Adjunct Lecturer in Law - Seminar in Social Analysis

USC Gould School of Law is seeking a part-time lecturer to teach an undergraduate Seminar in Social Analysis, American Presidency: Power, Institutions, and Leadership. The instructor will begin work this fall 2026 to develop the course. The instructor will then teach the course during the Spring 2027 semester, from Jan 11 to April 30, 2027 (final exam period May 5-12). The class is scheduled to be held and taught in-person on USC’s Los Angeles campus (UPC). Candidates must be available to teach on Monday and Wednesday from 12:00 to 1:20pm or on Tuesdys and Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:20pm.

Candidates should have strong legal professional backgrounds, with experience in the subject matter and preferably teaching experience. The course will be taught exclusively to enrolled undergraduate students. A PhD or Juris Doctor degree is required.

Seminar in Social Analysis (4 units):

The course teaches the causes and consequences of social phenomena; quantitative and qualitative methods of the social sciences; how people behave and influence the world through cultural forms.

This course examines the American presidency as an institution, a political force, and as a human endeavor.

The seminar format places discussion at the center of the learning experience. Each session combines brief framing, close reading of primary sources, and sustained analytical conversation. By the end of the course, students will be able to assess presidential power, evaluate historical legacies, and think critically about the institution's role in American democracy.

Offered by USC Gould School of Law.

This class may be postponed to a later semester if fewer than 6 students enroll.

Spring Semester 2027- 73 instructional days

Classes Begin: Mon, January 11

Martin Luther King’s Birthday: Mon, January 18

President’s Day: Mon, February 15

Spring Recess: Sun-Sun, March 14-21

Classes End: Fri, April 30

Study Days: Sat-Tue, May 1-4

Final Exams (Take Home): Wed-Wed, May 5-12

USC reserves the “Adjunct” appointment for faculty teaching less than full-time at USC, who are employed full-time in a primary profession or career elsewhere. Adjunct faculty typically teach only one course per year but, in exceptional cases, may teach one course per semester, if approved by the dean.

To ensure compliance with federal, state or local regulatory requirements as well as university policy and procedures, Adjunct Lecturers are required to complete specific training requirements as a condition of employment. Adjuncts Lecturers must complete mandated training by a required deadline. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination, in accordance with the Faculty Handbook. Trainings that are required for all faculty and staff include USC’s Harassment Prevention Training at the time of hire and every two years thereafter, USC’s Integrity and Accountability Code Training at the time of hire, Information Security training annually, and Workplace Violence Prevention Plan training annually. A variety of other trainings may be required based on specific job responsibilities.

https://policy.usc.edu/training-requirements-and-opportunities/

https://employees.usc.edu/learn-grow/learning-and-professional-development/required-training/

The Gould School of Law (Gould) considers candidates that demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values (https://culturejourney.usc.edu/explore/unifying-values/) . Gould holds a unique position in society, and within the university, as every aspect of these principles are influenced by and can be protected through legal rules and institutions. At Gould, we are proudly committed to maintaining a community in which each person respects the rights of others to live, work, and learn in peace and dignity, to be proud of who and what they are, and to have equal opportunity to realize their full potential as individuals and members of society.

The base salary range for this position is $2,433.66 - $ 12,250 per semester. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the number of units per course, 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.