Assistant Professor - Human Development and Family Science

The Department of Human Development and Community Health (HDCH) is seeking a tenure-track faculty member in the Human Development & Family Science program with expertise in child development. Primary responsibilities would include teaching courses in the Human Development & Family Science program, developing and/or sustaining a program of research, mentoring student research, and participating in professional/service activities. This position begins August 2026 and is an academic year tenure-track appointment (50% Teaching, 40% Research, and 10% Service) with potential for summer employment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Teach approximately 15 credits per academic year of undergraduate and graduate courses such as but not limited to:
Introduction to Early Childhood Education;
Early Childhood Development;
Administration of Early Childhood Programs;
Individual and Family Development - Lifespan;
Parenting;
Contemporary Issues in Human Development.
Advise graduate students and serve on graduate committees.
Conduct research in a specialized area of interest within Human Development and Family Science
Provide outreach and service to the university and the citizens of Montana.

Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

Doctorate (or ABD) in Human Development and Family Science, Child and Family Studies, Child Development, Early Childhood Education, or related discipline.
Demonstrated teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels.
Possess an active research agenda, as indicated by publications, presentations, and/or seeking funding.

Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

Ability to teach within the Human Development and Family Science curriculum, including preparing students to work with children ages 0-8 years old in a variety of settings.
Ability to mentor students in undergraduate or graduate research opportunities.
Documented research related to one or more of these areas, or a closely related area:
Group and/or family childcare; early educator preparation to serve infants, toddlers, and/or preschoolers; childcare or education in community contexts; family engagement; families of young children.
Evidence of integration of teaching, research, and service.
Practical experience in one or more settings, such as: infant, toddler, or preschool childcare, early learning, university laboratory, or education in other community settings; early childhood program administration;
Early Head Start or Head Start; parent/family education and support; professional development of early childhood professionals; field supervision of undergraduate or graduate students in early childhood settings

The Successful Candidate Will

Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrate the ability to build innovative teaching, research, and outreach programs.
Commit to building and serving a varied community.
Have the ability to work effectively across disciplines.

Position

Special Requirements /Additional Information
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

This position is not eligible for new sponsorship.

Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

The Program
The Human Development & Family Science program offers three options within the major:
Child Development;
Family and Consumer Sciences Education; and Human Development and Family Science. Two undergraduate minors (Human Development; Personal and Consumer Finance) and master's degrees in Family and Consumer Sciences and Family Financial Planning are also offered. HDFS faculty share expertise in life-span development and the role of relationships in human growth. While each faculty HDFS member has a focused specialization, all contribute to the broader program mission to promote human well-being across the lifespan.

The Human Development and Family Science program, through its Child Development option, prepares students to support young children and their families in a variety of early care and education settings. This position is within the Human Development & Family Science program, with Child Development for children birth-age 8 as their area of specialty. The faculty member would support students across all three HDFS undergraduate major options, the Human Development minor, the Early Childhood Education Preschool-Grade 3 major, and the Family and Consumer Sciences master's degree program.

Additionally, the faculty member would support students to meet early childhood workforce demands via the development of community partnerships and the expansion…