The Social Science Division of the Seaver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at Pepperdine University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Political Science to begin August 1, 2026. We are open to various areas of expertise within the fields of either U.S. or international politics. An interest in teaching an introductory U.S. government course that serves the general education program of Seaver College, an introductory statistics course for the social sciences, or a course on Hispanic or Latin American politics would be welcome regardless of specialty. Qualifications include a Ph.D. in Political Science or a closely related field, an active scholarly agenda, and a commitment to excellent teaching in a Christian liberal arts environment.
Pepperdine’s undergraduate Seaver College is a residential liberal arts college of approximately 3,500 students situated in Malibu, California. Successful applicants must have an active commitment to the Christian mission of the University and reflect on their willingness to support the mission of Seaver College in their application materials.
Review of applicants will begin on October 1, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.
Application Instructions
The standard application documents are:
- Letter of application
- Curriculum vitae
- Transcripts of all graduate work. (Unofficial copies are acceptable for the application; however, official transcripts may be required for selected applicants.)
- Personal Statement. Reflect on Pepperdine’s Christian mission and address your pattern of support for generally accepted Christian values and the University’s mission, your active participation in a faith community, and your practice or vision for integrating faith and learning in the classroom.
To submit application materials please click here: https://apply.interfolio.com/171069
Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.
Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Individuals will be required to disclose criminal convictions on a designated form after receiving a conditional offer of employment; failure to disclose accurate information may result in withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.
This is a Full-Time, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.
Expected Pay Range: $90,174 - $96,257 per year
The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.
Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Please address any inquiries regarding the position to the chair of the search committee:
Dr. Chris Soper (chris.soper@pepperdine.edu)
Social Science Division
Seaver College, Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263