Assistant Professor in German and Germanic Studies

The Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture department at Occidental College seeks applicants for a full time, tenure-track position of Assistant Professor in German and Germanic Studies. Applicants with degrees in either German or Comparative Literature with a German emphasis are encouraged to apply.

The recently established “CSLC” department has adopted an innovative liberal arts approach to the study of the so-called “lesser taught languages,” and we invite all candidates willing to contribute to the design of an undergraduate curriculum in German that would complement this undertaking to submit an application. Grounded in a student’s understanding of at least one foreign language, the department seeks to embed traditional language and literature instruction within a larger interdisciplinary and comparative context, one that highlights the role that the formal structures of language and literature play in the making (and unmaking) of those general horizons of intelligibility that help constitute a given culture and its correlative sense of world.

We thus seek candidates who are interested in developing forms of beginning to advanced language instruction that, besides training students for the purposes of foreign language communication, will also actively prepare them for the task of literary and cultural interpretation. Regardless of their chosen areas of specialization, applicants should be capable of teaching courses in German literature and culture (both in German and translation) over a wide historical range, with particular sensitivity to the interconnection between authors, genres, and periods. Given the department’s comparative and theoretical emphases, we especially encourage applicants whose additional areas of expertise could facilitate connections between German language and literature and the department’s wider curriculum. Such areas might include, but need not be limited to: poetic and narrative theory, hermeneutics, aesthetics, sub-specializations in the literary traditions of other languages, and/or other arts and sciences.

Please submit (1) a cover letter outlining your scholarly interests and theoretical/methodological orientations, as well as reasons for your interest in teaching at Occidental (its new Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture department in particular); (2) a detailed statement of teaching philosophy and methodology that includes a discussion of (a) courses you have already taught, in language and/or literature, (b) future courses, of your own design, that you would like to teach if hired into CSLC, and (c) your demonstrated excellence in, past evidence of, and future plans for creating equitable opportunities for learning and mentoring, especially for traditionally underrepresented students; (3) a sample of your scholarly writing; (4) three letters of recommendation; and (5) a current CV.

All materials are due by November 1.  “First-round” interviews will be held by video conference, between December 4-10. Inquiries about the position can be directed to the CSLC Department Services Coordinator, Romy Corona, at rcorona@oxy.edu

Occidental, a highly selective and nationally-ranked small liberal arts college located in Los Angeles, California, is widely recognized for its diverse student body, its commitment to academic excellence and equity, and its outstanding undergraduate research programs. The mission of Occidental College is to provide a gifted and diverse group of students with a total educational experience of the highest quality - one that prepares them for leadership in an increasingly complex, interdependent and pluralist world.  The distinctive interdisciplinary and multicultural focus of the College’s academic program seeks to foster both the fulfillment of individual aspirations and a deeply rooted commitment to the public good. We are committed to academic excellence in a diverse community and strongly encourage applications from candidates who will further Occidental’s mission of excellence and equity in their teaching, scholarship, and/or service.  Named one of America’s most beautiful campuses, the College is situated in the vibrant neighborhoods of Eagle Rock and Highland Park in Northeast Los Angeles, allowing convenient access to major cultural and natural attractions in the nation’s second largest city. As one of the few urban liberal arts colleges in the country, Occidental affords students and faculty a unique pedagogical engagement with vast resources outside of the classroom.

Occidental College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants because of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, or sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal Law. We strongly encourage all underrepresented candidates, especially women and persons of color, to apply.