Assistant Professor of Spanish & Second Language Pedagogy

Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number FAC - VA - 27012

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Galen Brokaw

Department Head

(406) 994-6448

[email protected]

Classification Title Assistant Professor

Working Title Assistant Professor of Spanish & Second Language Pedagogy

Brief Position Overview

The Department of Modern Languages & Literatures invites applications for a tenure-track position in Spanish and Second Language Pedagogy/Acquisition at the Assistant Professor Level to start in August 2027. The successful candidate will develop and maintain an active research program, will be a dynamic teacher, and will contribute to an interdisciplinary, collaborative, and welcoming environment. The standard teaching load in the department is four courses per year. The faculty member in this position will teach a yearly methods course for our teaching majors. They will also serve as the Director of Language Learning with supervisory responsibilities for non-tenure-track instructors and oversight of the language curriculum. Superior-level proficiency in Spanish is required; additional proficiency in French and/or German is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will also have, or be willing to obtain, ACTFL OPI certification.

Faculty Tenure Track Yes

Faculty Rank Assistant Professor

Position Number 4A3333

Department Modern Languages & Literature

Division College of Letters & Science

Appointment Type Faculty

Contract Term Academic Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible Eligible

Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.

Contract Type MUS

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type Open

Position Details

General Statement

The Department of Modern Languages & Literatures invites applications for a tenure-track position in Spanish and Second Language Pedagogy/Acquisition at the Assistant Professor Level to start in August 2027. The successful candidate will develop and maintain an active research program, will be a dynamic teacher, and will contribute to an interdisciplinary, collaborative, and welcoming environment. The standard teaching load in the department is four courses per year. The faculty member in this position will teaching a yearly methods course for our teaching majors. They will also serve as the Director of Language Learning with supervisory responsibilities for non-tenure-track instructors and oversight of the language curriculum. Superior-level proficiency in Spanish is required; additional proficiency in French and/or German is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will also have, or be willing to obtain, ACTFL OPI certification.

Duties and Responsibilities

The faculty position to be filled is a full-time tenure-track appointment with primary responsibilities in research, teaching, and service/outreach. The successful candidate will become an integral part of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, with duties to include teaching foundational courses in the department curriculum as well as courses in the candidate’s area of expertise; advising students and supervising non-tenure-track instructors; developing a nationally recognized research program; and participating in professional and university outreach and service activities.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Ph.D. in Second language pedagogy, Spanish, or closely related field is required by start date.

• Ability to teach a full range of courses in specialization.

• Potential to develop an independent, high-quality research program.

• Experience teaching language at the college level.

• ACTFL certification or willingness to acquire certification.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Proficiency in French and/or German.

• Familiarity with ACTFL proficiency guidelines and their implications for second language pedagogy.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Be a dynamic teacher and scholar;

• Have the ability to inspire and mentor students;

• Have excellent written and oral communication skills;

• Have effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate successfully and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty, staff, and students.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

The Program

The Department

Modern Languages & Literatures offers B.A. Degrees in German Studies, French & Francophone Studies, and Hispanic Studies. Teaching options in French, German, and Spanish are offered, as well as Teaching and Non-Teaching Minors in French, German, and Spanish. The Department offers both an option and a minor in two joint programs in conjunction with the Department of History and Philosophy: Asian Studies and Latin American and Latino Studies. In addition, the China Studies minor combines the study of language, history, and culture in China. The Department also offers first-year courses in Arabic.

The faculty is comprised of eight Tenure-Track members and fourteen non-Tenure-Track instructors.

The College

The College of Letters and Science ( CLS ), the largest center for learning, teaching and research at Montana State University, offers students an excellent liberal arts and sciences education in nearly 50 majors, 25 minors and over 25 graduate degrees within the four areas of the humanities, social sciences, natural and physical sciences, and mathematical sciences.

Building on the great strength of our traditional disciplines, the college provides exciting opportunities for faculty and students at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary inquiry. CLS is dedicated to supporting student success, discovering and disseminating new knowledge, and providing an atmosphere in which discovery and learning are integrated and valued. CLS is at the confluence of intellectual tradition, discovery, and innovation.

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date August 2027

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on November 9, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Special Instructions

As part of your application, please upload the following documents (required):

• Curriculum Vitae

• Cover Letter addressing the Required and Preferred Qualifications

• Research Statement (maximum 2 pages)

• Teaching Statement (maximum 2 pages)

And the following documents (optional):

• Sample Syllabus

• Sample Syllabus #2

References and Letters of Recommendation: All applicants will be required to provide a minimum of three references during the application process. Following the initial application screening, references for candidates being considered for initial interviews will be contacted by email to request a letter of recommendation. Applicants should notify their references in advance and advise them to submit their letters within one week of receiving the email request. References may also be contacted by phone as part of the final reference check process.

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.