The Department of History at the University of South Carolina is pleased to invite applications for two new two-year (renewable for a third year) Post-Doctoral History Teaching Fellowships focused on teaching and interpreting the documents on which the United States was founded (including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Federalist Papers, Emancipation Proclamation, other freedom papers, and more). Two Founding Documents Post-Docs are available, both beginning on July 1, 2021. These twelve-month positions include a five-course teaching load (two in the Fall; two in the Spring, and one either in the Winter term or over Summer session). In addition, the postdoctoral fellows will be associated with the Department’s renowned History Center, directed by Prof. Patricia Sullivan, and will have the opportunity to assist with activities, projects, and works-in progress organized by that unit Our intent is to build a faculty learning community focused on various intellectual, social, cultural, economic, religious and political aspects of the Founding Documents and their importance for civic engagement and reinvigorated democracy in the twenty-first century.

This opportunity is the result of new legislation in South Carolina (the REACH Act) that requires college students in the state to complete a three-credit course that includes the American founding documents. We seek candidates who are committed to teaching students how to place these documents into the intellectual history of democracy within and beyond the United States. Teaching will be limited to courses that satisfy the State’s Founding Documents requirement (including HIST 111: US History to 1865; HIST 201: Founding Documents; and later possibly HIST 469-470 Constitutional History of the US, I &II).

Postdoctoral employment is temporary and is normally limited to an individual who has been awarded a Ph.D. recently. In the case of the Founding Documents positions, the doctoral degree should have been received within the previous three years (since 2018). These positions will teach five courses/year (two in the Fall semester; two in the Spring semester, and one either in the Winter term or over Summer session). Employment as a Post-Doctoral Teaching Fellow is viewed as training and is preparatory for a full-time academic or research career, is supervised by a senior scholar, and allows the appointee to teach, to participate in professional development, and to publish the results of his/her research or scholarship during the training period. In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

1. Completion of a History PhD within the last three years.(ABDs are NOT eligible for consideration).
2. Demonstrable experience teaching or researching the history of democracy and/or the founding documents of the United States
3. Interest in shaping civics education for the 21st century
4. Experience in building intellectual community and events planning

1. Completion of a History PhD within the last three years. (ABDs are NOT eligible for consideration)
2. Demonstrable experience teaching or researching the history of democracy and/or the founding documents of the United States
3. Interest in shaping civics education for the 21st century
4. Experience in building intellectual community and events planning

Please forward a letter of application that includes a cover letter, clear statement of your commitment to teaching Founding Documents, two letters of reference, a brief writing sample (not to exceed 20 pages), and a transcript that shows all requirements for degree completion have been completed no later than May 31, 2021 to vannl@mailbox.sc.edu. For best consideration, a complete application should be submitted by 4/19/2021. Applications will be reviewed until the positions are filled.

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, transgender status, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.