Term Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Department: Col of Humanities and Soc Science

Classification: 9-month Instructional Faculty

Job Category: Instructional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Department of Philosophy at George Mason is a pluralistic program that offers courses and produces scholarly research and public philosophy drawing on diverse philosophical approaches and traditions, including continental, Anglo-American and applied philosophy, and with a focus on social, ethical and political thought. The program offers a Master's degree, a major, and multiple minors including Philosophy of Law, Ethics and AI, and Philosophy for Social Change. Our mission is to put philosophy to work to address key contemporary issues and enduring philosophical questions, to foster critically engaged citizens, and to enable students and faculty to engage with pressing matters of global and public concern. The Department is home to the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, the oldest applied ethics program in the United States, and a regional leader in producing normatively focused policies for various public and non-governmental policy institutions.

Faculty in Philosophy are affiliated with other departments and programs across Mason, including: African and African American Studies, the Center for Advancing Human-Machine Partnership, Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center, the Center for Humanities Research, Cultural Studies, the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, the Honors College, Philosophy, Politics and Economics; the Schar School of Policy and Government, and Women and Gender Studies.

About the Position:

The Term Assistant Professor of Philosophy is a dynamic scholar who is committed to teaching excellence in political philosophy, with competence in philosophy of law and logic. The position will teach courses taken by majors and non-majors at a variety of levels, including pre-law, criminology, psychology, economics, and computer science students. Courses taught may include philosophy of law and political philosophy, with preference given to candidates able to contribute regularly to undergraduate teaching in philosophy of law. The position also includes regular teaching in introductory logic, with opportunities to contribute to intermediate courses. These courses are integrated in Mason's Philosophy, Politics and Economics Program, Philosophy and Law Program, as well as the Department's new Logic Program. The teaching load is 4 courses per semester.

Especially welcomed are individuals with specialisms in philosophy of law, as well as from those whose teaching engages the societal implications of core topics in this area, for example in relation to artificial intelligence and the law, international law, and legal issues of gender, race, or disability.

The position will begin in the Spring 2027 term. The initial, 9-month contract will span the Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 terms, with the possibility of renewal contingent on satisfactory performance and departmental and program needs. The position also includes possibilities for promotion and multi-year contracts as well as a full range of benefits.

Responsibilities:

• Instructional Assistant Professors are expected to teach a standard course load of 12 credits (4 courses) per semester; and
• Engages in service at the department level or beyond.

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in a related field;
• Evidence of teaching experience with a commitment to diversity in the classroom;
• Knowledge of philosophical theories, methods, and scholarly research demonstrated through completion of a doctoral degree in Philosophy or a related field and the successful defense of a dissertation (or equivalent) by the time of appointment; and
• Ability to provide high-quality instruction in political philosophy and introductory logic at the undergraduate level.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in a related field;
• Evidence of experience teaching multiple modalities to non-majors at a variety of levels;
• Ability to teach intermediate or advanced courses in logic and courses in philosophy of law;
• Ability to teach courses in the Philosophy Department's Philosophy and Law Concentration, Philosophy and Law Minor, and Ethics and AI minor, through teaching or related experience in law, technology, and applied ethics; and
• Ability to teach in multiple modalities to non-majors at a variety of levels .

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Term Assistant Professor of Philosophy at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter outlining your record of teaching, CV, and a Teaching Portfolio which includes a 1-2 page statement of the applicant's teaching philosophy that includes their approach to teaching the diverse student body at Mason. Additionally applicants can upload the following OPTIONAL documents to the application: two sample syllabi (one in political philosophy or law and one in logic) and evidence of teaching effectiveness (such as teaching evaluations where available).

Candidates invited to interview may also be asked to provide further materials, such as a writing sample or additional syllabi.

Open Until Filled: Yes