Assistant Teaching Professor in Christian Spirituality and Mysticism

Position Title:

Position Type:

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $82,408 to $91,549, depending on the successful candidate's years of teaching experience at the college level. The position comes with generous benefits (scu.edu/hr/benefits), including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, and University contributions toward retirement. The University also provides rental assistance, for which Assistant Teaching Professors are eligible, to ease the transition into the local housing market.

Purpose:

The Department of Religious Studies at Santa Clara University (SCU), a Jesuit, Catholic university, invites applications for a full-time, renewable, non-tenure track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Teaching Professor in the field of Christian Spirituality and Mysticism, to begin Fall 2027. We seek an accomplished teacher with expertise in the history and practice of Christian spirituality and/or mysticism, with a desired emphasis on the history and/or practice of Ignatian Spirituality. The methodological approach and time period are open. Possible areas of emphasis might include engagement with mystical and spiritual theologians, especially those in the Jesuit tradition; theological reflection on mystical theology and contemplative practice; comparative studies in spirituality and mysticism (e.g., with Asian religious traditions); reception and development of historical theologies on contemporary theology and spirituality; women mystics and spiritual writers; additional historical subdisciplines. Candidates should have familiarity with and an understanding of the University’s Jesuit, Catholic mission.

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 will start on September 1, 2027. This is primarily a teaching position, but 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, and the expected teaching load is seven undergraduate courses over three academic quarters (Fall, Winter, and Spring). 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 Religious Studies Department is strictly an undergraduate program. However, faculty in Religious Studies have historically supported the Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries (GPPM) and the faculty member appointed to this position may have the opportunity to teach one to two courses a year in the GPPM. Experience working with diverse groups of students is valued.

Required Qualifications

1) Terminal degree (PhD or MFA) in an appropriate theological or historical field (e.g., Systematic Theology, Historical Theology), or a related field by appointment start date.

2) Demonstrated excellence in teaching university-level courses in Christian Spirituality and Mysticism.

3) Demonstrated potential for effective and inclusive teaching and mentoring of a diverse undergraduate student population.

4) Experience with inclusive pedagogical practices that promote access and academic success for all students.

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: 

Teaching and Advising 

Teach lower- and upper-division courses in the major and university core curriculum, as assigned by the chair, including courses such as The Christian Tradition, Mysticism in Catholicism, and Ignatian Spirituality. SCU is on the quarter system and an Assistant Teaching Professor will typically teach two courses in two quarters and three courses in a third. SCU prioritizes high quality teaching; 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 

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 

Provide effective service to the Department of Religious Studies, 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. 

Application Deadline: December 15, 2026

Application Procedure 

Applicants should submit 

1. a cover letter or personal statement that includes 

• a. statement of teaching philosophy 
• b. the applicant’s experience or interest in working with a diverse student population
• c. the applicant’s understanding of the mission of Santa Clara as a Jesuit, Catholic university; 

2. curriculum vitae and unofficial copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts (the successful candidate will provide official copies as a condition of employment);

3. sample syllabi and teaching evaluations from any courses taught; 

4. contact information for three referees who are willing to provide a letter of reference (letters will be solicited for candidates selected for an interview). Submit all application materials through the hiring portal at https://jobs.scu.edu/postings. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that the employment of non-tenure-track faculty as SCU 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/.

Telecommute

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

EEO Statement

​Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decisionmaking, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.  For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at  https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/. 

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 visit 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

Consistent with its obligations under the law, Santa Clara University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.  Applicants who wish to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources ADA Team at [email protected] or by phone at (408)554-5750. Please note: This contact information is intended for accommodation requests only. Resumes or inquiries about application status sent to this inbox will not be reviewed or forwarded. For resumes or questions regarding application status, please contact [email protected].

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.