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Assistant Professor - Social Work

Northeastern Illinois University · Chicago, IL · Full time

Posted Sep 15, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about your own research agenda and how it connects to social and economic justice.

What they are checking: Whether their scholarship fits the department's values and can be sustained toward tenure.

How do you balance teaching, scholarship and service in your first years on the tenure track?

What they are checking: Whether they have a realistic plan to meet tenure expectations without neglecting students.

What would you do

How do you build community partnerships into your teaching or research?

What they are checking: Whether they engage with Chicago communities in ways that benefit partners, not just their own publications.

How do you support students at an urban, diverse university who may be balancing work and family?

What they are checking: Whether they understand NEIU students and adapt their teaching and advising to support them.

How would you work with faculty across the BSW and MSW programs to keep research education consistent?

What they are checking: Whether they can collaborate on curriculum and build continuity between program levels.

A student's writing shows they are struggling with the course material. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they give useful feedback and connect students to support while keeping standards high.

About the work

You would coordinate the BSW research curriculum. How would you teach research to social work students who are nervous about it?

What they are checking: Whether they can make research feel useful and doable for students focused on practice.

How would you also teach a BSW practice course, and what experience would you draw on?

What they are checking: Whether they have real practice experience to teach skills courses, which the department says it needs.

How do you teach ethics so students can handle real situations in the field?

What they are checking: Whether they connect the NASW Code of Ethics to concrete cases students will face.

What does CSWE accreditation mean for how you design and assess a course?

What they are checking: Whether they understand competency-based education and how courses feed into accreditation.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Northeastern Illinois University.

Northeastern offers a rewarding working environment for our students and employees. Our faculty and staff are smart, dedicated people who work to create an excellent urban university experience for bright and motivated students. Job Summary: The Department of Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position beginning in January or August 2027. Job Description: The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate social work courses, with primary teaching responsibilities in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program. The position includes responsibility for coordinating and providing leadership for the BSW research curriculum while collaborating with faculty across the BSW and MSW programs to promote continuity in research education Because of the collaborative nature of the department and curricular needs, candidates should also be prepared to teach practice courses in the BSW curriculum. Additional responsibilities include advising students, maintaining an active program of scholarship, and providing service to the department, college, university, and profession. The Department of Social Work values collaborative teaching, engaged scholarship, community partnerships, and the preparation of ethical social workers who advance social and economic justice. We seek colleagues who are committed to student success and who view teaching, scholarship, and service as mutually reinforcing aspects of academic life. Minimal Qualifications: • A doctorate in social work or a closely related field (ABD candidates will be considered if all degree requirements are completed before the appointment begins). • An MSW from a CSWE-accredited program. • At least two years of post-MSW practice experience. Preferred Qualifications: Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate: • Evidence of effective teaching or strong potential for teaching effectiveness in higher education. • Experience coordinating, developing, or providing leadership for a social work research curriculum. • An active or developing scholarly agenda. • Evidence of service and the ability to contribute to the department, university, profession, and community. • Experience creating inclusive learning environments and supporting the success of students from diverse backgrounds. Candidates should address the following in their application: • Experience teaching, mentoring, and supporting students from historically underserved and minoritized communities, including Latinx, African American, and other diverse student populations. • A willingness to reflect upon and continuously strengthen instructional, mentoring, and classroom practices to promote student success. • Experience integrating equity, inclusion, and social justice into teaching and learning. • Experience using culturally responsive and inclusive teaching practices that connect course content to students' lived experiences and communities. • Demonstrated ability to use reflective or data-informed teaching practices to identify and address equity gaps within courses and classrooms. Application Materials: Applicants should submit the following as one PDF file through the NEIU Workday application system: • Letter of application addressing the minimum and preferred qualifications. • Curriculum vitae. • Transcripts. • Statement of teaching philosophy. • Research statement describing the candidate's scholarly agenda. • One or two samples of scholarly writing or publications. • Three letters of reference, including at least one addressing teaching effectiveness. Please note that all candidates must be able and willing to teach face-to-face courses, in some cases at multiple NEIU campuses, as well as hold office hours face-to-face on-campus. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. This position requires a background check. ‎ Salary Range 65,000-68,000 ‎ Benefits University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). Please visit our Employee Benefits page to learn more about our comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision benefits, sick and vacation days, and participation in the State Universities Retirement System. Northeastern Illinois University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and invites applications from Women, Minorities, Veterans and Persons with Disabilities, as well as other qualified individuals. Northeastern Illinois University's positions are contingent upon the University's receipt of its State of Illinois appropriation.

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