Assistant Professor of Japanese

Assistant Professor of Japanese

College: College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and The
Arts - 321 College

Dept/School: World Languages and Cultures - 32221

Vacancy Number: 16F-828

Position Number: 618

Location of Workplace: Main UNCW Campus

Brief Summary of Work for this Position:

The Department of World Languages and Cultures at the University of
North Carolina Wilmington seeks applications for a tenure-track
position as Assistant Professor of Japanese to begin August
2027.

The Japanese program at UNCW is currently small but over capacity,
with high student interest and enrollment demonstrating a potential
for growth. We seek a candidate with exceptional language teaching
capability and a vision for contributing to continued program
development, with the goal of demonstrating the value of Japanese
study to the university and students. Teaching responsibilities
include a regular research-intensive load of five courses per
year.

The successful candidate will teach Japanese language and culture
courses, work together with the Japanese minor program coordinator
to offer study abroad programs in Japan, advise students and
relevant student organizations, collaborate with related programs,
produce scholarship, and provide department and university
service.

The successful candidate will be responsible for at least one
course on an aspect of contemporary Japanese language, culture, or
society (e.g. arts and entertainment, business and finance,
demographic challenges, politics, sociolinguistics, technology,
tourism and recreation, and so on). The research area is thus open
to all candidates who can demonstrate how their research
contributes to potential growth in the Japanese minor and the
Japanese program broadly.

The successful candidate is expected to be an expert in Japanese
language pedagogy from the beginning to upper-intermediate levels
of proficiency. Special consideration will be given to candidates
with the demonstrated ability to build connections with other
academic, extracurricular, or community-based programs.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• PhD or EdD in the field of Japanese language and culture, or

closely related discipline (such as Second Language Acquisition or
Asian Studies, with at least 18 graduate credit hours in Japanese
language, literature, culture, pedagogy, etc.)

• Please note: ABD applicants will be

considered; however, if PhD or EdD is not confirmed by
August 1, 2027, appointment will be at the rank of Lecturer for the
first academic year of employment and PhD must be confirmed by July
1, 2028 for eligibility of continued employment. In addition, one
of the references included in application must be dissertation
chair.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Japanese and

English

• Evidence of an active research agenda
• Potential to contribute to courses in the Japanese minor
• Experience teaching Japanese as a foreign language at the

university level

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills &
Experience:

• Experience developing and/or teaching courses in Japanese

contemporary culture, language and society, or Japanese for
specific purposes including business

• Experience with leading or developing study abroad programs,

internships, work opportunities for Japanese learners, or
community-based partnerships

Required Certifications or Licensure:

Primary Function of Organizational Unit:

The Department of World Languages and Cultures in the College of
Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts is one of the largest
academic units at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. With
over 50 faculty members, we offer on-campus and online master's
degrees in Spanish; on-campus and online post-baccalaureate
certificates in Hispanic Studies; a combined BA/MA program in
Spanish; bachelor's degrees in French, German, and Spanish; and
minors in Classics, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish,
and Russian. We also offer classes in American Sign Language,
Arabic, and Italian.

College/School Information:

The College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (CHSSA) is
home to 14 academic departments and offers a wide variety of
undergraduate and graduate degree programs including the Bachelor
of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Master of Arts,
Master of Fine Arts, and Master of Public Administration as well as
combined bachelor's/master's degree programs in Spanish and
English. CHSSA also houses the Interdisciplinary Studies
program(s), Gender Studies and Research Center and the Academic
Resource Center, which offers full-service, professional advising
for all CHSSA undergraduate students.

In addition, CHSSA offers a full complement of interdisciplinary
minors and post baccalaureate certificates including: Africana
studies, American studies, Asian studies, classical studies,
conflict management and resolution, emergency and disaster
management, forensic science, Hispanic studies, journalism, Latin
American studies, medical humanities, Middle East and Islamic
studies, Native American studies, professional writing and
publishing, science and medical writing, and women's, gender, and
sexuality studies.

CHSSA contributes significantly to the curriculum that comprises
UNCW's University Studies Program, through which all undergraduates
gain a foundation in the liberal arts and develop the transferable
skills essential for life in the twenty-first century. CHSSA
strives in its undergraduate programs and in its University Study
offerings to nurture creative thinking, intellectual curiosity, and
academic integrity in students while providing them with a solid
foundation of knowledge in their chosen fields. Graduate programs
in CHSSA are designed to develop intellectual competence and to
prepare the student for careers in business, industry, government,
teaching or for further study at the doctoral level.

Applied learning is a hallmark of the student experience in CHSSA.
Each of CHSSA's departments requires an applied learning experience
as a part of the curriculum for its undergraduate majors. Examples
include faculty-directed research, internships, service learning,
and capstone courses and projects, all of which challenge students
to integrate various strands of knowledge and to apply that
knowledge to broader, real-world or real disciplinary
situations.

Upon completion of their studies, all CHSSA students will have the
necessary preparation for rewarding careers, advanced study,
effective citizenship, and meaningful lives. CHSSA offers limitless
opportunities to engage in collaborative and interdisciplinary
research and service while also making a positive societal impact.
Come and join our vibrant academic environment that values
discovery, innovation, and creativity.

University Information:

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal
university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring,
research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class
faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level
for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful
academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical
thinking.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a
full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well
as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology,
nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning
options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN
program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working
professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program
focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly
activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral
Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University)
by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher
Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since
1969.

Eligibility for Employment:

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender
background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor
vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal
law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment
eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United
States.

Number of Openings: Single Incumbent

Special Notes to Applicants:

Prior to the official appointment to the university, the candidate
selected for hire must be able to demonstrate eligibility to teach
assigned courses by successfully meeting the credentialing
requirements based on official transcripts and other documentation
as required.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59PM EST on the posting
closing date. To apply, please complete the online application
available at https://jobs.uncw.edu/ and attach the
following required materials as Adobe PDF documents:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vita
• Combined Unofficial Graduate Transcripts
• Research Summary/Statement of Research Plans (1-2 pages)
• Teaching Philosophy (1-2 pages)

Additional materials may be requested from applicants invited to
interview for the position.

Please note that a minimum of three references are required for all
applications. Note:. If ABD at time at application one of the
references included in application must be dissertation
chair.

The reference contact information you provide may be used to
request reference letters during the screening process.

Questions about the position or the online application process
should be directed to CHSSA Recruitment Specialist Jennifer Itell @
itellj@uncw.edu.

Position Type: Permanent

Job Posting Date: 10/30/2026

Job Close Date: 12/01/2026

To apply, visit https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/41355

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for
employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender
identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color,
national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual
orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military
service member status, genetic information, or relationship to
other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability
represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or
where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility
criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

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