Job Description

Position Information
Announcement Number FAC - VA - 25086
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Rebecca L. Koltz Ph.D.,Professor and Department Head
(406) 994-3244
Classification Title
Working Title Assistant Professor - Counseling
Brief Position Overview
The Department of Counseling at Montana State University (MSU) invites applications for the position of assistant professor in counseling for our CACREP accredited program. This position begins August 2026 and is an academic year tenure-track appointment with potential for summer employment. This is an instructional position (50% Teaching, 40% Research, and 10% Service) in a CACREP-accredited program.
Faculty Tenure Track Yes
Faculty Rank Assistant Professor
Position Number 4A0135
Department Counseling
Division College of Education, Health & Human Development
Appointment Type Faculty
Contract Term Academic Year
Semester
If other, specify From date
If other, specify End date
Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE 1.0
Benefits Eligible Eligible
Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications
Contract Type MUS
If other, please specify
Recruitment Type Open
Position Details
General Statement
The Department of Counseling at Montana State University (MSU) invites applications for the position of assistant professor of counseling in our CACREP accredited master's program. This position begins August 2026 and is an academic year tenure-track appointment with potential for summer employment. This is an instructional position (50% Teaching, 40% Research, and 10% Service) in a CACREP-accredited program. We hope to attract applicants who can teach in a university community which prioritizes training clinicians to provide culturally appropriate services, as well as demonstrating a commitment to helping students from diverse backgrounds succeed.
Duties and Responsibilities

• Teach primarily graduate courses such as, but not limited to: Group Counseling, Mental Health Methods, Counseling Practicum, Psychopharmacology, Internship
• Provide program leadership for the mental health counseling program.
• Advise graduate students and serve on graduate committees.
• Participate in the evaluation of comprehensive exams.
• Provide outreach and service to the university and the citizens of Montana.
• Contribute scholarly and research products
• Represent the program through participation in professional organizations such as:

• American School Counseling Association
• Association of Counselor Education and Supervision
• Other organizations as pertinent to the applicant's area of specialization

Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills * Doctorate in counselor education (from a CACREP-accredited program) by start date.

• Eligible for professional licensure in Montana.
• Experience teaching graduate counseling courses and supervising clinical experiences
• Possess an active research agenda to include an ability to publish in scholarly publications.
• Knowledge and familiarity with CACREP accreditation
• Demonstrated commitment to student, faculty, and staff access and recruitment efforts.
• Ability to balance workload that includes teaching, research and service.

Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills * Training focus in clinical mental health counseling

• Commitment and service to professional counseling associations.
• Potential for advancing the land-grant university mission.
• Potential to work collaboratively in a department that is committed to teamwork.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to build innovative teaching, research, and outreach programs.
• Commit to building programs and serving a diverse community
• Express emotional intelligence and professional maturity

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This position is not eligible for new sponsorship
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
The Program
Located in the scenic Gallatin Valley, 90 miles north of Yellowstone National Park, MSU is a comprehensive land grant university serving approximately 15,000 students in its baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degree programs. Within the College of Education, Health & Human Development, the Department of Counseling offers 3 master's degrees and 2 certificate programs. The CACREP accredited master's counseling programs offered: Marriage, Couple & Family, School and Clinical Mental Health.
The Department
The Department of Counseling at Montana State University is located in the College of Education, Health and Human Development (EHHD). The departmental mission is to prepare interpersonally skilled and culturally attuned professional counselors who facilitate the psychological growth and wellbeing of those they serve.
Highlights for the Department of Counseling include:

• A robust training program for rural counseling through the RMHP4 program. We train graduate students in our accredited program to counsel adults, children, and families in rural schools and communities. https://www.montana.edu/crre/ruralmentalhealthpathways/index.html
• Faculty foster community partnerships like the Building Good Neighbors program through the Gallatin County Detention Center and Living Well in Later Years in partnership with local assisted living centers.
• The Human Development Clinic is a fully functional low-cost sliding scale community counseling clinic serving the Gallatin Valley- https://www.montana.edu/humandevelopmentclinic/

The College
The mission of the College of Education, Health and Human Development (EHHD), is to prepare highly qualified professionals through exemplary programs, advance knowledge about education, health, and human development, and serve the people of Montana and the nation through outreach and practical application of its expertise.
Our college is home to a wide variety of programs that fulfill Montana's land grant mission of providing services to the people of Montana and beyond.

• We prepare counselors for communities and schools.
• We prepare teachers for elementary and secondary classrooms.
• We provide graduate programming for educational leaders including K-12 principals and superintendents.
• We prepare adult and higher education experts.
• We support grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.
• We partner with leaders on Native American reservations to develop ways to lead healthy lifestyles and improve education for children and adults, and work to preserve native languages.
• We educate families to enrich overall well-being and how to make healthy choices related to nutrition and physical activity.
• We prepare students for future careers in coaching, counseling, financial planning, dietetics, community food systems, physical therapy, and medicine.

Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date Upon successful completion of search
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on September 15, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
Documents required for this application:
Curriculum Vitae
Cover Letter detailing experience and addressing all required and preferred qualifications.
Statement of teaching and supervision philosophy
Statement of applicant research agenda
Please note: A minimum of 3-5 professional references are required in your profile when applying for this position.
This position is not eligible for new sponsorship
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
FLSA Details
FLSA Determination
FLSA Status Exempt
Applicant Documents
Required Documents * Curriculum Vitae

• Cover Letter addressing each of the Required and Preferred Qualifications
• Teaching Statement
• Other - Please see Special Instructions

Optional Documents

Skills Required