College: Arts and Letters
Position Title: 2026-27 AY Lecturer Pool - BA Program in Liberal Studies for Prison Education (multiple sites)
Department of Liberal Studies
Instructional Faculty – Part-time Temporary/Lecturer Pool
Position Details:
The Liberal Studies Department in the College of Arts and Letters at Cal State LA, is seeking applications for a pool of part-time faculty lecturers with positions available to teach in BA programs at multiple prison sites including the California Institution for Women (CWI), the California Institution for Men (CIM), and San Quentin (SQ) as determined by need during the 2026-2027 academic year. Positions will be filled as needed for each academic semester. Consult the University Catalog for listings of LBS courses (Course Catalog).
Part-time faculty lecturers are hired with conditional appointments based on enrollment and budget. Hires from the pool of applicants are made when there are instructional needs to fill coursework offered by an academic department based on changing enrollment patterns, changes to tenure-track faculty assignments, and other factors that cannot be addressed with existing faculty. Initial appointments are typically for one semester, but occasionally academic year initial appointments are made. Appointments may be renewed based on department needs, funding, and performance. Often appointments are made just prior to the start of the semester so some faculty lecturers may need to be available on very short notice.
Minimum Qualifications:
Candidate must have an appropriate degree from an accredited university (for upper division undergraduate courses-master’s degree; for lower division courses-bachelor’s degree and substantial teaching experience; for graduate courses-doctoral degree, or master’s degree and substantial teaching experience). Demonstrated excellence in teaching at a college level. Applicants should demonstrate the ability and/or interest in working in a multiethnic, multicultural environment. All faculty are required to complete online PGI (Prison Graduation Initiative) training with Cal State LA’s center for Effective Teaching and Learning, as well as onboarding with CDCR, prior to teaching in the program
Applicants should have the ability to relate well to others within the academic environment and demonstrate ability and/or interest in working in a multiethnic, multicultural environment. Demonstrated experience and commitment to student-centered learning and teaching. Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language is required.
Preferred Qualifications:
Preference will be given to those with experience in working with diverse populations and fostering a collaborative, supportive and inclusive environment. Preference will also be given to those with relevant work experience and training.
- Appropriate doctoral or terminal degree
- Demonstrated expertise in Liberal Studies or other interdisciplinary fields
- Experience in any of the following:
- prison education
- equity- and justice- based approaches to teaching
- racially-, ethnically-, LGBTQ-, neurodiverse- relevant pedagogies
- Experience in any of the following:
- civic/community engagement
- service learning, or
- other forms of experiential learning
Duties:
Duties of part-time faculty lecturers include instruction, class preparation, grading, and office hours. Other duties may be assigned based on departmental needs. Course assignments, including dates, time, and modality, are made by the Department Chair under the direction of the College Dean.
Faculty will be available to collaborate or consult with tutors and academic support staff.
The successful candidate will be committed to the academic success of all our students and to an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates diversity and differences. To this end, the successful candidate will work effectively, respectfully, and collaboratively in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings. In addition, the successful candidate will be ready to join faculty, staff, students, and administrators in our University’s shared commitment to the principles of engagement, service, and the public good.
Salary:
Initial Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The salary schedule information for the faculty lecturer: Academic Year-month Classification is available based on the following ranges: (per salary schedule 7/1/2024)
Lecturer A/2 Full-time equivalent Salary Range: $5,507 - $6,677
Lecturer B/3 Full-time equivalent Salary Range: $6,221 - $13,224
Lecturer C/4 Full-time equivalent Salary Range: $6,835 - $14,523
Lecturer D/5 Full-time equivalent Salary Range: $8,593 - $15,211
The anticipated monthly hiring range is generally at or near the minimum of the appropriate range, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Most new faculty lecturers are hired at the Lecturer A or B rank.
The University:
California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) is one of 22 campuses within the California State University system. The University is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the U.S. for the upward mobility of its students, and is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good. We offer nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, ethnic studies, and the humanities. Our faculty have a strong commitment to scholarship, research, creative pursuits, community engagement, and service.
Our 240,000 alumni reflect the City and County’s dynamic mix of populations. The University has one of the most diverse student populations of any college or university in the nation. As a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution, and Asian-American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, Cal State LA recognizes the transformative power of education and embraces its duty to identify and serve the needs of all of its students. The University is committed to creating a community in which a diverse population can live, work and learn in an atmosphere of civility and respect for the rights and sensibilities of each individual.
The College:
The College of Arts & Letters at Cal State LA, is an engaged, diverse, and creative community committed to transforming lives through the study and practice of the arts and humanities. The College is home to nationally acclaimed undergraduate and graduate programs in the humanities and the visual, media, and performing arts, delivered by an award-winning faculty committed to helping students reach their full potential academically, professionally, creatively, and personally. Our nine departments (Art, Communication Studies, English, Liberal Studies, Modern Languages and Literatures, Music, Philosophy, Television, Film & Media Studies, and Theatre and Dance) include programs that lead to Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees, Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, and Master of Fine Arts degrees.
The Department:
At multiple prison sites (the California Institution for Women, the California Institution for Men, and San Quentin) the Liberal Studies Department at Cal State LA offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with an option in:
- Applied and Professional Humanities that provides a program of study that combines the breadth and transferable skills of a traditional Liberal Arts degree with professional course-clusters that give students opportunities to practice and develop proficiency and competence through applied projects in real-world professional contexts.
- Interdisciplinary Studies in Culture and Society that allows students to acquire an in-depth understanding of how ideology and discourse shape cultural traditions and social institutions.
The Liberal Studies degree program places a strong emphasis on developing student skills in writing, information literacy, and analysis of diversity across disciplines, institutions, and media.
Required Documentation:
Please submit the following with the employment application :
1) a cover letter specifically addressing minimum and preferred qualifications.
- the cover letter should specify which degree program site(s) (CIM and/or CIW and/or SQ) you are interested to teach at.
2) a narrative statement describing your commitment to working effectively with faculty, staff, and students in a multicultural/multiethnic urban campus environment with a substantial population of students who are among the first-generation of their family to attend a college or university.
3) an updated curriculum vitae.
4) List of CSU courses previously taught, and/or courses or topics areas qualified for and requesting careful consideration to teach in the upcoming academic year
5) unofficial transcripts.
Official Transcripts will be required upon hire offer and prior to employment. Employment is contingent upon proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
- A United States (US) Equivalency certification is required for earned/awarded/conferred foreign terminal degrees. The US Equivalency certification is used to validate foreign studies by an academic credential evaluation agency and is evaluated on foreign studies and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from the United States. The certification must translate the information in English, and confirm that your highest terminal degree is US Equivalent to a US terminal degree (i.e., Master’s, Doctorate’s, Doctor’s of Philosophy).
Application:
Deadline: For full consideration, complete applications must be submitted by April 15, 2026. Applications received after the deadline may be considered.
Please address all questions to [email protected].
Note: The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Beginning January 1, 2022, campuses may not hire or reappoint an Employee to perform CSU-related work outside of California. Requests for exceptions are very limited based on CSU Policy and must have prior written approval from the University President.
Background Check: A background check (including a criminal records check) must be satisfactorily completed. Offers of employment are conditional and may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.
Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last seven years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.
Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment:
All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, California State University, Los Angeles provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. California State University, Los Angeles complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. California State University, Los Angeles is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At California State University, Los Angeles, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/TITLE IX EMPLOYER
Upon request, reasonable accommodation will be provided to individuals with protected disabilities to (a) complete the employment process and (b) perform essential job functions when this does not cause undue hardship.
