The Criminal Justice (CJ) Program in the School of Public Service at Boise State University seeks applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position, with research and teaching expertise in the areas of courts, law, legal issues, and/or sentencing to start in the fall semester 2026. We seek a faculty member with a doctorate in criminal justice, criminology, or a closely related field. The successful candidate should demonstrate a record of conducting research in their area, teaching effectiveness, and a commitment to serving the community, University, School of Public Service, CJ Program, and discipline.
The successful applicant will have an active research agenda and a record of peer-reviewed and public service scholarship, or clear potential to develop such a record. The successful applicant will be responsible for teaching a range of courses in various formats and modalities, including undergraduate and graduate level classes such as Introduction to Courts and Sentencing, Criminal Procedure, and Criminal Law, among others, such as research methods or statistics. The person in this position will supervise master’s students and teach courses that are a part of our growing Legal Studies minor. We further seek a candidate with a demonstrated commitment to student support, professional service, institutional leadership, and civic engagement.
Department/School overview:
Founded in 1966, Criminal Justice currently offers a bachelor’s (BS), a minor, and a master’s (MA) in Criminal Justice. The program serves more than 600 students. Approximately 40 percent of BS graduates go on to attend law school or graduate school. Thousands of graduates of the program have gone onto jobs in victim services, policing, law and courts, corrections, and research. Faculty in the program are committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service.
Criminal Justice is one of a number of academic programs in the School of Public Service (SPS) at Boise State University, which embodies the university’s state-mandated public affairs mission through its innovative, interdisciplinary approach to teaching, research, and community engagement. Established in 2015, SPS was intentionally designed to encourage faculty to collaborate across disciplines and focus on addressing real-world problems. The School’s mission—to prepare problem-solvers and leaders through education, research, and community engagement to tackle society’s challenges—guides every aspect of its work. With a student body in the School of approximately 1,500 and over 100 faculty and staff, SPS has graduated approximately 8,000 alumni who serve in impactful roles across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
About Boise State:
Nestled along the Boise River and steps from the state capitol, Boise State University fosters a vibrant and welcoming academic environment that fuels student and employee success. We’re a trailblazing institution, nationally recognized for our innovative spirit and commitment to positive impact on Idaho and beyond.
We’re building a thriving community of faculty and staff whose unique skills, experiences, and perspectives come together to create a rich and rewarding academic experience. Applications from all backgrounds are welcomed.
Learn more about faculty careers at Boise State and the City of Boise.
Minimum qualifications:
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A Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Criminology, or a closely related field at the time of appointment is required. A J.D. alone is not sufficient for this position. Advanced ABDs may be considered, but a Ph.D. must be transcripted prior to the position’s start date.
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The candidate must be able to demonstrate excellence, or the potential for excellence, in teaching, research, and service.
Preferred qualifications:
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A Ph.D. in Criminal Justice or Criminology.
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Evidence of, or strong interest in, pursuing external funding opportunities.
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Interest in and ability to teach graduate-level research design and statistics.
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Experience with, or interest in developing, experiential and career-focused learning pedagogy.
Required application materials:
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An updated curriculum vitae (CV).
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A letter of application outlining the applicant’s qualifications, experience, and interest in the position, with specific reference to research, teaching, and service.
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A sample of scholarly work.
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Contact information for three professional references.
Closing Date:
Position will remain open until filled, with review to begin on September 8th, 2025.
For questions regarding this position, please contact Dr. Jeff Lyons at jeffreylyons@boisestate.edu.
Salary and Benefits:
Salary starts at $63,000 and is commensurate with experience.
Our standard faculty contract is a 9-month contract (unless otherwise noted) with pay and benefits spread over 12 months. This is a yearly, renewable contract, unless noted that the position is temporary. More information about faculty contract and work days is available here.
Boise State University provides a best-in-class benefits package, including (but not limited to):