Job Description

Position Title: Sociology and Criminology Lecturer (Full-Time, Non-tenure-track)

Department: Sociology and Criminology

Reports To: Sociology and Criminology Department Chair

Position Summary:

The Department of Sociology and Criminology is seeking a critical criminologist for a full-time, non-tenure-track lecturer position with face-to-face, onsite courses as well as online courses beginning Fall 2025. The work year runs from August 15 to May 15 annually for this position. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• 4/4 courseload (four fall semester classes and four spring semester classes to total 24 credit/workload hours per academic year)
• Advising up to 25 students
• Service to the department and university. Service may include requests to staff events such as major's expo, attendance at department and faculty meetings, and participation in a university committee
• Ongoing training and professional development workshops may be required

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in Sociology, Criminology, or related field, or JD/Master's degree with five years' experience as an instructor (documentation of completed degree by Fall 2025).
• Evidence of effective teaching.
• Interest in student advising; commitment to, or participation in, university service, life, and governance; commitment to professional development; record of supporting first generation, Black, and Latinx student populations with demonstrated effectiveness in helping students build quantitative, writing, oral communication, and information literacy skills.

Preferred Qualification:

• Preferred teaching specializations include: the juvenile justice system, the carceral state, restorative and transformative approaches to crime, abolition, pedagogies for social change, queer criminologies, or the criminalization of immigration.
• The candidate may also teach in the university's core curriculum, as well as courses cross-listed with Sociology, Black World Studies, Latinx/Latin American Studies, Study of Women and Gender, and Legal Studies.
• Experience or ability to teach Introduction to Sociology.
• Experience working and effectively communicating with underrepresented groups.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to spend long durations of the workday working on a computer, often done sitting but other positions can be accommodated (e.g. standing desk or convertible sitting/standing desk).
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds may be useful on rare occasions; accommodations can be arranged if needed for any moving, lifting, or carrying.

Salary and FLSA Status

• FLSA Status: Exempt, full-time
• SALARY: $55,000 - $65,000 annually

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement plan with employer matching contributions
• Professional development opportunities
• Tuition remission for employees and their dependents
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• Generous paid time off (PTO)

Employment at Dominican University is contingent upon the successful completion of a background investigation.

To Apply: 

Dominican University will accept applications for this position until it is filled. Please submit a (1) cover letter, (2) CV/resume, including a list of references, and (3) a one to two-page teaching philosophy statement.

About Dominican University

Dominican University is a Catholic, comprehensive teaching university located in River Forest, a suburb of Chicago, with an additional campus in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Dominican University offers associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. It is highly regarded for its academic rigor, thoughtful accompaniment of students, intentional affordability, and values-based, relationship-centered learning environment.

Dominican currently enrolls over 3,800 students, including 2,690 undergraduates and 1,114 graduate students. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of undergraduate students identify as Latinx, 5% as Black or African American, and 3% as Asian. Under-represented minority students comprise 77% of the undergraduate enrollment and 38% of the graduate enrollment. Over 90 percent of undergraduates receive some form of financial aid. Nearly half of all undergraduates are first-generation college students; over half are federal Pell Grant recipients, illustrating their families' level of income; and 58% are eligible for low-income MAP grants from the State of Illinois.

Recognized since 2011 as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education, Dominican is committed to expanding and enhancing educational opportunities for Latinx students and all students from historically underrepresented groups. For more information, visit

Expectations for all Dominican Employees:

To support the University's mission of preparing students to pursue truth, give compassionate service, and participate in the creation of a more just and humane world, engage in university service work that promotes collaboration and community building. This includes participating in organizational initiatives, supporting campus events, contributing to community outreach, and fostering a diverse and inclusive environment through involvement in various staff-driven activities and groups.

Institutional Statement

Dominican University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Dominican University is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, protected veterans, and candidates from diverse backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need accommodations due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected] for assistance.

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