Tenure Track Assistant Professor Positions

Our School and University are located in the heart of Los Angeles, one of the largest, most diverse, and culturally rich cities in the United States. Our faculty pursues research and scholarship to catalyze positive social impact and enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Research opportunities and collaborations are enhanced through seven research centers and institutes, two clinical centers, and transdisciplinary collaborations with the schools of medicine, gerontology, pharmacy, policy, engineering, education, and liberal arts, among others. Partnerships with community-based stakeholders including health care providers, programs serving justice-involved youth, public child welfare and mental health providers are also central to our work as a School. In fall 2026, the school welcomed incoming Dean Laura Abrams and launched our BSW program. We seek to grow our tenure-track faculty to enhance our local, national, and global scholarly impact.

About the Positions

To complement our existing strengths and further advance social work scholarship, we seek candidates with substantive focus and research and teaching experience in at least one of three areas: 1) social welfare policy and analysis; particularly focusing on poverty, the welfare state, and children and families; 2) child welfare policy or practice; and/or 3) technology, AI, and the future of social work. Across all areas, we welcome scholarship focused on the experiences of Black communities in the US and/or other racial and ethnic minority groups. Methodologically, we encourage applications from scholars with training in causal inference, experimental designs, and big data analytic approaches.

We also welcome candidates who are interested in forging interdisciplinary collaborations with allied disciplines across the USC campus, such as the health sciences, public policy, and others. All candidates must demonstrate exceptional promise or evidence of impactful scientific research and publications.

Assistant professor positions require on-campus presence as candidates will teach in our range of educational programs, including MSW, BSW, PhD, Doctor of Social Work (DSW), and Doctor of Social Innovation (DSI). Applicants should describe their portfolio of experience and excellence in teaching in social work. Candidates are required to have an MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited university and a PhD in social work/welfare or a related field. Two-years of post-MSW practice experience is preferred.

Application Procedure

To be considered for this position, candidates must submit application materials online at https://usccareers.usc.edu/job/los-angeles/tenure-track-assistant-professor-positions/1209/100143263472. A complete application will include: 1) a cover letter describing their interest in the position and an overview of their research and teaching experiences, 2) a curriculum vitae, and 3) contact information for three professional references who can provide letters of recommendation. Review of applications will begin in fall 2026. Applications will be considered until position(s) are filled. 

The annual base salary range for this position is $110,000-$130,000 based on a nine-month contract. When extending an offer of employment, USC considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations. 

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

All other questions and information requests should be directed to the Office of Faculty Affairs in the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at ssw.facultyaffairs@usc.edu. The search committee chair is Dr. Ben Henwood, the Frances L. and Albert G. Feldman Professor of Social Policy and Health.