Description

California State University, Fullerton

Department of Communications
College of Communications
Assistant Professor of Journalism
Fall 2027

The Department of Communications at California State University, Fullerton, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in journalism, with an appointment beginning in August 2027. This is your opportunity to bring your passion and expertise to a dynamic, future-oriented faculty where you will directly impact nearly 1,500 diverse students across our premier mass communications programs. Situated in the second-largest media market in the United States, CSUF offers an unparalleled ecosystem for collaboration and innovation—complete with state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, an elite internship center, award-winning student media, and our signature annual COMM Week. If you are eager to lead impactful scholarship, mentor driven storytellers, and thrive within a deeply supportive academic community, we welcome your application to join us in shaping the future of journalism.

Position
In this role, you will teach core and elective courses within our journalism concentration, bringing real-world insights into the classroom. Additionally, you will have the unique opportunity to transition into a mentorship role as the advisor to the Daily Titan, CSUF’s editorially independent, student-run multi-platform newsroom. Your instructional portfolio will include essential courses such as digital news reporting and writing, the principles and ethics of journalism, and the Daily Titan news capstone.

You will have the opportunity to advance the field through impactful research, scholarship, or creative work in journalism and mass communication, aligned with our tenure milestones. Beyond the classroom, you’ll become an integral part of our vibrant campus community—mentoring students, helping shape the future of our department, and collaborating across the wider university and academic discipline. To support our diverse student body, candidates should also expect to teach evening and graduate-level courses occasionally.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in mass communications, journalism, or a related field by time of appointment
• Demonstrated potential for excellence in undergraduate teaching.
• Demonstrated journalism experience.
• Ability to teach the Daily Titan news capstone course and either digital news reporting and writing or principles and ethics of journalism.
• Ability to balance teaching, conducting scholarship and/or creative activities, and working collaboratively with colleagues on department and university service activities.
• Ability to interact effectively orally and in writing with a wide and culturally diverse range of students and colleagues.
   

Preferred Qualifications

• Evidence of successful college-level teaching.
• Evidence of scholarly research or creative accomplishments in journalism or related fields.
• News industry and/or college news media advising experience.
• Experience with and ability to incorporate emerging communications technologies and tools, such as AI and data visualization, into teaching, news media advising, scholarship, and/or creative activities.
• Ability to contribute to accreditation self-study, curriculum development, and assessment of student learning.
• Evidence of a professional network, including participation in industry and/or academic associations in journalism and mass communications.
   

NOTE: Representatives from the Department of Communications will be at the 2026 AEJMC Conference in August. If you will be attending the conference, please indicate that in your cover letter.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment
This position is 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, Fullerton (CSUF) 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. CSUF 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.

In addition, California State University, Fullerton is a leading public university known for its strong academic programs and commitment to student success. As one of the largest campuses in the CSU system, Cal State Fullerton fosters innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. The university values teaching, research, and service, creating an environment where students, staff, and faculty can thrive. Cal State Fullerton is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The university also received the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in 2021 and 2024 from Excelencia in Education, the nation’s leading authority on Latinx student success. Cal State Fullerton is an equal opportunity employer with a diverse student population of over 45,000 and a faculty and staff population of 4,000. Cal State Fullerton is firmly committed to helping students achieve academic excellence, career success, and economic mobility. Joining Cal State Fullerton means becoming part of a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful impact. We continuously seek individuals from various disciplines who share the university’s mission and core values. We welcome you to consider joining the Titan community.

CSUF is committed to retaining all faculty and has established affinity groups you can join to support your success.

Application
A complete online application must be received by electronic submission to be considered. To apply, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/workforce/careers.html, choose full-time faculty, search for the position 559310 and provide the following required materials:

• cover letter in which you respond to the required qualifications
• curriculum vitae
• research statement
• teaching statement
• graduate transcripts (unofficial copies are sufficient for initial review)
• candidate statement on commitment to inclusive excellence (no more than 500 words):
  • Inclusive excellence is a strategic framework that recognizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in achieving organizational success and high-quality learning and teaching. It's a way of thinking and acting that integrates these values into all aspects of an institution, from curriculum and pedagogy to recruitment and hiring. Essentially, it means that excellence is not just about achieving high standards, but also about ensuring that all members of the community have the opportunity to thrive and contribute (Williams et al., 2005).
  • With the Inclusive Excellence Statement, we aim to learn about the applicant’s perspective on their past and present contributions to and future aspirations for promoting and engaging with a diverse student population. This statement should showcase the candidate's professional experience, intellectual commitments, and/or willingness to teach and create an academic environment supportive of all students, including but not limited to those of diverse ages, abilities, cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, languages, religions, and sexual orientations.
  • Cal State Fullerton serves a student body that reflects the rich cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic mosaic of Southern California. Please provide concrete examples of how you, as a faculty member, will support our students in one or more of the following areas, which fall under the areas of awareness and understanding, experience and commitment, and future plans.
    1. Your contributions (past, present, or future) to embedding perspectives that are reflective of the student population into your teaching and/or scholarship.
    2. Your experience in service activities that are reflective of a diverse student population.
    3. Your experience and commitment to mentoring and providing opportunities to a diverse student body inside and outside the classroom environment.
    4. Your experience integrating creative activities that are inclusive of the identities of our student body and communities.
• a list of three references with relevant contact information
  • Finalists must submit three letters of recommendation. Please have these ready for the referents to submit. On the References page of the online application, enter information and email addresses for three referents who will provide a confidential letter of reference for your application. At the appropriate time in the search process, they will receive a request via email along with information on uploading the letter. You can verify that CSUF has received each letter by logging back into your applicant portal.
  • Finalists will be asked to have each of their three referents submit a letter of recommendation. Please have these ready for the referents to offer should you proceed to this search phase.
  • Semifinalists and/or finalists may be asked to submit additional materials for further consideration (e.g., scholarly articles, portfolio, etc.).
     

Please direct all questions about the position to the search committee chair, Frank Russell, at [email protected] or call 657-278-1066.

Application Deadline
To be assured full consideration, all application materials must be received by October 1, 2026. The anticipated appointment date is August 16, 2027.

The College and Department
The Department of Communications is one of the largest and most diverse mass communications programs in the United States, situated in the second-largest media market in the country. Nearly 1,500 students are enrolled in four concentrations (advertising, entertainment/tourism, journalism, and public relations) with nearly 50 full- and part-time faculty members. The Department operates international programs, a graduate program, numerous laboratory facilities, an internship center, award-winning student media, a student advertising and public relations agency, a week-long signature university event called COMM Week, and many other student organizations, clubs, and competitions. For more information about the department, please visit: http://communications.fullerton.edu/comm.

The Department of Communications is one of four departments in the College of Communications along with Cinema and Television Arts, Communication Science and Disorders, and Human Communication Studies.

Compensation
The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range is $6,221 to $13,224 monthly (12 monthly payments per academic year). The anticipated hiring range is $6,851 to $6,985 per month.

Salary offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work (https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/california_equal_pay_act.htm).

Summer research grants, moving expenses, start-up funds, and a reduced teaching load may be available.

CSUF Benefits
An excellent comprehensive benefits package includes health/vision/dental plans; spouse, domestic partner, and dependent fee-waiver; access to campus child-care; and a defined-benefit retirement through the state system and optional tax-sheltering opportunities. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/total-wellness/.

New employees hired by the CSU for the first time who first become CalPERS members on or after July 1, 2017, are subject to a 10-year vesting period for retiree health and dental benefits.

Additional Information
At the time of appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must have authorization from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to work in the United States. For information on the University policy on support for non-immigrant probationary faculty visa acquisition, please visit the Faculty/Staff Visas and Permanent Residency page: https://hr.fullerton.edu/risk-management/faculty-staff-visas-permanent-residency/default.php.

Multiple positions may be hired from this recruitment based on the strength of the applicant pool.

CSU Policies
The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be formally offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Notice of Non-Discrimination based on Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator (http://www.fullerton.edu/titleix/about/notice.php).

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. It requires hiring employees to perform CSU-related work within the State of California. The employee must be able to accept on-campus instruction, be assigned, and come to campus when needed. The CSU also prohibits hiring and retaining employees working permanently from a business location outside of the United States.

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 7 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 also 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.