Assistant Professor in Sociology

About Wenzhou-Kean University

Along with NYU Shanghai and Duke University Kunshan, Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU) is one of only three full legal-person Sino-American universities with all English instruction approved by the Ministry of Education in China.

WKU sits on approximately 500 beautiful acres and currently enrolls 5,100 undergraduate and graduate students. It is now in the midst of rapid growth that will bring enrollment to 7,000 students within the next three years. All instruction at WKU is in English, and the curriculum is provided by Kean University and adapted to the needs of the local student population. In addition to its current 18 undergraduate programs, WKU has been approved by the Ministry of Education to offer 8 Master’s and 3 doctorate programs.

Wenzhou is one of the most vibrant and economically developed cities on China's East Coast, located one hour by plane and just over three hours by high-speed train from Shanghai.

About the Job

The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wenzhou-Kean University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in Sociology. Successful candidates will be expected to teach introductory courses such as “Introduction to Sociology” and “Methods of Social Research,” as well as upper-level electives in their area of specialization. (Program info: https://kean.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2024-2025/undergraduate-catalog/courses/soc-sociology/)

Ideal candidates will:

• Have a strong background in teaching undergraduate courses
• Show evidence of a strong, independent research program
• Demonstrate potential to publish and secure external funding at a level similar to tenure-track professors at a US R1 university
• Possess experience in second-language education (preferred)

In addition to teaching and research, faculty are expected to contribute to the growth of the program, including but not limited to:

• Curriculum development
• Program assessment
• Student recruitment and advising
• Office hours
• Senior project supervision
• Internship opportunities

All faculty positions are full-time assignments, effective for the start of Fall 2025. The positions are renewed every three years.

A tenure-track Assistant Professor is a full-time, 10-month employee who teaches 24 credits per academic year. A 6-credit course release per year is available during the first three years for grant proposal development and substantial research initiatives. Start-up grants will be provided to launch student-engaging research programs.

Tenure-track faculty are expected to participate in the full range of faculty responsibilities, including:

• High-quality teaching
• Research and publications in peer-reviewed international journals
• Advising and student learning support
• Service to the university and professional community

Faculty positions at WKU offer:

• Annual salary from $65,000 to $75,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience
• Start-up research grants
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage
• Academic travel funding up to $2,000
• Housing options and subsidy up to $3,000
• Home travel reimbursement up to $6,000 (2 international round-trip airfares)
• Relocation reimbursement up to $1,000
• Shuttle bus to campus
• Up to 8% front-load retirement benefits (based on years of service)
• Tuition waiver up to 50% for spouse/dependent children for undergraduate programs at WKU
• Tuition discount for international/private K–12 schools for children of faculty
• Opportunity to teach high-quality students (60%+ admitted to top global graduate programs)

Background Screening

Wenzhou-Kean University conducts background screenings on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks.

Qualifications

• PhD in Sociology or a closely related field is required
• ABD will be considered with degree completion prior to the effective date
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals
• Minimum of two years of college-level teaching experience preferred
• Native English speaker or equivalent English proficiency is required

Application Instructions

Applicants are REQUIRED to apply online. To receive full consideration, please submit the following documents via Interfolio:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of teaching philosophy
• Research statement
• Unofficial transcripts
• Contact information for three professional references

Official transcripts for all degrees and three current letters of recommendation are required before appointment.