with undergraduate student research assistantships. All SUA graduates complete a Capstone (senior thesis), and applicants should demonstrate their ability to mentor student Capstones.