Job Description

POSITION DETAILS

Employment based visa sponsorship will be considered for this position.

Position Number: 104380

Classification Title: Assistant Professor of Professional/Clinical Practice

Working Title: Assistant Professor of Social Studies

Department: Teaching, Leadership and Research

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Range: Commensurate with education and experience

Pay Basis: Annually

POSITION OVERVIEW

JOB SUMMARY:

The School of Education at the University of West Florida (UWF) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education to support undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral education programs. The successful candidate will contribute to teaching, research, and service with knowledge of elementary (K–6) social studies teaching and learning, civic education, inquiry-based and interdisciplinary instruction, and the preparation of preservice and in-service teachers.

This position focuses on strengthening social studies preparation within the elementary education program, supporting graduate and doctoral student mentoring, and advancing the School’s mission of preparing effective teachers through strong partnerships with K–12 schools and communities. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to connect research and practice in elementary social studies, integrating civics, history, geography, and economics with literacy and other content areas, in ways that prepare teachers to serve all learners in Northwest Florida and beyond. The salary for this position will be commensurate with experience.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Earned doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) in Social Studies Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Teacher Education, or a closely related field by start date.
• At least three years of K–12 classroom teaching experience, which includes social studies.
• Evidence of effective teaching or strong teaching potential at the postsecondary level, including preparing preservice elementary teachers.
• Demonstrated knowledge of elementary social studies content, standards, and pedagogy.
• Demonstrated or emerging scholarly agenda in social studies education appropriate for a tenure-track appointment.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, teachers, schools, and communities representing a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and academic needs.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

Primary Teaching & Clinical Responsibilities:

1. Teaching & Curriculum Development

a. Teach undergraduate courses in elementary social studies methods, curriculum, and instruction, and related teacher education areas in face-to-face and online formats

b. Contribute to curriculum revision, alignment, and continuous improvement across elementary education and teacher preparation programs, including alignment with the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and state K–12 social studies standards

c. Model inquiry-based, interdisciplinary approaches that integrate civics, history, geography, and economics with literacy and other content areas

d. Support clinical learning experiences, including practicum and internship supervision in partner elementary schools

1. Research & Scholarly Activity

a. Develop a scholarly agenda centered on elementary social studies education, such as civic education, history, or geography education, teacher preparation, curriculum development, or interdisciplinary teaching and learning

b. Engage in applied and practice-based research, including collaborative projects with PK–12 schools, school districts, museums, and community partners

c. Seek external funding (e.g., IES, NSF, NEH, state, or foundation grants), commensurate with rank

d. Disseminate scholarship through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and practitioner outlets

1. Student Mentoring & Advising

a. Serve on and progressively chair doctoral dissertation committees, consistent with tenure and departmental expectations

b. Support student professional development and career pathways into the teaching profession

1. Service & Engagement

a. Participate in department, school, and university service activities

b. Contribute to program coordination, assessment, state program approval, and accreditation

c. Develop and maintain partnerships with K–12 schools, school districts, and professional organizations (e.g., NCSS, Florida Council for the Social Studies)

d. Collaborate with faculty across the School of Education and the university, including colleagues in history, political science, and humanities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least three years of elementary (K–6) classroom experience, which includes social studies.
• Evidence of leadership in elementary social studies education through scholarship, curriculum development, school partnerships, or professional organizations
• Expertise in civic education; history, geography, or economics education; inquiry-based instruction (e.g., the C3 Framework); or the integration of social studies with literacy and other content areas.
• Experience supervising clinical field experiences and familiarity with Florida educator preparation, teacher certification, and K–12 social studies standards
• Graduate and doctoral student advisement and supervision.
• Interest in applied research, external funding, and collaborative school and community partnerships.
• Ability to teach effectively in face-to-face and online formats.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Physical Requirements: Occasional and/or light lifting required. Limited exposure to elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals, etc., but none to the point of being disagreeable. May involve minor safety hazards where likely results would be cuts, bruises, etc.
• Impact of Deadlines: Routine deadlines. Usually sufficient lead time. Variance in work volume, seasonal, and predictable. Priorities can be anticipated. Some interruptions are present. Involves occasional exposure to demands/pressures from persons other than immediate sup.
• Standing: Daily
• Walking: Daily
• Sitting: Daily
• Reaching with hands and arms: Daily
• Climbing or balancing: Never
• Stooping: Occasionally
• Use of hands to handle objects: Daily
• Lifting up to 10lbs: Daily
• Lifting up to 25lbs: Never
• Lifting over 25lbs: Never
• Talking as express or exchange of ideas verbally: Daily
• Hearing as perceive sound by ear: Daily
• Vision as distinguish colors & depth: Daily

Special Requirements or Considerations of the Job:

• This position requires a criminal background screening.

Special Instructions to Applicants: Candidates must apply online through the University of West Florida website: https://careers.uwf.edu. Applicants are required to attach a cv, letter of interest and contact information for three references. References will be contacted upon submission of this application. An opportunity to upload these documents will be provided during the application process. For assistance, please contact Human Resources at 850.474.2694 or email jobs@uwf.edu.

If one or more of your advanced degrees is awarded from an institution outside of the United States, UWF will require a credential evaluation and/or translation prior to onboarding. This credential evaluation should include original documents received directly from your institution so that the agency can evaluate and attest that your credential is equivalent to a similar degree earned at a US institution. If your credential is not in English, this evaluation should also include a translation to US English.

UWF does not endorse any particular approved agency; however, typically any current National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member agency is acceptable. You are advised to check with the agency first to make sure your educational background can be evaluated as some agencies do not evaluate all international degrees.

When necessary, these credential evaluations will be requested as part of the Offer Letter with instructions on where and to whom these documents should be submitted.

ADDITIONAL POSTING DETAILS

Number of Vacancies: 1

Work Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

FTE: 1.0

Preferred Response Date: 01/11/2027