Job Title: Assistant Professor of Sociology & Criminology
Department/School: Department of Sociology & Criminology
Location: Fayetteville, AR
Start date: August 10, 2026
Position Summary: The Department of Sociology & Criminology in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Sociology & Criminology to start in August 2026. This is a standard nine-month faculty appointment with a competitive startup package. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to the Public Policy Ph.D. and Data Science / Analytics B.A. programs.
At minimum, the person hired must have: (1) a Ph.D. in Sociology, Criminology, or related social science discipline, (2) an active research agenda and evidence of scholarly productivity, (3) evidence of the ability to contribute to one or more departmental strengths in the research areas of criminology, community, social inequality and/or stratification, and health, and (4) evidence of contributing to a scholarly environment for all through teaching, mentoring, research, outreach, and/or service commensurate with rank.
We prefer candidates who have a strong record or demonstrated potential for securing research funding, and those with a demonstrated ability to engage in scholarship that addresses interlocking inequalities. Additionally, candidates with a demonstrated ability to teach graduate and undergraduate courses in criminology and sociology, or both, are highly desirable.
Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.
About the Department
The Department is a dynamic, productive, collegial, and student success-oriented unit in Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. The Department offers undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Criminology, and an M.A. in Sociology, and affiliation with three research units: the Center for Social Research, Community and Family Institute, and the Terrorism Research Center. The Department participates in African and African American Studies, Asian Studies, Latin American & Latino Studies, and other interdisciplinary area studies programs. The department contributes to the larger university strategic missions outlined in detail in the Chancellor’s guiding priorities. For more information about the department, please visit https://fulbright.uark.edu/departments/sociology/.
Duties will include:
- 40% Teaching
- 40% Research
- 20% Service
Minimum Qualifications:
- Ph.D., or terminal degree, in Sociology, Criminology, or a closely related field from an accredited institution of higher education conferred by the date of initial appointment.
- Active research agenda and evidence of scholarly productivity.
- Evidence of the ability to contribute to one or more departmental strengths in the research areas of criminology, community, social inequality and/or stratification, and health.
- Evidence of contributing to a scholarly environment for all through teaching, mentoring, research, outreach, and/or service commensurate with rank.
Preferred Qualifications:
- A strong record or demonstrated potential for securing funding for research.
- A demonstrated ability to engage in scholarship that addresses interlocking inequalities.
- A demonstrated ability to teach graduate and undergraduate courses in criminology and sociology, or both.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Completed applications received by October 24, 2025, will be assured full consideration. Late applications will be reviewed as necessary to fill the position.
For additional inquiries, please contact the search committee chair, Dr. Jeff Gruenewald, at jgruenew@uark.edu.
For a complete position announcement and information regarding how to apply, visit https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UASYS/job/Assistant-Professor-of-Sociology—Criminology_R0077298-1?locations=17a66cdad98201f7890cfb48ca00e249.
Applicants must submit
- a curriculum vitae,
- a cover letter/letter of application,
- a research statement (no more than 2 pages), and
- a list of three professional references (name, title, email address, and phone number) willing to provide letters of recommendation if requested during the application process.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Annual Salary/Benefits Package: Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.
EMPLOYER INFORMATION
The University of Arkansas: Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.
Fulbright College: The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most academically diverse unit on campus with 3 schools, 16 departments, and 43 academic programs and research centers. The college provides the core curriculum for all University of Arkansas students and is named for J. William Fulbright, former university president and longtime U.S. senator. The School of Social Work, The School of Art, and the School of Journalism and Strategic Media are all a part of Fulbright College.
The Community: The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.
The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Federal law prohibits the University from discriminating on these bases. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment. All application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.