Job Description

Position Information
Announcement Number FAC - VA - 26015
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Timothy LeCain
Department Head
Classification Title
Working Title Associate or Full Professor of History and The Wallace Stegner Chair of Western American Studies
Brief Position Overview
The Department of History and Philosophy at Montana State University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the level of Associate or Full Professor with expertise in the history of the North American West, with a focus on environment and society, broadly construed.
Faculty Tenure Track Yes
Faculty Rank Associate or Full Professor
Position Number 4A7887
Department History and Philosophy
Division College of Letters & Science
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 History and Philosophy at Montana State University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the level of Senior Associate or Full Professor with expertise in the history of the North American West, with a focus on environment and society, broadly construed.
Duties and Responsibilities

• Teach lower division, upper division, and graduate courses in history of the North American West, environment and society commensurate with the candidate's expertise.
• Maintain an active research program leading to publication in peer-reviewed journals and other venues.
• Advise undergraduate students.
• Recruit and advise graduate students and help enhance the quality of our M.A. and Ph.D. programs in History.
• Organize the annual public Stegner Lecture, including the recruiting of high profile speakers.
• Cultivate both new and current donors to the Stegner Endowment in cooperation with college and university development officers.
• Participate on department, college, and university committees as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills * PhD in History or related field.

• Demonstrated expertise in the history of the North American West.
• Demonstrated excellence in both teaching and scholarship.

Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills * Demonstrated expertise in environmental history.

• Have a successful and prolific record of publication.
• Have significant expertise in undergraduate and graduate mentoring and teaching.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Be able to work productively in an interdisciplinary department with colleagues, staff, and students from all perspectives and backgrounds.
• Be an effective advocate for the Department within the University and with external constituencies.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
Required documents to be uploaded to the application: * Curriculum Vitae

• Cover Letter addressing each of the Required and Preferred Qualifications
• Research Statement (max 4 pages)

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 accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
The Program
The Department
The Department of History and Philosophy at Montana State University is an active Department with a strong record of research, teaching, and interdisciplinary studies. The research agendas in the Department include the American West, early America, Modern America, European History, science, environment, and technology, Asian studies, the philosophy of science, and ethics. The Department offers majors in History, Philosophy, and Science, Environment, Technology, and Society (SETS), as well as a minor in Museum Studies. The Department is composed of 15 tenure track faculty, several non-tenure track faculty, and approximately 30 graduate students. The Department grants Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in History and participates in the Ph.D. program in American Studies, and also has a strong tradition of excellence in undergraduate education.
The College
The College of Letters and Science, the largest center for learning, teaching, and research at Montana State University, offers students an excellent liberal arts and sciences education in nearly 50 majors, 25 minors, and over 25 graduate degrees within the four areas of the humanities, natural sciences, mathematics, and social sciences. Building on the strength of our traditional disciplines, the college provides exciting opportunities for faculty and students at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary inquiry. The College of Letters and Science is dedicated to supporting student success, discovering and disseminating new knowledge, and providing an atmosphere in which discovery and learning are integrated and valued. The College of Letters and Science is at the confluence of intellectual tradition, discovery, and innovation.
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date August 2026
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on October 15, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
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
• Research Statement

Optional Documents

Skills Required