Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice (Courts, Law, and Judicial Studies)/College of Liberal Arts

We seek applicants who are dedicated to serving The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s student body as an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.

The Department of Criminal Justice invites applications for one full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice (Courts, Law, and Judicial Studies). Areas of interest may include courts and judicial processes, criminal law and procedure, sentencing, prosecution and defense, plea bargaining, bail and pretrial justice, judicial decision-making, specialty and problem-solving courts, wrongful convictions, legal decision-making, court policy and reform, or related areas. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses within the candidate’s area of specialization and core Criminal Justice courses as departmental needs require, with opportunities to teach in both Traditional and Accelerated Online graduate formats.

About UTRGV:

UTRGV serves the Rio Grande Valley and beyond via an innovative and unique multicultural education dedicated to student access and success. By championing leading research, healthcare, and application of university discoveries, we support sustainable development, community engagement, and well-being. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is committed to building and sustaining a highly qualified and talented faculty to pursue excellence in everything that we do, including teaching, research, and service.

Drawing on our unique identity as the leading Hispanic-Serving Institution in a bilingual and bicultural environment, UTRGV will promote student access and success by building from strength in education and creating a vibrant campus experience. By 2027, we will accelerate transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond by driving meaningful advancements in research and creative works, expanding access to high-quality and affordable healthcare, and fostering authentic community engagement and integration.

UTRGV is a distributed campus, one university spanning four counties and multiple locations. Our purpose is to be a university for the entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Over 91% of the students enrolled at UTRGV identify as Hispanic, making UTRGV one of the top 3 universities with the highest percentage of Hispanic students. For additional information, please visit UTRGV website.

Department/College Background

The Department of Criminal Justice is part of the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and is one of the University’s largest departments. The Department offers the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) and the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ), including Traditional and Accelerated Online pathways. Fall 2025 BSCJ enrollment was approximately 2,245 students, and Fall 2025 MSCJ enrollment was approximately 90 students. Faculty are based primarily on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses and support undergraduate and graduate education, research, professional engagement, and community partnerships.