Lecturer​/Teaching Specialist - Institute Global Studies

Position: Lecturer/Teaching Specialist 2026/27 - Institute for Global Studies
About the Job

The Institute for Global Studies (IGS) in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota occasionally needs part-time teaching specialists and/or lecturers to teach undergraduate courses that cannot be taught by the regular faculty. These positions (hereafter referred to as "Instructional Appointments") are temporary (one semester or one academic year) and typically teach no more than one three-credit course per academic semester.

Courses may be part of the Global Studies academic program, the Asian American Studies academic program, the Religious Studies academic program, and the research centers, grant-funded projects, and other academic programs supported by IGS.

IGS also occasionally hires part-time and short-term teaching specialists and/or lecturers during the summer months and academic year to teach short courses and/or facilitate workshops, conferences, and symposia offered by the research centers and academic programs affiliated with IGS, and to contribute to educational initiatives, programs, and projects funded by Federal and State grants, international agencies, and one-time gifts and endowments.

Typically, these are non-credit bearing educational programs and outreach activities. These positions (hereafter referred to as "Supplementary Appointments") may be for a limited period of weeks or months.

Duties & Responsibilities - Instructional Appointments, Overload & Course Rate.

Teaching specialists and lecturers in IGS serve as instructors of record for assigned courses, meaning they prepare for and conduct classes, hold office hours, evaluate student performance, submit grades, respond to student and department inquiries, and submit student evaluations of instruction.

Teaching specialists and lecturers also participate in relevant meetings, programs, and orientations; complete required training; maintain professional development; and keep current with the field of instruction.

Additional duties may be required in specific courses and may include supervising and mentoring graduate teaching assistants, coordinating student internship placements, monitoring students' academic progress, and maintaining community partnerships, etc. Course assignments, schedules, and locations are subject to change based on sufficient enrollment, curricular and programmatic needs, room availability, and other factors.

Duties & Responsibilities - Supplementary Appointments.

Teaching specialists and lecturers hired to facilitate workshops, conferences, and symposia consult with IGS coordinators on program goals and objectives, develop and coordinate content, lead and facilitate assigned educational offerings, and support necessary reporting requirements.

This posting does not constitute an announcement of open positions but is used to establish a pool of applicants should such openings occur for Summer 2025, Fall Semester 2025, Spring Semester 2026, Academic Year 2025/26, May/Summer Session 2026, and Summer 2026.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications .

Master's degree in Global Studies, Asian American Studies, Religious Studies, or a social sciences/humanities discipline with an emphasis in a field related to the assigned course, workshop, or other educational offering; and demonstrated successful experience teaching relevant courses or leading/facilitating relevant workshops/educational programs at a four-year college/University.

Preferred Qualifications .

Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in Global Studies, Asian American Studies, Religious Studies, or a social sciences/humanities discipline with an emphasis in a field related to the assigned course, workshop, or other educational offering; and three years of full-time demonstrated successful experience teaching relevant courses or leading/facilitating relevant workshops/educational programs at a four-year college/University.

Degree Equivalency.

In exceptional circumstances IGS may consider candidates with a bachelor's degree (B.A./B.S.) for appointment as a Teaching Specialist. In such cases, the individual must have significant professional experience in a field related to the subject matter, and/or significant cultural expertise that makes the person uniquely qualified to teach a course or lead a workshop/seminar, etc., in the subject matter.

Consistent with University policy, candidates with the M.A. degree will be appointed at the rank of teaching specialist; candidates with the Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree will be appointed at the rank of lecturer.

Candidates will be evaluated according to (A) overall quality of academic preparation; and (B) evidence of successful teaching in relevant subject area(s) at a four-year college or University. References and/or letters of recommendation may be requested as additional evaluation criteria.

About the Department

The Institute for Global Studies (IGS) stives to connect students, scholars, and communities dedicated to social justice, understanding, and transforming our globalized world by creating an…