California State University, Fresno
College of Arts & Humanities
Department of Philosophy
http://fresnostate.edu/artshum/
Philosophy and Law
Assistant Professor
Tenure Track
Fall 2026 (August 2026)
The Department of Philosophy at California State University, Fresno invites applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position beginning Fall 2026. Our new colleague will teach undergraduate courses in our Pre-Law curriculum, advise students (with their major and as they prepare for law school), supervise student research, conduct and publish research, develop curriculum, and facilitate community outreach. We seek an individual who is enthusiastic about working cooperatively with faculty and staff in the Philosophy Department, the College of Arts and Humanities, and departments campuswide that are associated with the Pre-Law program. Areas of Specialization (AOS): Philosophy and Law; Area of Competence (AOC): Epistemology and/or Logic; the successful candidate will be able to teach epistemology, critical thinking, and logic.
Faculty typically teach 12 WTUs (four courses) per semester. Faculty may apply for assigned time course reductions to support scholarly and/or creative activities. The current faculty contract provides for a course release each semester for the faculty member’s first two years. Release time normally accompanies leadership positions. In summary, the successful candidate will teach and develop courses; advise and mentor students with respect to both their major (whether Philosophy, Pre-Law, or Religious Studies) and their law school preparation; conduct scholarly research; serve on department, college, and university committees; engage in community service; and actively participate in Philosophy Department activities and programming.
Our students: California State University, Fresno is committed to serving our students with a focus on inclusion. Fresno State has been recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI); an Asian American/Native American/Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI); and has been designated to the Community Engagement Classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Qualifications:
Required Education (from an accredited institution or foreign equivalent):
- An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in Philosophy or a closely related discipline from an accredited (or equivalent) institution.
- Applicants nearing completion of the doctorate (ABD) may be considered; however, for appointment, the doctorate must be completed by August 1, 2026.
Required Experience:
- Commitment to and preparedness for teaching in philosophy of law, critical thinking, logic, and epistemology.
- Commitment to and preparedness for advising and mentoring pre-law students.
- A record of distinguished scholarship in philosophy and law commensurate with years of experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Excellence in teaching philosophy, broadly construed.
- Excellence in teaching students with various learning needs, especially with respect to the student body found at Fresno State.
- Excellence in service, especially with respect to advising students.
- Potential for excellence in scholarship as demonstrated in a rich research agenda, especially with respect to philosophy and law, as well as any additional research interests.
- Interest in developing special curricular programs for advanced pre-law students, such as a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics program or something similar.
Application Procedures:
Review of applications will begin on January 12, 2026. The committee may choose to review applications submitted after this date. All positions automatically close on March 31, 2026. Note: All positions at Fresno State are subject to funding availability.
Apply online at: https://careers.fresnostate.edu/
Attach the following:
- Letter of interest or cover letter specifically addressing required experience and preferred qualifications as well as your interest in teaching Fresno State students.
- Current curriculum vitae.
- Names and contact information of three professional references.
- A statement about your approach to teaching and advising in the position fields and examples of your own experience, skills, and evolution in teaching practices–not to exceed two pages.
- A representative example of your scholarship.
- One sample syllabus, ideally for a course in Philosophy and Law. Applicants invited for phone or video interviews may be asked to provide additional syllabi (for example, in epistemology, logic, or critical thinking).
Additional information may be requested.
Candidates invited for an on-campus visit must submit by mail/e-mail within the designated deadline. The Search Chair will send information and requests for these items:
- Three current letters of recommendation (dated within 12 months of full consideration date.)
- Official transcripts
Committee Information:
Search Chair: Dr. James Rocha
jamesr@mail.fresnostate.edu
Department of Philosophy,
California State University, Fresno
About the Program:
Fresno State’s Pre-Law Option is within the Philosophy B.A. and is housed in the Department of Philosophy and the College of Arts and Humanities. While many of the Option’s students attend law school after graduation, numerous students also pursue law-related jobs after obtaining their B.A. without seeking a JD. Faculty also serve students within the California Law Pathways and the Central Valley Scholars Law Pathway.
About the Department:
The Department of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Humanities at California State University, Fresno State offers a B.A. degree with Options in Philosophy, Pre-Law, and Religious Studies. These options are firmly integrated in that they all share a core of courses in which students from each Option are required to enroll. It houses the interdisciplinary Peace and Conflict Studies Program, the newly endowed M. K. Gandhi Center: Inner Peace and Sarvodaya, and an Endowed Chair in Jain and Hindu Dharma. The Department is a collegial group of faculty who are committed to diverse philosophical and humanistic approaches and traditions and welcomes applications to join our group. Further information can be found at our website: https://cah.fresnostate.edu/philosophy/index.html
About Fresno State
California State University, Fresno is an engaged University. We focus on broadening students' intellectual horizons, fostering lifelong learning skills, developing the leaders of tomorrow, promoting community involvement, and instilling an appreciation of world cultures. We nurture cultural competence by celebrating the rich diversity of the campus community and welcoming the participation of all. Members of the University community are expected to work effectively with faculty, staff, and students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The campus is ranked 2nd in the nation by Washington Monthly for tuition (and tax) dollars; ranked No. 31 for social mobility in U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings; and received a 4.5-star rating on a 5-star scale in Money’s 2025 Best Colleges list.
Tenure-Track Faculty members gain a clear path to tenure through the University's Probationary Plan Process. For additional information, please visit: www.fresnostate.edu/academics/facultyaffairs/procedures/facultyrtp/. We value our commitment to the success of our faculty by providing services from the Center for Faculty Excellence to Research and Sponsored Programs.
Commensurate with qualifications and experience the anticipated hiring salary is $6,250-$6,500 per month for Assistant Professor (12 monthly payments per academic year). As a member of the 23-campus CSU System, we offer an extremely competitive benefits package. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.
Territorial Acknowledgement:
The Fresno State campus sits in the midst of the San Joaquin Valley, a valley rich in the traditions and representation of Native American peoples and cultures. We are grateful to be in the traditional homelands of the Yokuts and Mono peoples, whose diverse tribal communities share stewardship over this land.
Other Campus Information:
In compliance with the Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, California State University, Fresno has made crime-reporting statistics available to applicants, students, and employees online at www.fresnostate.edu/police/clery/index.shtml. Print copies are available by request from the Campus Police Department.
Any offer of employment may be withdrawn, or employment may be terminated based upon the results of the background investigation.
The person holding this position is considered a "limited 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 Revised July 21, 2017 as a condition of employment. You can obtain a copy of this Executive order by accessing the following website: http://www.calstate.edu/eo/EO-1083.html.
California State University, Fresno is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click http://fresnostate.edu/adminserv/smokefree/index.html
California State University, Fresno is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer consistent with CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy, as well as state and federal law. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status. Fresno State's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring, and retention. We are proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer.
Out of State Employment
Per CSU-wide policy (HR2021-04), all faculty who will begin initial employment (or return from a 12-month break in service) on or after January 1, 2022, are required to perform their work from within the State of California. Faculty hired prior to January 1, 2022, must be available to perform work in the State of California if their assignment is in-person.
The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The systemwide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/
Fresno State’s ability to sponsor employment-based visas will depend on institutional priorities, budget availability, and current federal regulations. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States.