College of Education: Open-rank Teaching Professor – Curriculum & Instruction

Open-rank Teaching Professor, Elementary and/or Secondary Grades Social Studies

Department of Curriculum & Instruction

College of Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Great Minds Think Illinois

The College of Education’s mission extends far beyond the classroom: we aim to impact people's lives locally, nationally, and globally. Our world-class faculty and students lead scholarship on critical issues in education and are committed to innovation and discovery. As a top-ranked institution, we develop and apply new pedagogies and practices that improve understanding—supporting traditional, blended, and online learning. The Education at Illinois community shares the ideals of respect for diverse ideas and social identities; dedication to community engagement; and the responsibility to make scholarship accessible and inclusive for all.

Position: The Department of Curriculum & Instruction is seeking a specialized faculty member at open teaching rank (assistant, associate or full professor) in elementary and/or secondary grades social studies education. This is a full-time, nine-month, non-tenure-track teaching position. This position will be expected to work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on a full-time basis per the University’s Workplace Flexibility policy.

Position Description: The Department of Curriculum & Instruction possesses an outstanding reputation in teacher education. We seek a colleague who will join our department and College of Education to engage in teaching that will create transformative learning experiences for students and impact society. We seek candidates with expertise in social studies education at the elementary and/or secondary levels. Teaching assignments will include social studies methods courses in the elementary and/or secondary grades licensure program, and undergraduate courses on multicultural and/or social justice education. While the primary responsibility will involve teaching these courses (the position carries a 3:3 teaching, 20% research, and 20% service commitment), the faculty member will be expected to maintain a program of research in relevant areas of scholarship and to support administrative efforts. The faculty member may be asked to teach the occasional graduate course in their area of interest. The faculty member will also engage in helping keep our course offerings up to date and exploring curricular adaptations that may be necessitated by shifting policies or standards.

Required Qualifications: Earned doctorate in social studies education or a related field is required. A minimum of two years of teaching social studies at the k-12 level is required. Familiarity with the National Council for the Social Studies College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework, along with Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards.

Preferred Experience: Significant professional and/or academic experience in multicultural and diverse educational settings. Demonstrated commitment to undergraduate teacher preparation and working with diverse populations, university teaching experience, and the use of technology for instructional delivery, including online.

Responsibilities: Develop, implement and revise required courses. Support teaching assistants in offering courses within the faculty member’s area of expertise. Maintain a program of research.

Salary and Starting Date: The budgeted salary range for the position is $68,000 to $80,000 for the Teaching Assistant Professor level, $80,000 to $90,000 for the Teaching Associate Professor level, and $90,000 to $100,000 for the Teaching Full Professor level, on a nine-month service basis. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including equivalent years in rank, training, and field or discipline; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable jobs. The proposed starting date is August 16, 2027, or soon thereafter.

This position is eligible for sponsorship for work authorization, except for sponsorship of a new H1B petition that would incur the $100,000 fee.

For full consideration, all application materials must be received by 6:00 p.m. (CST) on November 2, 2026. Please create a candidate profile at https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload one pdf file that contains (in this order) a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, two sample publications, and full contact information (name, email, address, and phone number) for three references who are familiar with your teaching and can speak to your teaching experience and effectiveness.

The cover letter should include the following:

· Your interest in the position and how your experiences, expertise, and professional goals align with the role

· Your teaching philosophy and the specific areas of content expertise you can contribute to, beyond trauma-informed education

· A description of your current research interests and accomplishments.

Questions can be directed to the search chair, Dr. Asif Wilson at ajwilso1@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

Founded in 1867 as Illinois’s flagship public university, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign empowers a global community of students, scholars, and alumni to change the world through bold, innovative research and transformative education. With a land-grant heritage rooted in progress, Illinois faculty drive paradigm-shifting discoveries, mentor future leaders, and collaborate across 15 colleges and instructional units and more than 20 research institutes. The university’s legacy of excellence includes 24 Nobel Prizes and 29 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to its faculty and alumni, $755 million in sponsored research funding, and 94 academic programs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Illinois offers the resources, recognition, and reach to accelerate your career — along with a highly competitive benefits portfolio. Discover how the Illinois Value Proposition fosters professional longevity, personal fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose in every role.

Faculty Recruitment
Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1038746
Job Category: Faculty
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu