Assistant Professor of Child Development

California State University

$84K — $87K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in child development or related area required at the time of appointment.
  • Ability to teach various developmental subjects including theory and research methods.
  • Demonstrated effective teaching experience at the undergraduate level.
  • Preferred experience integrating an NAEYC-accredited laboratory school into research or instruction.
  • Experience in applied early childhood education settings like preschool or Head Start is preferred.
  • Fluency or proficiency in Spanish or other local languages is beneficial.
  • Preferred record of community-engaged scholarship or partnerships.

Responsibilities

  • Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in child development.
  • Use the Child Development Center for hands-on teaching and observation.
  • Advise and mentor undergraduate students and supervise internships.
  • Maintain an active research agenda with potential for external funding.
  • Utilize the Child Development Center for community-engaged research when suitable.
  • Engage in departmental and university service activities.
  • Collaborate with local early childhood programs to enhance curriculum and student experience.

Benefits

  • Access to competitive healthcare and retirement benefits.
  • Opportunities for professional development and continued education.
  • Engagement in a diverse and inclusive campus culture.
  • Collaborative research opportunities within a strong academic community.
  • Participation in programs and activities that support work-life balance.
Full Job Description
Assistant Professor of Child Development

Job no: 556831
Work type: Instructional Faculty - Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: Stanislaus - Turlock
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Faculty - Human Development

POSITION:

Assistant Professor of Child Development: The Department of Psychology and Child Development invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning Fall 2026. We seek a developmental scholar with a strong background in child development and expertise in a focus area of their choice - such as culture and diversity, dual language learners, parenting, physical/motor development, children with disabilities, early intervention, or other related areas. We are looking for someone excited about teaching, committed to working with a diverse student population, and eager to contribute to a highly collaborative undergraduate and graduate program.

Teaching & Student Mentorship
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in child development theory, research methods, application/laboratory integration, and other developmental topics
• Utilize our on-campus Child Development Center as a live instructional resource, integrating direct observation and applied experiences into coursework
• Advise and mentor undergraduate students; supervise undergraduate interns and lab students
• Demonstrate teaching excellence with a diverse student body

Scholarship
• Maintain an active scholarly agenda
• Pursue external funding opportunities in support of research and programmatic initiatives
• Integrate the on-campus Child Development Center as a site for applied or community-engaged research when appropriate

Service & Collaboration
• Participate actively in department, college, and university service
• Contribute to student advising, recruitment, and retention efforts
• Engage with local early childhood programs, school districts, Head Start agencies, and other community partners

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Ph.D. in child development or related area, at time of appointment
• Ability to teach across the curriculum (i.e., child development theory, research methods, application/laboratory integration, and other developmental topics)
• Demonstrated evidence of effective teaching at undergraduate level

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Experience integrating an NAEYC-accredited laboratory school or child development center into instruction or research
• Experience teaching or supervising students in applied early childhood settings (e.g., preschool, Head Start, transitional kindergarten, infant/toddler programs)
• Fluency or proficiency in Spanish or other languages spoken in Central Valley communities
• Familiarity with California Preschool Learning Foundations, NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practice, and/or related professional frameworks
• Experience with undergraduate internship supervision or graduate student mentorship and thesis advising
• Record of community-engaged scholarship or regional partnerships

HOW TO APPLY & DEADLINE:

A complete application must include: an application letter specifically addressing the position description and qualifications; unofficial photocopies of graduate transcripts; a statement of teaching philosophy; evidence of teaching proficiency; a sample of research; professional curriculum vitae, including the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references. Official transcripts will be required at the time of hire.

Optional: [OTHER MATERIALS].

To apply for this position, please click the "Apply Now" button on this page.

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact:

Dr. Danielle Turley, Search Committee Chair
Department of Psychology & Child Development
College of Science
California State University, Stanislaus
One University Circle Turlock, CA
email: [email protected]
Department Website: https://www.csustan.edu/cdev

Screening of completed application files will begin on May 11, 2026. The position will remain open until filled. This appointment begins on August 17, 2026.

COMPENSATION:

Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Anticipated hiring range is $7,064-$7,315 per month for Assistant Professor (12 monthly payments per academic year). As a member of the 23-campus CSU System, we offer an extremely competitive benefits package.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT and THE COLLEGE, CAMPUS, AND AREA:

California State University, Stanislaus serves the San Joaquin Valley and is a critical educational resource for a six-county region of approximately 1.5 million people. The University is fully committed to creating a culture of diversity and inclusion - one in which every person in the University community feels safe to express their views without fear of reprisal. Widely recognized for its quality academic programs, the University has 10 nationally accredited programs and 662 faculty members. 94 percent of full-time faculty hold doctorates or terminal degrees in their fields. The University offers 43 undergraduate majors, 16 master's programs, 7 post-graduate credentials, a doctorate in education and serves more than 10,000 students. New instructional facilities have been built for the unique pedagogy of professional programs, laboratory sciences and performing arts.

Stanislaus State continues to receive national recognition with its ranking as one of the best 384 colleges in the nation by The Princeton Review. The University was one of 12 public universities in the nation to be recognized by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for demonstrating exceptional performance in retention and graduation rates. In addition, U.S. News and World Report ranks Stanislaus State in its top 10 among public universities in the West, while Washington Monthly honored Stanislaus State as the West's No. 1 university for the money. Stanislaus State also is recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education.

CSU Stanislaus values shared governance: Joint statement on shared governance

Advertised: Apr 27 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close:

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