Faculty Position Search
Sociology Position
Tenure track position as Assistant Professor or Instructor in Sociology beginning July 2010. To complement existing expertise in the department, we seek candidates whose research relies on quantitative methodologies and who combine this approach with an appreciation for varied research methods. Rotation of courses includes a quantitative research methods course. Specializations open, with preference for candidates whose work relates to one or more of the following areas: race and ethnicity, economic sociology, migration, or political sociology. We envision the possibility of ties between some candidates and interdisciplinary programs on campus; at Bowdoin, these include Latin American Studies, Africana Studies, Asian Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, and Environmental Studies. Ph.D. prior to appointment preferred; advanced ABDs considered. Bowdoin values a strong commitment to research and a promise of successful scholarly engagement as well as a dedication to teaching excellence in a liberal arts environment. The College provides excellent research support and the regular teaching load is two courses per semester. Bowdoin’s reputation rests on the excellence of its faculty and students, its intimate size, strong sense of community, genuine socioeconomic diversity, and treasured links with the people, history, and natural beauty of Maine.
Bowdoin College s now accepting electronic applications. Please visit https://careers.bowdoin.edu to submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, evidence of excellence in both teaching and research, and the contact information for three references who will provide letters of reference. Questions can be emailed to the chair of the search committee, Susan Bell (sbell@bowdoin.edu).
Review of applications will begin on January 15, 2010.
Bowdoin College offers strong support for faculty research and teaching. We recognize that recruiting and retaining faculty may involve considerations of spouses and domestic partners. To that end, where possible, the College will attempt to accommodate and respond creatively to the needs of spouses and partners of members of the faculty.
Bowdoin's Department of Sociology and Anthropology has equal numbers of sociologists and anthropologists on tenure track lines, and we work together as a department to foster collegial research and teaching relationships. (For more information about individual faculty, see the departmental faculty page). Each of the sociologists teaches two courses a semester, rotating amongst core courses, as well as teaching courses in our areas of expertise and interest. We also have an opportunity to supervise students in semester-long courses of independent study, and year-long honors projects. Presently, there are roughly 90 students majoring or minoring in sociology, a large proportion of them also majoring in another discipline or program.
At the same time each of us is identified with sociology, all of us teach courses that are cross-listed with other departments or programs (Africana Studies, Asian Studies, Environmental Studies, Latin American Studies, Gender and Women's Studies, Gay and Lesbian Studies). Several of us make use of Bowdoin's two museums (Peary MacMillan Arctic Museum and Bowdoin College Museum of Art) in our courses.
The Department strongly encourages the development of scholarly and pedagogical excellence, providing faculty with funding and mentoring to support this development. In addition, the College provides annual funds for faculty travel as well as competitive funds for research, travel and course development. There is also a junior faculty sabbatical leave program. Beyond the College, in the past few years members of the department have also been successful in securing grants or fellowships from private and public agencies including the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities and American Council of Learned Societies, and the Social Science Research Council.
Research and teaching are equally valued at Bowdoin and faculty are expected to excel at both. We all have an active and productive research program. Small class sizes and the 2/2 teaching load help make this possible. The College supports faculty research in a number of other ways. For instance, the College's junior leave policy allows faculty to take their first sabbatical leave after three years of service. This affords an opportunity to make significant strides in research prior to tenure. Bowdoin also provides yearly travel allowances (currently $1200) for conferences. Internal funding is available for research, course development, incorporating students in faculty research, etc. The College also provides new faculty with modest startup funds to meet individual needs.
We teach two courses per semester. Each sociologist teaches one or two courses each year from among the four core courses required for all sociology majors, Introductory Sociology, Sociological Research, Classics of Sociological Theory, and the Senior Seminar. Introductory Sociology is the one survey course we teach, capped at 50 students. In addition to these core courses, faculty teach students in a mix of intermediate courses or first year seminars typically in our areas of expertise. Course enrollment limits for 200 level courses are set at 35 and are generally at capacity. Incoming faculty can expect to encounter a mix of majors, minors, and students from across the College who have an interest in the topic or are fulfilling a distribution requirement (example 200-level courses for Fall 2006).
Seminars are capped at 16 students. The department participates in the first year seminar program (Bowdoin's version of Writing Across the Curriculum) and these popular courses often serve as a gateway to our major. The capstone seminar in sociology, in which students look reflexively at the discipline, is taken during the spring semester of students' senior year.
Independent studies and honors are an important part of our work here. It's not unusual to have 1-2 independent study students each semester and an honors project every year (Further information about our independent study and honors program).
Bowdoin is located on a beautiful 110-acre campus in Brunswick, Maine, a town of 20,000 that serves as the gateway to the mid-coast region. Brunswick features a welcome environment for raising families, as well as an array of cultural resources, including galleries, theaters, local Sociology & Anthropology attractions, independent bookstores and restaurants. One-half hour south is Portland, Maine, the state's largest metropolis (75,000) and its cultural mecca. Portland is a lively city with a surfeit of ethnic restaurants, an active waterfront, theatre companies, a symphony, an art museum, etc. Boston is easily reached by train (from Portland), bus or car. The Portland Jetport has direct flights to many northeastern and mid Atlantic states. These amenities together with the unparalleled natural assets of Maine (beautiful coastline and nearby mountains), make the Brunswick area a great place to live.
Links
- Service Learning at Bowdoin: Since the fall of 2000, 36 service learning courses in eleven departments have been developed and offered at Bowdoin College. Through these courses nearly 800 students have participated in service learning activities through research, data collection and direct service for local agencies. In addition, over 40 faculty and academic staff members have participated in service learning seminars on and off campus. The Community Service Resource Center is committed to helping faculty and staff engage in teaching, research and service which strengthens student learning and addresses significant community needs.
- Teaching Methods: Problem Based Service Learning
- Official HR job posting for this position
Bowdoin College is committed to equality through affirmative action and is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage inquiries from candidates who will enrich and contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our college. Bowdoin College does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, or disability status in employment, or in our education programs.