Employment Opportunities at USD

Position Title & Department:

5755

The School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor of Counseling with a nine-month academic appointment beginning in Fall 2027. The position will primarily support Clinical Mental Health Counseling and contribute to our CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling tracks through teaching, scholarship, student mentorship, and service.

The successful candidate will bring expertise in clinical mental health counseling, clinical practice, supervision, and teaching, along with a commitment to culturally responsive counseling practices. This individual will maintain an active research agenda and collaborate with faculty, leadership teams, and community partners to prepare future counseling professionals and address the evolving needs of the field.

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

Initially founded in 1962 as an education department within the College for Women, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) was officially established in 2005. As the second oldest academic institution at the University of San Diego (USD), the school has been shaped by a profound dedication to educational equity, which drives the mission and foundational values of SOLES and guides the school’s compassionate and strategic vision to help shape the future by educating and empowering professionals to enact academic justice, enhance human dignity, and improve the quality of life across our communities locally and globally. SOLES develops future leaders, educators, and mental health practitioners to be catalysts for change by offering unparalleled experiences and thought-provoking curricula.

The school serves graduate students across three departments and offers three doctoral programs, nine master’s degrees, teacher credential programs, five undergraduate offerings, as well as seven certificates for graduate credit. SOLES is also home to eight centers and institutes that foster an ongoing commitment to assess regional needs and devise unique solutions; the initiatives the school has established and launched offer accessibility and opportunity while also confronting the challenges faced by underserved communities in the region. SOLES also maintains municipal and global partnerships, understanding that local action combined with global collaboration has the potential to inspire significant progress and change. Knowing that students gain the unique insight and perspectives necessary to thrive as global citizens by studying abroad, the school ensures all students fulfill an international requirement, providing a meaningful learning experience that complements the university’s liberal arts education.

The School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) at the University of San Diego is recognized for its excellence and transformative contributions to education and leadership. A few key highlights that reflect SOLES’ unwavering commitment to community engagement, leadership, regional, transnational, and international impact include:

• The only active Holmes Scholars Program in California supporting doctoral students in education.
• Eight centers and institutes including the Catholic Institute for Mental Health Ministry, Center for Restorative Justice, Character Education Resource Center, The Global Center, the Jacobs Institute, the Manchester Family Child Development Center, the Nonprofit Institute, and the newly launched Center for Embodied Equity and Neurodiversity.
• BiGI advancing opportunity for communities through innovative leadership and collaboration.
• Johnson’s Fellows for Anti-Ableist Teaching supporting teachers in the San Diego region who wish to deepen their understanding of best teaching practices for supporting students with disabilities.

SOLES develops and prepares the next generation of skilled practitioners to use their passion and knowledge to ignite meaningful change and embrace innovation. As a binational university situated on the border of San Diego and Mexico, we embrace our commitment to work directly with the demographics of the community we serve, including veteran and active military personnel, individuals across the socio-economic spectrum, and students from a wide array of ethnic and linguistic communities. The school’s faculty are recognized and respected experts in their field, committed to pedagogical quality and impactful scholarship. Student success is thanks to not just faculty but also the administrators and staff, who are equally devoted to ensuring the SOLES community receives the resources and support services needed to succeed.     

In addition to WSCUC institutional accreditation, many of the school’s programs hold prestigious programmatic accreditations. The MA in Marital and Family Therapy has maintained accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) since 1992. The MA in Counseling, School Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling specializations have maintained accreditation with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) since 2007 and 2013, respectively. The School Counseling program has also been approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) as a pathway for students to earn a California Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling credential. Likewise, the MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with Credentials is an approved educator preparation program by the CCTC. The MEd provides pathways for candidates to earn preliminary credentials in multiple subjects, single subjects, education specialist, and/or multiple subjects with bilingual authorization.

The School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor of Counseling with a nine-month academic appointment beginning in Fall 2027. The position will primarily support Clinical Mental Health Counseling and contribute to our CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling tracks through teaching, scholarship, student mentorship, and service.

The successful candidate will bring expertise in clinical mental health counseling, clinical practice, supervision, and teaching, along with a commitment to culturally responsive counseling practices. This individual will maintain an active research agenda and collaborate with faculty, leadership teams, and community partners to prepare future counseling professionals and address the evolving needs of the field.

Key Responsibilities:

• Teach master’s-level courses in the Counseling programs.
• Develop and maintain an active research agenda, disseminating findings through peer-reviewed publications and professional presentations.
• Mentor graduate students in research and scholarly activities.
• Advise graduate students on academic success, professional identity development, and licensure or credential pathways.
• Contribute to accreditation processes, curriculum development, and program improvement in alignment with CACREP standards.
• Collaborate with faculty to integrate evidence-based practices, and responsive clinical strategies into the counseling curriculum to serve our veteran and military affiliated families and the student demographics representative of San Diego.
• Contribute service to the department, school, university, and counseling profession.

Background check:  Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes. 

Required Qualifications:

• An earned doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from a CACREP-accredited program. ABD candidates will be considered, provided all degree requirements are completed by the appointment date.
• Active counseling licensure, such as LPC, LPCC, or LMHC, and substantial clinical practice experience.
• Experience teaching graduate-level counseling courses and evidence of effective, student-centered pedagogy.
• Experience with trauma-informed and culturally sustaining practices.
• Commitment to CACREP accreditation standards and counseling program development.
• Demonstrated ability to support inclusive and culturally responsive teaching, supervision, and clinical practice.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• For appointment at the Assistant Professor level, evidence of potential for a productive research agenda and peer-reviewed scholarship.
• For appointment at the Associate Professor level, an established record of scholarship, effective teaching, and service consistent with the university’s criteria for appointment at that rank.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Peer-reviewed publications in counseling or related journals.
• Experience as a practicing licensed professional counselor or licensed mental health counselor.
• Eligibility for California LPCC licensure.
• Clinical experience with children and adolescents.
• Experience with or demonstrated potential for grant writing.
• Evidence of leadership in professional counseling organizations.

$8,313 - $10,159 Monthly; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers.  Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer.  USD: Human Resources: Benefits

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position.  Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Note: The position will be hired either at the Assistant or the Associate level depending on the experience of the candidate selected.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.