To read about the post-doctoral fellowship in the Introduction to the Humanities Program, click here.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Post-Doctoral Lecturers
for
The Program in Structured Liberal Education
<Applications are no longer being accepted for these positions>
Stanford University's Program in Structured Liberal Education (SLE) seeks one or two full-time post-doctoral Lecturers for 2009-10. Founded in 1977, SLE is a residential "great books" program for freshmen; at nine to ten credits each term, the curriculum fulfills several requirements, including the Introduction to the Humanities (IHUM) and Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) requirements. Instruction includes three lectures each week, usually by Stanford faculty members; two weekly seminar meetings of one hour and forty-five minutes each; ad hoc meetings between the freshmen and assigned upperclassmen who serve as their writing tutors; a weekly film or special event; and a considerable amount of informal contact in the SLE dormitory environment.
The position of Post-doctoral Lecturer is a full-time position that involves leading the two weekly seminars (with the same group of about fifteen students in both), attending all of the lectures, commenting on three papers each term both in writing and in one-to-one meetings with the students, assuming some administrative tasks, and participating in a general way in the life of the program. From time to time a Lecturer may be called upon to deliver a lecture to the class. The Lecturers, five in all, work closely as a team with the Director of the Program, a Stanford faculty member, with the upper-class tutors assigned to their seminars, and to some degree with the participating Stanford faculty. The syllabus is developed collaboratively by the group to offer a wide-ranging introduction to the disciplines of the humanities represented at Stanford.
The syllabus for one term in 2008-2009, the Winter Quarter, includes a Gospel, a Pauline letter, Augustine's Confessions, the Qur'an, Ibn Hazm’s Ring of the Dove, Aquinas's Summa Theologica, Dante's Inferno, Machiavelli's The Prince, Montaigne's Essays, Shakespeare’s Tempest, Descartes' Discourse on Method, Locke's Second Treatise of Government, Mandeville’s Fable of the Bees, and Rousseau's Social Contract.
Lecturers are appointed September 1, 2009 for a one-year term. The position is renewable for up to two additional years depending on programmatic need and job performance. Starting salary will be at least $49,000. Supplemental stipends of at least $1800 are provided to support fellows’ research and scholarship. As full-time employees, SLE Lecturers receive University fringe benefits. For information on Stanford benefits, see http://benefitsu.stanford.edu/.
Eligibility requirements include: Ph.D. filed by June 30, 2009; strong record of humanities scholarship; and evidence of teaching excellence. Other desirable qualifications may include: experience in a "great books" curriculum; experience with teaching freshmen, especially in a residential environment; expertise in writing instruction. To apply for a SLE post-doctoral fellowship:
Step One:
Complete the on-line application form.
<Applications are no longer being accepted for these positions>
Step Two:
Submit your print materials via U.S.mail to SLE Post-Doctoral Search Committee, c/o Introduction to the Humanities Program, 590 Escondido Mall, Sweet Hall 2nd Floor, Stanford, CA 94305-3068. Please include the following:
- A letter of application that addresses all aspects of your qualifications (including the status of your dissertation) and describes your preparation for teaching in a "great books" curriculum and your experience with writing instruction.
- A Teaching Statement that describes your teaching philosophy and your approach to teaching one or more of the texts mentioned above or identified in the on-line form.
- Student, peer and/or other teaching evaluations. Evaluation summaries are preferable to copies of individual student forms.
- Curriculum vitae.
Step Three:
Arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to the above address. Please be sure that least one reference describes the status of your dissertation progress.
All materials should be postmarked by February 28, 2009.
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page if you have any questions. If there is something not covered there, or if you have any additional concerns, please contact ihumprogram@stanford.edu.