Clinical Assistant Professor Jobs in California
Clinical assistant professor jobs in California represent one of the most active academic hiring markets in the country, concentrated in medical schools, nursing programs, health sciences colleges, and university-affiliated clinical training centers. The greatest volume of openings is in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where institutions such as the University of California system, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Kaiser Permanente regularly post these roles. The most in-demand specialties are nursing education, physician assistant studies, and physical therapy. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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The Department of Business Communication (BUCO) in the USC Marshall School of Business invites applications for one or more full-time positions as Assistant or Associate Professor of Clinical Business Communication (non-tenure-track, rank dependent on experience and qualifications), beginning in Fall 2027. Appointment at the rank of Lecturer will also be considered where a candidate ’s qualifications make it appropriate.
BUCO is forward-thinking, collaborative, and good at fostering a culture of long-term careers.
Why BUCO
The Department of Business Communication is one of seven academic units at USC Marshall and the largest department of our kind in the United States at a top-tier university. BUCO faculty have historically received meaningful support for professional development, research, and student worker assistance.
People stay.Our current 15 full-time faculty have been with the program for an average of 17 years or more, ranging from about two to 30 years. Colleagues share materials, trade ideas, and invest in one another ’s growth.
The work.We teach undergraduate and graduate students to communicate as human leaders, pairing timeless skills in persuasion strategy, speaking, and business writing with fluency in AI and the hyperconnected realities of modern business. Our courses develop the durable human capabilities at the heart of Marshall ’s mission: clear thinking, effective and ethical writing and speaking, and purpose-driven leadership communication.
Responsibilities
- Teach core courses in business and management communication: BUAD 302 (Communication Strategy in Business) and WRIT 340 (Advanced Writing for Business) for undergraduates, and GSBA 523 (Communication for Management) at the graduate level.
- Mentor students and contribute to department and school service.
- Step up to lead department initiatives and new roles as they arise, working collaboratively with colleagues.
- Contribute to curriculum development in your area of expertise, including development of electives.
- Optionally, contribute to the research portfolio of the department and the school.
Areas of Interest
We welcome depth in one or more of these areas. As long as you can contribute to the core course mission, we welcome (and have) a range of backgrounds and emphases. No one candidate needs to cover them all:
- Artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction, and their implications for how business communication is produced, evaluated, and taught.
- Leadership communication, including executive presence, persuasion and argumentation, oral communication, internal communication, and communication through change.
- Written communication, including technical communication and communicating with data.
- Business development and outreach communication: pitching, persuasive proposals, and the client and partner relationships that grow an organization.
- Storytelling, entertainment, and social media, including narrative strategy, reputation, and communication on digital platforms.
- Intercultural and conflict communication, including communication across cultures, markets, and disagreement.
Strong teachers of core business communication without these specializations are equally encouraged to apply.
Multiple Paths into This Role
Our faculty arrived here by different routes, and the department is deliberately built that way.
If you are an accomplished practitioner considering a move into academia, we welcome your application. Candidates with some experience translating expertise to others, such as through teaching, corporate training, coaching, or public speaking, are especially encouraged to apply. The department also offers structured mentorship and instructional support to ease the transition.
If you come from a traditional academic pathway, we value depth of scholarly research, teaching excellence, as well as the many ways academics gain industry experience and exposure. Consulting, executive education, professional practice, and sustained work with organizations outside the university all count in your favor.
Scholarship, Professional Development, and Workload
Ongoing professional development and engagement with the scholarly and professional communities are central to this role, and the department has a history of supporting that work.
Published research is not a requirement of this position, and many full-time positions in the department do not carry a research component.
We also welcome candidates who want to contribute to the research of the department and the school. For those with a strong publishing record and an active pipeline, course relief and a workload profile that formally includes research may be considered.
Research in any managerial, professional, or business communication field is welcome, particularly on communication and technology (including AI), social and digital media, interpersonal and leadership communication, persuasion, organizational communication, or intercultural communication.
Understanding a Non-Tenure-Track Appointment at USC
This is a non-tenure-track position. Because that category means different things at different universities, here is what it means at USC Marshall.
First, a note on the title: at Marshall, “clinical” signals a practice-oriented faculty role centered on teaching, not a medical or skills-lab role.
USC ’s research-, teaching-, practitioner-, and clinical-track faculty, known collectively as RTPC faculty, make up more than 40% of Marshall ’s full-time faculty. RTPC faculty:
- participate in faculty governance at the school and University level.
- receive the same fringe benefits as tenured and tenure-track faculty.
- have the same academic freedom as all USC faculty, in teaching and research.
- hold renewable appointments, with established procedures for reappointment and promotion.
- are eligible for administrative appointments, which may carry course release and/or additional pay.
- may volunteer for paid summer teaching and overloads.
RTPC appointments do not lead to consideration for tenure.
Preferred Qualifications
- A Ph.D. in communication, business, or a related field.
- Background experience in business and an understanding of today ’s global business environment.
- Demonstrated teaching effectiveness, or clear evidence of the potential to teach effectively.
- Demonstrated collaborative leadership, or clear potential for it.
- Comfort with online instruction and classroom technology.
Candidates with a master’s degree in a relevant field and a compelling record of professional experience and expertise are also encouraged to apply.
Application Instructions
Apply online through USC ’s faculty application portal. Applications should include:
1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae or resume
3. Statement of teaching philosophy
4. Evidence of teaching effectiveness
5. Names and email addresses for three references
Candidates with an active research agenda may also submit research materials, described below.
Your Cover Letter and CV
In addition to sharing what you think is most important for us to know about you as a candidate, please use your cover letter, CV, or both to highlight two things:
- Subject matter expertise. Show us that you know the material you would teach. Industry experience and research are the most direct ways to do that, but not the only ones.
- Collaborative leadership. We are looking for a colleague who steps up when new projects or roles come along and brings others with them. Point us to leadership experience or potential, such as initiatives you started or led, teams or committees you guided, or responsibilities you took on beyond your job description.
Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness
There is no required format, and the strongest evidence looks different depending on where you are coming from. The goal is to provide us evidence that you have experience in, success with, and a mind for creating sustained teaching experiences:
- If you have taught your own courses: we would expect details like complete course evaluation reports from the last two years, including student comments (full reports, not summaries), plus sample syllabi and assignments.
- If you have been a teaching assistant: we would expect details like the sections you led, the materials you designed, and any evaluations or feedback from those sections.
- If you come from industry: we would expect details like workshops or training programs you designed and led, participant feedback or survey results, and training materials you authored.
If your strongest evidence is not on this list, send us that evidence anyway and tell us what it shows.
Research Materials (Optional)
If you have an active research agenda, include a short research statement covering your publications from the last three years, your current working papers, and your pipeline for the next three years. Copies of recent work are welcome.
Timeline
For full consideration, apply by December 7, 2026. That is, the search committee begins its first full review of applications that week. We expect a likely second review in early January and will keep reviewing periodically until all positions are filled, at which point this posting will come down. If you are seeing this after December 7, please still apply. Initial interviews will be conducted online, with campus visits expected to follow.
Questions about the position or the status of the search are welcome. Please send them to Department Operations Manager Angie Sabido-Wood and Administrative Analyst Quanda Graves, at BUCO@marshall.usc.edu.
Salary and Compensation
The annual base salary range for this position is $92,235 - $198,138, reflecting core salary for a nine-month academic-year appointment.
Additional compensation may be available through summer teaching, fall or spring overloads, and administrative appointments. These opportunities vary with departmental need, are not guaranteed, and are separate from the base salary range.
When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate ’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
Beyond Base Salary
The salary range above is one part of what this position offers. It also comes with:
- A nine-month appointment. Base salary covers the academic year, leaving summers free for scholarship, consulting, or summer teaching.
- Tuition benefits for eligible family members, including undergraduate tuition at USC for dependent children and a competitive tuition exchange program with hundreds of other colleges and universities.
- Room to keep your practice active. Outside consulting is permitted within university guidelines.
- Comprehensive health, retirement, and wellness benefits, including discounted access to campus fitness and recreation facilities.
- Full access to the USC Libraries and their millions of print and electronic volumes.
- Los Angeles at your doorstep, with a business economy spanning entertainment, media, technology, trade, and health care, and the Trojan alumni network close at hand for guest speakers, student client projects, and program collaboration.
- A campus community with Trojan athletics, performances, and public lectures.
Details on all additional benefits and limits thereof are available upon request and/or provided at the time of offer.
About USC and USC Marshall
USC Marshall is renowned for its high-ranking undergraduate, graduate, international, online, and executive education programs, an exceptional faculty engaged in leading-edge research and teaching, a diverse and talented student body, and a commitment to technological advancement. Marshall faculty are a collaborative group of scholars who value diverse pedagogical, curricular, and methodological approaches.
Founded in 1880, the University of Southern California is located in the heart of Los Angeles and is the largest private employer in the city. As an employee of USC, you will be part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family.”
For more information, please visit http://www.marshall.usc.edu.
Equal Opportunity and Fair Chance
USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law.
USC will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.
.
The Department of Business Communication (BUCO) in the USC Marshall School of Business invites applications for one or more full-time positions as Assistant or Associate Professor of Clinical Business Communication (non-tenure-track, rank dependent on experience and qualifications), beginning in Fall 2027. Appointment at the rank of Lecturer will also be considered where a candidate ’s qualifications make it appropriate.
BUCO is forward-thinking, collaborative, and good at fostering a culture of long-term careers.
Why BUCO
The Department of Business Communication is one of seven academic units at USC Marshall and the largest department of our kind in the United States at a top-tier university. BUCO faculty have historically received meaningful support for professional development, research, and student worker assistance.
People stay.Our current 15 full-time faculty have been with the program for an average of 17 years or more, ranging from about two to 30 years. Colleagues share materials, trade ideas, and invest in one another ’s growth.
The work.We teach undergraduate and graduate students to communicate as human leaders, pairing timeless skills in persuasion strategy, speaking, and business writing with fluency in AI and the hyperconnected realities of modern business. Our courses develop the durable human capabilities at the heart of Marshall ’s mission: clear thinking, effective and ethical writing and speaking, and purpose-driven leadership communication.
Responsibilities
- Teach core courses in business and management communication: BUAD 302 (Communication Strategy in Business) and WRIT 340 (Advanced Writing for Business) for undergraduates, and GSBA 523 (Communication for Management) at the graduate level.
- Mentor students and contribute to department and school service.
- Step up to lead department initiatives and new roles as they arise, working collaboratively with colleagues.
- Contribute to curriculum development in your area of expertise, including development of electives.
- Optionally, contribute to the research portfolio of the department and the school.
Areas of Interest
We welcome depth in one or more of these areas. As long as you can contribute to the core course mission, we welcome (and have) a range of backgrounds and emphases. No one candidate needs to cover them all:
- Artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction, and their implications for how business communication is produced, evaluated, and taught.
- Leadership communication, including executive presence, persuasion and argumentation, oral communication, internal communication, and communication through change.
- Written communication, including technical communication and communicating with data.
- Business development and outreach communication: pitching, persuasive proposals, and the client and partner relationships that grow an organization.
- Storytelling, entertainment, and social media, including narrative strategy, reputation, and communication on digital platforms.
- Intercultural and conflict communication, including communication across cultures, markets, and disagreement.
Strong teachers of core business communication without these specializations are equally encouraged to apply.
Multiple Paths into This Role
Our faculty arrived here by different routes, and the department is deliberately built that way.
If you are an accomplished practitioner considering a move into academia, we welcome your application. Candidates with some experience translating expertise to others, such as through teaching, corporate training, coaching, or public speaking, are especially encouraged to apply. The department also offers structured mentorship and instructional support to ease the transition.
If you come from a traditional academic pathway, we value depth of scholarly research, teaching excellence, as well as the many ways academics gain industry experience and exposure. Consulting, executive education, professional practice, and sustained work with organizations outside the university all count in your favor.
Scholarship, Professional Development, and Workload
Ongoing professional development and engagement with the scholarly and professional communities are central to this role, and the department has a history of supporting that work.
Published research is not a requirement of this position, and many full-time positions in the department do not carry a research component.
We also welcome candidates who want to contribute to the research of the department and the school. For those with a strong publishing record and an active pipeline, course relief and a workload profile that formally includes research may be considered.
Research in any managerial, professional, or business communication field is welcome, particularly on communication and technology (including AI), social and digital media, interpersonal and leadership communication, persuasion, organizational communication, or intercultural communication.
Understanding a Non-Tenure-Track Appointment at USC
This is a non-tenure-track position. Because that category means different things at different universities, here is what it means at USC Marshall.
First, a note on the title: at Marshall, “clinical” signals a practice-oriented faculty role centered on teaching, not a medical or skills-lab role.
USC ’s research-, teaching-, practitioner-, and clinical-track faculty, known collectively as RTPC faculty, make up more than 40% of Marshall ’s full-time faculty. RTPC faculty:
- participate in faculty governance at the school and University level.
- receive the same fringe benefits as tenured and tenure-track faculty.
- have the same academic freedom as all USC faculty, in teaching and research.
- hold renewable appointments, with established procedures for reappointment and promotion.
- are eligible for administrative appointments, which may carry course release and/or additional pay.
- may volunteer for paid summer teaching and overloads.
RTPC appointments do not lead to consideration for tenure.
Preferred Qualifications
- A Ph.D. in communication, business, or a related field.
- Background experience in business and an understanding of today ’s global business environment.
- Demonstrated teaching effectiveness, or clear evidence of the potential to teach effectively.
- Demonstrated collaborative leadership, or clear potential for it.
- Comfort with online instruction and classroom technology.
Candidates with a master’s degree in a relevant field and a compelling record of professional experience and expertise are also encouraged to apply.
Application Instructions
Apply online through USC ’s faculty application portal. Applications should include:
1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae or resume
3. Statement of teaching philosophy
4. Evidence of teaching effectiveness
5. Names and email addresses for three references
Candidates with an active research agenda may also submit research materials, described below.
Your Cover Letter and CV
In addition to sharing what you think is most important for us to know about you as a candidate, please use your cover letter, CV, or both to highlight two things:
- Subject matter expertise. Show us that you know the material you would teach. Industry experience and research are the most direct ways to do that, but not the only ones.
- Collaborative leadership. We are looking for a colleague who steps up when new projects or roles come along and brings others with them. Point us to leadership experience or potential, such as initiatives you started or led, teams or committees you guided, or responsibilities you took on beyond your job description.
Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness
There is no required format, and the strongest evidence looks different depending on where you are coming from. The goal is to provide us evidence that you have experience in, success with, and a mind for creating sustained teaching experiences:
- If you have taught your own courses: we would expect details like complete course evaluation reports from the last two years, including student comments (full reports, not summaries), plus sample syllabi and assignments.
- If you have been a teaching assistant: we would expect details like the sections you led, the materials you designed, and any evaluations or feedback from those sections.
- If you come from industry: we would expect details like workshops or training programs you designed and led, participant feedback or survey results, and training materials you authored.
If your strongest evidence is not on this list, send us that evidence anyway and tell us what it shows.
Research Materials (Optional)
If you have an active research agenda, include a short research statement covering your publications from the last three years, your current working papers, and your pipeline for the next three years. Copies of recent work are welcome.
Timeline
For full consideration, apply by December 7, 2026. That is, the search committee begins its first full review of applications that week. We expect a likely second review in early January and will keep reviewing periodically until all positions are filled, at which point this posting will come down. If you are seeing this after December 7, please still apply. Initial interviews will be conducted online, with campus visits expected to follow.
Questions about the position or the status of the search are welcome. Please send them to Department Operations Manager Angie Sabido-Wood and Administrative Analyst Quanda Graves, at BUCO@marshall.usc.edu.
Salary and Compensation
The annual base salary range for this position is $92,235 - $198,138, reflecting core salary for a nine-month academic-year appointment.
Additional compensation may be available through summer teaching, fall or spring overloads, and administrative appointments. These opportunities vary with departmental need, are not guaranteed, and are separate from the base salary range.
When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate ’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
Beyond Base Salary
The salary range above is one part of what this position offers. It also comes with:
- A nine-month appointment. Base salary covers the academic year, leaving summers free for scholarship, consulting, or summer teaching.
- Tuition benefits for eligible family members, including undergraduate tuition at USC for dependent children and a competitive tuition exchange program with hundreds of other colleges and universities.
- Room to keep your practice active. Outside consulting is permitted within university guidelines.
- Comprehensive health, retirement, and wellness benefits, including discounted access to campus fitness and recreation facilities.
- Full access to the USC Libraries and their millions of print and electronic volumes.
- Los Angeles at your doorstep, with a business economy spanning entertainment, media, technology, trade, and health care, and the Trojan alumni network close at hand for guest speakers, student client projects, and program collaboration.
- A campus community with Trojan athletics, performances, and public lectures.
Details on all additional benefits and limits thereof are available upon request and/or provided at the time of offer.
About USC and USC Marshall
USC Marshall is renowned for its high-ranking undergraduate, graduate, international, online, and executive education programs, an exceptional faculty engaged in leading-edge research and teaching, a diverse and talented student body, and a commitment to technological advancement. Marshall faculty are a collaborative group of scholars who value diverse pedagogical, curricular, and methodological approaches.
Founded in 1880, the University of Southern California is located in the heart of Los Angeles and is the largest private employer in the city. As an employee of USC, you will be part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family.”
For more information, please visit http://www.marshall.usc.edu.
Equal Opportunity and Fair Chance
USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law.
USC will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.
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See All 155+ Clinical Assistant Professor Jobs in California
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Find JobsClinical Assistant Professor Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Clinical Assistant Professor Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- University of Southern California56
- UC San Diego51
- UC Davis13
- University of the Pacific10
- University of California Los Angeles8
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical assistant professor jobs across California.
- Active California license in the relevant clinical discipline required for patient-facing roles
- Terminal degree or minimum master's degree in the relevant clinical or health sciences field
- Documented clinical practice experience in the specialty area of the academic appointment
- Demonstrated capacity for undergraduate or graduate-level teaching in a clinical setting
- Strong record of peer collaboration, curriculum development, or program accreditation involvement
- Familiarity with simulation lab instruction or telehealth-integrated clinical education platforms
Clinical Assistant Professor Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a clinical assistant professor in California?
You need a graduate or terminal degree in your clinical field, along with an active California state license issued by the relevant board, such as the California Board of Registered Nursing, the Physician Assistant Board, or the Physical Therapy Board of California. Most hiring institutions expect current clinical practice experience alongside teaching readiness. Some positions accept candidates completing terminal degrees, especially in nursing and allied health programs with documented clinical hours.
Which companies hire clinical assistant professors in California?
California clinical assistant professor roles are posted by University of Southern California, UC San Diego, and UC Davis and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. The University of California and California State University systems are among the largest institutional employers statewide, with clinical faculty positions concentrated in their health sciences and nursing schools.
Which California cities have the most clinical assistant professor jobs?
Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento account for the most clinical assistant professor openings in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco lead because of their dense concentrations of academic medical centers, health sciences universities, and large hospital systems, while San Diego's strong biomedical and research infrastructure drives consistent demand from both public universities and private health institutions.
Are there remote clinical assistant professor jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 36% of clinical assistant professor openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most positions require direct supervision of students in clinical or simulation settings. The portions most likely to be conducted remotely are didactic coursework, advising, and curriculum planning, rather than hands-on clinical instruction.
How can I get hired as a clinical assistant professor in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving from staff clinician or preceptor roles into adjunct or part-time clinical faculty positions at a California community college or California State University campus. Large health systems such as the UC Health network and Kaiser Permanente operate new-graduate residency and fellowship programs that build the clinical depth schools want. Earning your California state license early and completing any voluntary preceptor training offered by your employer strengthens your candidacy before you apply for a full appointment.
Where can I find and apply to clinical assistant professor jobs in California?
You can find and apply to clinical assistant professor jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated in real time. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your specialty and experience level, and apply directly to the positions that fit.
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