Assistant Professor or Associate Professor - Clinical Psychology (25/26)

PSYCHOLOGY & CHILD DEVELOPMENT -

The Psychology and Child Development Department in the College of Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California, seeks applications for a full-time, academic-year, tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor in Clinical/Counseling Psychology to begin September 11, 2025.

The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to teaching excellence, university-level teaching experience, and evidence of professional activity that keeps them abreast of knowledge and developments within their discipline. Preference will be given to candidates with research specialization in individual, child, adolescent, and family counseling and psychotherapy.

The successful candidate will teach graduate courses in Clinical/Counseling Psychology and join the core faculty of our M.S. in Psychology program, which is designed to meet the educational requirements for Marriage and Family Therapy licensure in the State of California. New courses within the candidate’s area of specialization may also be proposed. The person hired for this position will be expected to be able take on the roles of program director and/or clinical training director in the graduate program by the second year of their appointment, if not earlier, depending upon their readiness. While the MFT program is the primary focus, there may be smaller roles to play in our undergraduate program in clinically relevant courses and supervision as necessary.

Candidates must demonstrate teaching excellence and provide evidence of professional activity that keeps them abreast of knowledge and developments within their discipline. In particular, we are looking for someone with expertise in adult, child, adolescent, and family therapy, community mental health practices and interventions, and expertise of MFT training and supervision. Knowledge and application of culturally informed evidence-based practices and therapeutic interventions from an ecological, strength and asset-based framework is sought. Additional experience with historically underserved and marginalized populations is a plus. CA licensure in good standing and the ability to supervise graduate students at the time of hire is required. Within the graduate program, we focus this search on candidates whose strengths and areas of focus would facilitate them possibly teaching the following graduate level courses:  MFT Professional Identity, Theory, & Practice; Individual Therapy, Theory and Practice; Child and Adolescent Therapy, Theory and Practice; Advanced Family Therapy, Theory and Practice; and Community Mental Health.

 

Salary

Anticipated Assistant Professor Hiring Range: $90,276 - $98,244/year, $7,523 - $8,187/month 

Anticipated Associate Professor Hiring Range: $102,768 – $113,045/year, $8,564 – 9,420/month

(Note that hiring level will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.)

Although Cal Poly is primarily a teaching university, our faculty are expected to balance teaching with an active program of research/professional development (including publication), student supervision and advising, and participation in service activities at the department and college/university level.  The typical teaching load is three 4-unit courses per quarter, with a reduction in course load in each of the first two years to help new faculty establish an active program of research and professional development. Cal Poly strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), especially in the classroom and among its areas of study.

The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) sees diversity as central to its mission and is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment within the college and university. We value our diversity of complex and intersecting identities, while striving to maintain an environment that is socially just, equitable, respectful, and inclusive. The successful applicant should be able to clearly demonstrate how they have infused these values and student learning objectives into their work. They should be prepared to present clear examples of how they would infuse these areas into their work as a faculty member. 

At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees, and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds and experiences fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly’s values of free inquiry and reflection on impacts of cultural context, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility. Cal Poly's commitment to DEI informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. California Polytechnic State University is an equal opportunity employer.  

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