2026-27 Lecturer or Teaching Specialist: History

The Department of History in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota is accepting applications for lecturers or teaching specialists to teach courses that may occur in Fall 2026 (August 31, 2026 - January 13, 2027); or Spring 2027 (January 14, 2027 - May 30, 2027). The department occasionally needs teaching specialists or lecturers to teach courses that cannot be staffed by regular faculty or graduate students. Openings of this kind sometimes occur for teaching regular academic session courses, evening and summer session courses. These positions are temporary and part-time. This does not constitute a posting for vacancies but establishes a "pool" of instructors for Academic Year 2026-27. Applicants will be selected from this pool on an as-needed basis throughout the academic year. Applications will not be acknowledged upon receipt and will only be reviewed should openings occur.

Lecturers in the Department of History design, deliver, and evaluate courses and modules for undergraduate students. They are expected to maintain high standards of teaching quality and innovation, and to contribute to the curriculum development and enhancement of the department.

Responsibilities:

• Prepare for and teach classes in ways that best help students to learn
• Create Canvas course sites and syllabi that conform to department and University policies
• Stay current regarding the professional body of knowledge in field of practice
• Hold regular office hours that are clearly announced in advance
• Respond to student needs and questions professionally and in a timely manner
• Work to resolve student complaints while working with relevant department, college, and university offices
• Evaluate student learning and assign grades
• Communicate instructor evaluation process to students
• Receive department and University emails and respond in a timely manner
• Understand and follow all relevant University policies and procedures and participate in trainings, as required
• Participate in relevant departmental meetings
• Take on other such other duties as may be reasonably expected
• Submit annual review materials

Minimum Qualifications:

• ABD or PhD degree in History or related field with at least two years of teaching experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five years of college-level teaching experience. Preference will be given to applicants with knowledge and/or training in the University of Minnesota teaching methodology. Must be capable of delivering high-quality instruction to a diverse student body.
• Applicants who are ABD will be appointed at the Teaching Specialist level; those with a Ph.D. will be appointed at the Lecturer level.

About the Department of History
For well over a century, Minnesota's Department of History has cultivated its special role within the liberal arts and pursued its mission with great distinction. We are proud of what we have accomplished and eagerly look forward to building on this legacy of excellence as we move through the twenty-first century. History Department faculty members share a uniform enthusiasm for scholarship and a dedication to research and publication. They have pursued historical evidence "in the field" in Northern China and Southern Africa, in archives in Paris and Nantucket, in libraries in Hangzhou and Dublin. The sources they study include ancient cuneiform tablets and Soviet newspapers, census records and science fiction, interviews and trial transcripts.

At Minnesota, we see scholarship, teaching, service, and outreach to the community in Minnesota and beyond as mutually reinforcing. All members of the faculty teach at all levels from freshmen surveys through graduate seminars. Many faculty members have won awards in recognition of the high quality of their scholarship, teaching, and advising, and research. They have received fellowships from the most prestigious foundations and government granting agencies. We have a lively community of graduate student scholar-teachers. Our undergraduate major prepares some of the best students in the College of Liberal Arts for a variety of careers. Faculty and students are engaged in a variety of outreach and service-learning projects that bring historical scholarship and a sense of the past to the wider community.

About the College of Liberal Arts
Home to the arts, social science and humanities disciplines and programs, the College of Liberal Arts comprises 31 academic departments, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and administrative/support units. CLA has over 1200 faculty and staff spanning research, teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over twenty buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA enrolls nearly 14,000 undergraduate students, half of the undergraduate enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, and over 1,600 graduate students and has an annual all-funds budget of over $250 million.

CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for everyone. That foundational commitment begins in our CLA Constitution. CLA is committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students, diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff, and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and viewpoints-so that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need to understand and respect differences.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in CLA

Working in CLA

The Benefits of Working at the U

Pay Range: $3500-4500 per credit; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section. This position requires that you attach a cover letter and resume. We may ask for additional materials at a later time.

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.