Department/Organization
224102 - Social Work
Rank
Instructor
Position Summary
The University of Alabama School of Social Work invites applications for an Instructor and Continuing Education (CE) Coordinator. This is a three-year renewable, non-tenure earning faculty position (full-time, 12-month) to begin May 1, 2027. Successful candidates must have an MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited institution, at least three years of post-MSW social work experience, and preferably licensed to practice social work at the LMSW level in Alabama or be license-eligible. Previous continuing education and/or classroom teaching experience are expected. Applicants should be innovative educators who can design and implement extracurricular educational opportunities for students and practicing social workers, with a focus on current and future workforce development needs. This includes in-person and distance educational approaches. In addition, applicants will engage in developing resources and building relationships with agencies needed in continuing education. The expected start date is May 1, 2027. This is not a remote position.
Detailed Position Information
The University of Alabama School of Social Work invites applications for an Instructor and Continuing Education Coordinator. We seek a collaborative, forward-thinking colleague to develop and implement coordinate continuing education initiatives, teach courses in our BSW and MSW Programs as needed, and engage in service to the School, University, and profession. This is a three-year renewable, non-tenure earning faculty position (full-time, 12-month) to begin May 1, 2027. This is not a remote position.
Continuing education for the School of Social Work is housed within the Office of Experiential Programs and Community Partnerships, and coordinates extracurricular and continuing educational opportunities for current students and the larger social workforce. The Continuing Education Coordinator and Instructor will be a member of the Practicum Team and report to the Director of Practicum. Some travel is required. Administrative tasks include: developing external partnership with agencies for workforce development initiatives; developing and implementing extracurricular and continuing education learning opportunities, both in-person or distance learning; coordinating with other units on campus to deliver educational programming (e.g., OTIDE); administering CEUs for participants; and evaluating continuing education programming. Teaching and advising will be required, and other School-related activities and committee service will be assigned as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Successful candidates must have an MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited institution, and at least three years of post-MSW social work experience. Previous practicum education experience and/or classroom teaching experience are expected. Applicants should be eager to work with students in both the undergraduate and master’s programs and have interest and expertise in reaching our diverse student body through in-person and online education. In addition, applicants will engage in developing resources and building relationships with agencies needed in practicum education.
Preferred Qualifications
Licensed to practice social work at the LMSW level in Alabama or be license-eligible; prior experience with higher education, practicum, and/or continuing education. Applicants should be innovative educators who can design and implement extracurricular educational opportunities for students and social work practitioners, with a focus on current and future workforce development needs. This includes in-person and distance educational approaches. In addition, applicants will engage in developing resources and building relationships with agencies needed in practicum and continuing education.
To apply, candidates should go to https://careers.ua.edu to complete an online application and upload the following:
• Cover letter detailing interest in the position and statements describing: a) practice philosophy and experience and b) teaching philosophy and experience.
• Curriculum vitae;
• Contact information for three (3) professional references.
Review of applications will begin December 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. The expected start date is May 1, 2027. Confidential inquiries about the positions may be sent to Dr. Laura Hopson (lmhopson@sw.ua.edu) or Dr. Sheila McMahon (smmcmahon@ua.edu) Search Committee Co-Chairs.
Minimum Qualifications
Successful candidates must have an MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited institution, and at least three years of post-MSW social work experience. Previous practicum education experience and/or classroom teaching experience are expected. Applicants should be eager to work with students in both the undergraduate and master’s programs and have interest and expertise in reaching our diverse student body through in-person and online education. In addition, applicants will engage in developing resources and building relationships with agencies needed in practicum education.
Preferred Qualifications
Licensed to practice social work at the LMSW level in Alabama or be license-eligible; prior experience with higher education, practicum, and/or continuing education. Applicants should be innovative educators who can design and implement extracurricular educational opportunities for students and social work practitioners, with a focus on current and future workforce development needs. This includes in-person and distance educational approaches. In addition, applicants will engage in developing resources and building relationships with agencies needed in practicum and continuing education.
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
To apply, candidates should go to https://careers.ua.edu to complete an online application and upload the following: • Cover letter detailing interest in the position and statements describing: a) practice philosophy and experience and b) teaching philosophy and experience. • Curriculum vitae; • Contact information for three (3) professional references. Review of applications will begin December 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. The expected start date is May 1, 2027. Confidential inquiries about the positions may be sent to Dr. Laura Hopson (lmhopson@sw.ua.edu) or Dr. Sheila McMahon (smmcmahon@ua.edu) Search Committee Co-Chairs.
About the Division/College/School
The School of Social Work was established in 1965 by an act of the Alabama Legislature to address the state’s critical shortage of and pressing need for professionally trained social workers. Now, it stands as the only one of its kind in the state of Alabama, offering BSW, MSW, DSW, and Ph.D. degrees in social work. Additionally, the college is the only school outside Washington, D.C., with semester-long internship opportunities in the nation’s capital.
Since our founding, we have been proud to lead the charge in training students for tomorrow’s workforce. Our distinguished faculty are recognized nationally and internationally for their research and exceptional advancements in the field of social work. During the previous year, we received 23 million dollars in external funding to support our school’s research efforts.
About the University
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.
In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.
UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.
For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.
UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.
Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.
The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.
Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf) discrimination is illegal poster.
The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.
