Teaching Specialist/Lecturer - German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch, 2026-27 (Continuous Recruitment)

GNSD AY26-27 Blanket P&A Instructional Posting
Position #s: 277771 (Lecturer); 284214 (Teaching Specialist)

The Department of German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch maintains a pool of lecturers and teaching specialists to teach German, Scandinavian and Dutch courses, mostly lower-division language skills courses, that cannot be staffed by regular faculty or graduate teaching assistants. Responsibilities include preparing for and conducting classes, holding office hours to assist and advise students, turning in grades in a timely manner, responding to student and department inquiries, participating in relevant training and meetings, and turning in student evaluations. Participation in Orientation Week is required for fall positions. Continued personal growth within the profession, keeping current with the field and broadening knowledge and expertise, is expected. Some language sections will require development of an on-line option so that students can participate remotely. Teaching one course per semester is 34%; teaching two courses per semester is 68%, teaching two courses and assisting with another course is 84%, teaching three courses per semester is 100%.

This does not constitute a posting for vacancies, but establishes a pool of applicants should openings occur during the 2026/27 academic year. Applicants will be selected from this pool on an as-needed basis throughout the academic year.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
M.A. degree or foreign equivalent or ABD in the relevant language, Foreign Language Education, or a related field. Native or near native fluency in the relevant language. Demonstration of commitment to quality teaching and program development. For German: Two years of postsecondary experience teaching German language. For Scandinavian or Dutch: One year of teaching experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Ph.D. degree or foreign equivalent in the relevant language, Foreign Language Education, or a related field. A strong background (e.g., coursework, publications) in foreign language education, second language acquisition, or technology-enhanced teaching is preferred. Positive evaluations from students, peers and/or supervisors. For Scandinavian or Dutch: Two years of postsecondary experience teaching the relevant language.

Applicants with an M.A. will be appointed as Teaching Specialists. Those with a Ph.D. will be appointed at the Lecturer level.

Ranked as one of the top departments of its kind, German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch (GNSD) serves undergraduate, graduate, and other university students. The language program offers a wide range of courses in German, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Russian, and Swedish. Innovative teaching materials and instructional technologies are an integral part of the language curriculum. More information at: https://cla.umn.edu/gnsd

About the College of Liberal Arts:
Home to the arts, social sciences and humanities disciplines and programs, the College of Liberal Arts is the largest college in the University of Minnesota and comprises 31 academic departments, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and administrative/support units. CLA has over 1,300 faculty and staff spanning research, teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over twenty buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate students, over 40% of the undergraduate enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, 1,400 graduate students, and has an annual all-funds budget of $290 million.

CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for everyone. That foundational commitment begins in our CLA Constitution. CLA is committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students, diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff, and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and viewpoints-so that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need to understand and respect differences.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in CLA
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Pay Range: depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Teaching Specialists are paid both per credit and/or per course as follows:

• Undergraduate credit courses: $1,500 per credit minimum
• Undergraduate credit courses: $7,500 per course minimum*

Lecturers are paid both per credit and/or per course as follows:

• Undergraduate credit courses: $1,600 per credit minimum
• Undergraduate credit courses: $8,000 per course minimum*

*Per course pay rate applies to all 3-5 credit undergraduate courses.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section. Those who have not previously taught for the Department of German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch will be required to upload a teaching dossier.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.