Assistant Teaching Professor in Japanese Language and Culture

Location Type: On-site

 

Position Title:
Assistant Teaching Professor in Japanese Language and Culture

Position Type:
Regular

Salary Range:

• The salary range is $80,008 to $88,883. Offers within that range will be based on years of university teaching experience at the university/college level.
• The position provides generous benefits. https://www.scu.edu/hr/benefits/
• The University has established a rental assistance program for which assistant teaching professors are eligible to apply. For details, please refer to: Rental Assistance

Purpose:

The Department of Modern Languages & Literatures at Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic university, invites applications for a full-time, renewable, non-tenure track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Teaching Professor in Japanese Language and Culture, with a main or secondary specialization in Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition and Pedagogy, translation and interpretation, Japanese for the professions, and/or Cultural Studies. SCU is a welcoming and inclusive community of teaching scholars whose work is grounded in the university’s fundamental values. Those values, which include academic excellence, social justice, and community engagement, are infused with a culture of care that defines our community-upholding the dignity of all. The university draws on the many resources of the greater Bay Area, including Silicon Valley, where we are located.

The successful candidate must demonstrate superior ability to integrate the teaching of language, critical thinking and cultural awareness at all levels of instruction, expertise with proficiency and Standards-based assessment, and creativity in course design and development so as to contribute to our department’s continued efforts to promote global competence in the Jesuit model of education.

The successful candidate will start on September 1, 2026. This is primarily a teaching position, which constitutes 70% of any annual evaluation. The successful candidate will be expected to also engage in professional activity (15%) , and do service (15%) for the department, college, and university. SCU is on the quarter system, The teaching load is seven courses (both lower- and upper-division), distributed across three quarters (e.g. 3-2-2).

Assistant Teaching Professors are appointed for an initial term of three years. Reappointment to subsequent terms of three years depends upon the availability of funds, persistent programmatic need, and superior teaching, service, and professional activity. Promotion to Associate Teaching Professor and then Teaching Professor is possible under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

As with most of the departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures is strictly an undergraduate program. Experience working with diverse groups of students is valued.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The following are required of all candidates:

• Ph.D. in the field of Japanese language and culture with a main or secondary specialization in areas such as applied linguistics, second language acquisition, translation/interpretation, Japanese for the professions, cultural studies or other related areas. ABDs may be considered provided they can show evidence of completion by the starting date.
• Evidence of at least two years of excellence in teaching as instructor of record in Japanese language at the University level
• Demonstrated potential for effective and inclusive teaching and mentoring of a diverse undergraduate student population.
• Demonstrated expertise with communicative-oriented, proficiency-oriented, and standards-based language instruction and assessment
• Native or near native proficiency (oral & written production and comprehension) skills in Japanese and English
• Solid proficiency with digital technologies and social media as they relate to teaching and service
• Evidence of creativity in curriculum innovation as well as demonstrable potential in program development
• Ability to serve as a mentor to students, especially those of diverse backgrounds
• Ability and interest in enhancing students’ learning experience outside of the classroom, including organizing cultural events, academic presentations, internships, etc.
• Ability to work in a collegial and collaborative manner to contribute to departmental goals and priorities
• Demonstrated understanding and support of the University’s Jesuit mission

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to teach courses that connect with other disciplines (e.g. STEM, Business, Environmental Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, History, Ethnic Studies) and/or for our Core Curriculum (which may include courses in English).
• Experience with instructional technologies and language labs, OPI certified tester.
• Experience implementing experiential and/or project-based learning.
• Interest and potential in mentoring undergraduates in internships.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Teaching Professors at SCU are expected to balance teaching, professional activity, and service. This is an in-person position. More specifically, duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Teach courses as assigned, which may include elementary through advanced (upper-division) courses in language and culture. Teaching load is seven courses (over three quarters) per year.
• Design creative learning experiences, provide students with timely feedback, measure student learning outcomes within the context of departmental and Core objectives and the ACTFL World Readiness Standards, and submit grades by the designated deadline.
• Maintain weekly office hours on campus at times reasonably convenient to students. Serve as an advisor and mentor to students.
• Participate in curricular design and assessment projects appropriate to program needs.
• Collaborate with colleagues in creative efforts to enhance students’ learning experience outside of the classroom (e.g. organizing cultural events, academic presentations, etc.) and to promote the Japanese Studies program.
• Engage in professional activity that is appropriate to the discipline and that contributes to their primary responsibility for teaching.
• Engage in service activity that is appropriate to the discipline and that contributes to their primary responsibility in teaching.
• Fulfill other instructional, academic, and service duties as may be assigned by the Chair of the Department or the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

Teaching and Advising (70%)

Teach lower- and upper-division courses in the major and university core curriculum, as assigned by the chair, including courses such as xxxx. SCU is on the quarter system and an Assistant Teaching Professor will typically teach two courses in two quarters and three courses in the third. High-quality teaching is prioritized at SCU; therefore, significant faculty-student interaction is expected. The university offers many different opportunities to develop teaching skills through Faculty Development, including regular lunchtime workshops on pedagogy, teaching and technology grants, communities of practice, teaching mentors, and a scholarship of teaching and learning faculty group.

Teaching will be evaluated according to the Teaching Effectiveness Standards and Evaluation (TESE) document developed by each department. Ignatian pedagogy, a hallmark of Jesuit, Catholic universities, is based on the principle of cura personalis, that is, teaching the whole person. At Santa Clara University we define effectiveness in teaching as respectful, challenging, inclusive, engaging, and evidence based. Teaching Expectations and Academic Policies at SCU can be found here.

Professional Activity (15%)

Engage in professional activity, which for non-tenure track faculty on the Teaching Professor track refers to scholarly or creative work, professional practice, or other active engagement in a discipline or field that enables a faculty member to remain current in that area and vital as a teacher. Examples of professional activity include attendance or presentations at conferences, occasional publications that contribute to scholarship or pedagogy in the field, creative work in the arts, and practice in a professional field. Faculty in the Teaching Professor ranks shall not be held to the same standards of scholarship as tenure-track Faculty.

Service (15%)

Provide effective service to the Department of xxx, the College of Arts and Sciences, the University, and the profession through contributions other than teaching and scholarship, such as service on committees, participation in professional organizations and activities, leadership, and community service performed by virtue of professional expertise or association with the university, as appropriate to rank and experience.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Please note that your employment is subject to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 (“Local 1021”; see https://www.scu.edu/provost/faculty-affairs/cba-ntt/).

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

09/15/2025

START DATE

09/01/2026

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT

Please submit the following materials through the hiring portal at https://jobs.scu.edu

1. Letter of application, including a statement/ information regarding:

• applicant’s teaching philosophy and experience working with people of diverse cultures and identities.
• applicant’s vision for promoting student interest in Japanese Studies.
• the applicant’s commitment to the Jesuit model of educating the whole person.
• how the applicant meets required and desirable qualifications.

2. Curriculum vitae

3. Graduate transcripts (unofficial, with official available upon request)

4. Names of at least three references, with letters of recommendation to be provided on request at the interview stage

5. Evidence of teaching excellence (small portfolio of sample syllabi, faculty evaluations and student teaching evaluations from most recent position)

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

Work Authorization:

SCU does not sponsor any applicants for work visas for this position. The successful candidate must be able to provide evidence of identity and legal authorization to work in the United States.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Information about Title IX can be found at www.scu.edu/title-ix. Information about Section 504 and the ADA Coordinator can be found at https://www.scu.edu/oae/, (408) 554-4109, oae@scu.edu. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its’ commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at iahluwalia@scu.edu.