Assistant Professor of Advanced Educational Studies; Special Education

Position: Assistant Professor of Advanced Educational Studies (Special Education)
and application process should be directed to Dr. Michael Szolowicz, Department Chair, mszolowicz.

Deadline:
Full consideration will be given to complete applications submitted by March 15, 2026. Applications submitted after the deadline may be reviewed at the discretion of the committee until the position is filled.

University Background: CSU Bakersfield (CSUB), founded in 1970, is a regional, comprehensive university serving the southern San Joaquin Valley of California. CSUB's service area covers nearly 25,000 square miles and is home to a socially and ethnically diverse population. CSUB is the only four-year degree-granting institution within a 100-mile radius. Due to this, CSUB has a vital role in educational obtainment, economic development, and quality of life within the region.

The campus serves 9,800 undergraduate students and 1,750 graduate, credential, and post-baccalaureate students. CSU Bakersfield is a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

The accolades recently received by CSUB include: #18 in Top Public Universities in the West (U.S. News and World Report, 2025), #17 in Best Bang for the Buck for Western Colleges, and #8 in Best Master's University (Washington Monthly, 2025), #9 in Economic Mobility Index (Third Way, 2024), and #4 in California Mobility Index (College Future Foundation, 2024).

Commitment to Diversity:
The Department of Advanced Educational Studies within the College of Social Sciences and Education at CSUB is committed to academic and inclusive excellence and diversity within the faculty, staff, and student body.

College Information:
The College of Social Sciences and Education is the largest college at CSUB, serving over 5,000 students through 16 departments and programs. Educator preparation programs form a significant portion of the college, including special education teacher preparation, teacher preparation, educational counseling, and educational administration. The college's undergraduate and graduate programs prepare future leaders, professionals, researchers, and community advocates to enhance the quality of life for all people.

Department Information:
The Advanced Educational Studies Department at CSUB prepares school administrators, counselors, and special education teachers. Our programs and services prepare students for degrees and specific credentials required in the State of California for service in specialist and administrative positions that require advanced preparation and special competence. These programs also provide in-service educational opportunities for persons currently filling such positions.

The Special Education programs at CSUB are guided by the philosophy that all individuals in our society have the right to be educated in the least restrictive environment that fulfills their individual needs. Special education aims to help all children become productive and participating members of society by developing their optimal potential, regardless of disability. At CSUB, our primary mission is to prepare future special education teachers who can work effectively with students with Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) and Extensive Support Needs (ESN).

Our students develop the instructional, interpersonal, and management skills that are critical to success in this field. Graduates become effective teachers and caring, reflective, decision-making professionals.

Position Description and Duties:
The successful candidate will demonstrate the capacity to teach content area courses in special education, which may include, but are not limited to, Collaboration and Transition, Assessment, Positive Behavioral Support, Curriculum and Instruction, and Research Methods. In addition, the candidate will be responsible for providing high-quality clinical practice supervision and mentoring for special education teacher candidates across diverse educational settings.

Other related duties include committee work, a portfolio of scholarship, and meaningful engagement in professional and community-based service that advances the field of special education. The candidate is expected to demonstrate flexibility in teaching modalities, schedules, and locations as necessary to meet programmatic and student needs, and to employ innovative, inclusive, and evidence-based instructional strategies.

Minimum Qualifications:

* Doctorate in Special Education or related field, from an accredited institution

* Minimum of three (3) years of public school and/or clinical experience serving students in cross-cultural special education settings

* Demonstrated potential to teach master's level Special Education courses

* Demonstrated potential for sustained growth and success in research, scholarship, and/or creative activities

* Demonstrated potential for supervision of master's students

* Demonstrated potential for developing and sustaining collaborative partnerships with educational partners, including other university departments and local school districts (e.g., teacher residency…