Teaching Assistant Professor, Economics

The Economics Department at the University of Denver (DU) currently has eight tenure-line faculty and two teaching-line faculty. It is strongly committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment, which is in full accord with the value that DU places on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). As reflected in both their instructions and research, our faculty have a broader view of what economics is about than is found in the average Economics program in the US. We encourage students not to take in received knowledge as the truth but to examine it and question it. The Department thus offers a curriculum that emphasizes the understanding of the social apparatus which governs the production and distribution of goods and services, and of how economic theories have developed over time to address various topics covered in Economics. We present alternative perspectives on the historical and present-day relevance of our material, employing more primary sources and larger reading assignments than one finds in the typical US economics curriculum. Our approach lends itself readily to emphasizing the importance of writing and critical thinking beyond the rote acquisition of quantitative skills.

Position Summary

The Department of Economics seeks to hire a Teaching Assistant Professor (TAP; non-tenure-track) who will start September 1, 2025. Candidates must have a PhD in Economics or a related discipline. To fill this position, we are seeking a heterodox economist who shows excellent ability in teaching. They must be able to offer required and elective courses in economics for undergraduate majors and minors, preferably in the areas of International Economics and International Finance, as well as courses that contribute to the university’s Common Curriculum. Candidates must also show excellent teaching ability in our introductory courses “Economics: A Critical Introduction” and/or “Introduction to Macro and Microeconomics.” Teaching these courses requires familiarity with economic history, the history of economic thought, philosophy of social science, and heterodox as well as mainstream perspectives on economic theory and policy. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to integrate content that addresses different experiences across diverse populations, and pedagogical practices that foster equity and inclusion of students from a wide variety of historically excluded intersecting identities. Additionally, they are encouraged to integrate service-learning, experiential learning, and other community engagement teaching methods into their courses. The teaching load is eight 4-credit-hour courses per academic year, spread over three 10-week quarters. This position requires contribution to the life and operation of the Department through participation in faculty meetings and service to the Department, College, and University.

The University of Denver recognizes that its success in being a great university dedicated to the public good depends greatly on how well it engages, supports, and champions the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. As part of our intentionality in recruiting and retaining faculty from a wide variety of historically excluded intersecting identities, including those from communities of color, with diverse gender and sexual identities, first-generation college graduates, or with disabilities, new faculty will have the opportunity to choose to participate in a university-wide initiative. This initiative will connect new colleagues in a cohort, building community across units with supportive programming led by the Office of the Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs in collaboration with the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and each faculty participant’s academic unit. To learn more about the University of Denver’s commitments and work in support of DEI and J, please visit: https://www.du.edu/equity. For more information about this program or if you have any questions, please email inclusion@du.edu and/or visit https://duvpfa.du.edu/faculty-resources/prospective-faculty/.

Essential Functions

• Teach eight 4-hour undergraduate-level courses per year over three quarters (fall, winter, spring) that reflect the candidate’s knowledge of general Economics commensurate with someone who has studied the subject at the doctoral level. Some courses may be contributions to DU’s Common Curriculum and may be taken by predominantly non-majors.
• Advise undergraduate students.
• Serve as a good academic citizen within the Department, the Economics profession, DU, and the community (e.g., through committee service, etc.).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The person we hire to fill this position will be expected to…

• Demonstrate excellent ability in teaching required and electiv