OPT Lecturer Jobs
Lecturer roles at U.S. universities and colleges often qualify for OPT when the position requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a directly related field. STEM OPT extension may apply if your degree is in a qualifying discipline. Most academic hiring cycles run on a semester basis, so timing your applications with fall and spring recruitment windows matters.
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The Brown School at WashU in St. Louis seeks an exceptional full-time teaching track faculty member in its top ranked Master of Social Work program and Master of Social Policy degree. The Brown School is nationally recognized for exceptional teaching, research, and community involvement. The Brown School prepares students to be changemakers in mental and physical well-being across the life course, domestic and international community engagement, human service management, and social policy. The Brown School focuses on in-person learning with occasional opportunities for online and weekend coursework.
This is a full-time non-tenure track position with a 12-month contract reviewed annually. Employer benefits are included. This role has fall, spring, and summer teaching and advising responsibilities. This includes a teaching and advising load equivalent to 8 graduate level courses over an academic year. The position reports to the Director of Practicum Education, with dotted lines to the Associate Dean for Educational Programs, as well as the Dean of the School. Approximately half of this position's time will be devoted to teaching and advising students in field placement which involves teaching, advising, and supervising students to ensure they gain practical experience and develop essential skills in social work. The position also collaborates with community agencies and field instructors to ensure high-quality placement opportunities that align with the program's goals.
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
Classroom Instruction and Curriculum Responsibilities
- Teach and advise the equivalent of 8 graduate-level courses over a fall, spring, and summer academic year which includes field seminar courses to meet program needs.
- Conduct administrative work to prepare, execute and evaluate student performance in the classroom.
- Work in concert with the Director of Practicum Education, Assistant Dean of the MSW program, Lead Instructors, Concentration Chairs and Programming Team to support curriculum development and implementation in the pursuit of educational excellence.
- Engage and contribute to scholarly pursuits and practice activities which contribute to the knowledge of the profession, the school, and the community at large.
- Participate in compliance activities necessary for accreditation and assessment of the school and programs.
- Attend and participate in monthly faculty meetings and other meetings and events as needed.
- Serve on committees and projects as assigned.
Practicum Education
- Advise, support, monitor, and evaluate student performance in practicum placements.
- Maintain course documents and student records.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate the practicum curriculum in alignment with CSWE standards.
- Conduct site visits for assigned students to ensure the quality of practicum experience.
- Provide training, support, and guidance to practicum instructors.
- Administer practicum education documentation through platforms such as CANVAS and other software platforms.
- Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations to enhance practicum opportunities.
- Work in concert with the Director of Practicum Education and other faculty providing practicum education to support curriculum development and implementation in the pursuit of educational excellence in practica.
- Support the activities of the Office of Practicum Education including training, assessment, and process evaluation as needed to ensure program compliance and student outcomes.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Master's degree - Social Work
Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
Work Experience:
Teaching In Higher Education (2 Years)
Skills:
Not Applicable
Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.
More About This Job
We encourage applications from individuals who possess a Master of Social Work degree and post-MSW practice experience in direct or clinical practice with individuals, families, or groups, and college level teaching experience.
Required Qualifications:
- Master's degree in social work from an accredited social work program.
- At least three years of practice experience post-masters in direct or clinical social work practice.
- Two years of teaching experience in a college or university setting.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Doctoral degree in allied field along with an MSW from an accredited social work program.
- Five or more years of practice experience post-masters in mental health and/or other forms of direct social work practice.
- Three or more years of graduate level teaching in direct social work practice.
- Previous field education experience supporting master’s level social work students in advising or as a practicum/field instructor.
- Curriculum development in clinical and/or direct practice coursework.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse groups.
- Knowledge of human service delivery system of St. Louis.
- Familiarity with anti-oppressive practice and equity frameworks.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
M.S.W. - Master of Social Work, Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent terminal or doctoral degree.
Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Work Experience:
No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Skills:
Not Applicable
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.
Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.
Benefits Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website to view a summary of benefits.
EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
Position Summary
The Brown School at WashU in St. Louis seeks an exceptional full-time teaching track faculty member in its top ranked Master of Social Work program and Master of Social Policy degree. The Brown School is nationally recognized for exceptional teaching, research, and community involvement. The Brown School prepares students to be changemakers in mental and physical well-being across the life course, domestic and international community engagement, human service management, and social policy. The Brown School focuses on in-person learning with occasional opportunities for online and weekend coursework.
This is a full-time non-tenure track position with a 12-month contract reviewed annually. Employer benefits are included. This role has fall, spring, and summer teaching and advising responsibilities. This includes a teaching and advising load equivalent to 8 graduate level courses over an academic year. The position reports to the Director of Practicum Education, with dotted lines to the Associate Dean for Educational Programs, as well as the Dean of the School. Approximately half of this position's time will be devoted to teaching and advising students in field placement which involves teaching, advising, and supervising students to ensure they gain practical experience and develop essential skills in social work. The position also collaborates with community agencies and field instructors to ensure high-quality placement opportunities that align with the program's goals.
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
Classroom Instruction and Curriculum Responsibilities
- Teach and advise the equivalent of 8 graduate-level courses over a fall, spring, and summer academic year which includes field seminar courses to meet program needs.
- Conduct administrative work to prepare, execute and evaluate student performance in the classroom.
- Work in concert with the Director of Practicum Education, Assistant Dean of the MSW program, Lead Instructors, Concentration Chairs and Programming Team to support curriculum development and implementation in the pursuit of educational excellence.
- Engage and contribute to scholarly pursuits and practice activities which contribute to the knowledge of the profession, the school, and the community at large.
- Participate in compliance activities necessary for accreditation and assessment of the school and programs.
- Attend and participate in monthly faculty meetings and other meetings and events as needed.
- Serve on committees and projects as assigned.
Practicum Education
- Advise, support, monitor, and evaluate student performance in practicum placements.
- Maintain course documents and student records.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate the practicum curriculum in alignment with CSWE standards.
- Conduct site visits for assigned students to ensure the quality of practicum experience.
- Provide training, support, and guidance to practicum instructors.
- Administer practicum education documentation through platforms such as CANVAS and other software platforms.
- Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations to enhance practicum opportunities.
- Work in concert with the Director of Practicum Education and other faculty providing practicum education to support curriculum development and implementation in the pursuit of educational excellence in practica.
- Support the activities of the Office of Practicum Education including training, assessment, and process evaluation as needed to ensure program compliance and student outcomes.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Master's degree - Social Work
Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
Work Experience:
Teaching In Higher Education (2 Years)
Skills:
Not Applicable
Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.
More About This Job
We encourage applications from individuals who possess a Master of Social Work degree and post-MSW practice experience in direct or clinical practice with individuals, families, or groups, and college level teaching experience.
Required Qualifications:
- Master's degree in social work from an accredited social work program.
- At least three years of practice experience post-masters in direct or clinical social work practice.
- Two years of teaching experience in a college or university setting.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Doctoral degree in allied field along with an MSW from an accredited social work program.
- Five or more years of practice experience post-masters in mental health and/or other forms of direct social work practice.
- Three or more years of graduate level teaching in direct social work practice.
- Previous field education experience supporting master’s level social work students in advising or as a practicum/field instructor.
- Curriculum development in clinical and/or direct practice coursework.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse groups.
- Knowledge of human service delivery system of St. Louis.
- Familiarity with anti-oppressive practice and equity frameworks.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
M.S.W. - Master of Social Work, Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent terminal or doctoral degree.
Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Work Experience:
No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Skills:
Not Applicable
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.
Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.
Benefits Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website to view a summary of benefits.
EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
See all 842+ OPT Lecturer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Lecturer
Target institutions with a history of hiring international faculty
Research-intensive universities and community colleges in high-immigrant-population states frequently hire international lecturers. Departments in STEM, business, and languages tend to have the most experience navigating OPT paperwork and are less likely to turn you away.
Clarify your OPT end date upfront with the hiring department
Academic hiring moves slowly. If your OPT expires mid-semester, that creates a problem for the department. Being transparent early lets them plan for H-1B visa sponsorship or align the start date with your authorization window before an offer is extended.
Confirm the role meets specialty occupation standards
Your Lecturer position must require a specific bachelor's degree field, not just any degree. A role teaching engineering courses tied to your engineering degree qualifies. A general teaching assistant role where any degree is acceptable may not support future H-1B sponsorship.
Apply during the fall and spring academic hiring cycles
Most universities post Lecturer openings in October through January for spring and summer hires, and in February through April for fall. Applying outside these windows significantly reduces your pool. Set alerts and check departmental websites directly during these months.
Highlight your teaching experience and any U.S.-based credentials
Departments weigh U.S. teaching experience heavily when deciding between candidates. If you have TA experience, guest lectures, tutoring, or curriculum development from your graduate program, lead with those. U.S.-based academic references carry more weight than overseas ones.
Understand STEM OPT extension eligibility before you apply
If your degree is in a STEM-designated field, you may qualify for a 24-month OPT extension, giving you up to three years of work authorization. This significantly improves your appeal to departments weighing whether sponsoring an H-1B is worth the cost.
Lecturer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Lecturer on OPT?
Yes, as long as the position requires a degree in a field directly related to your major. A Lecturer role teaching courses in your degree discipline generally qualifies. The work must be paid and directly tied to your area of study, not a general teaching role where any degree would do.
Do Lecturer jobs at universities typically sponsor H-1B visas?
It depends on the institution. Large research universities and well-funded private colleges are more likely to sponsor H-1B visas than small community colleges with tighter HR resources. Cap-exempt status is also relevant here: universities qualify as cap-exempt employers, meaning they can file H-1B petitions outside the annual lottery, which makes sponsorship more accessible than in the private sector.
How does STEM OPT extension apply to Lecturer roles?
If your underlying degree is in a STEM-designated field and your Lecturer role is in that same field, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension after your initial 12-month OPT period. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, which most universities are. This gives you up to 36 months of total OPT authorization.
Where can I find Lecturer jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and international students seeking U.S. roles, including academic positions. You can browse Lecturer openings filtered by employers familiar with OPT and visa sponsorship requirements, saving you the time of screening out positions that won't work for your situation.
What happens if my OPT expires while I am employed as a Lecturer?
You must stop working immediately if your OPT expires and no new work authorization is in place. If your employer is a cap-exempt university and plans to sponsor your H-1B, they can file at any time, not just during the April lottery window. Start that conversation with HR at least six months before your OPT end date to avoid a gap.