Adjunct Lecturer, Master of Social Work Program
Posted: November 2, 2026
Position Description & Overview:
The Graduate School of Counseling and Social Work invites applications for the position of Adjunct Lecturer for a variety of courses within the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program. As an adjunct faculty member, the successful candidate will be responsible for providing formal learning in the on campus or online Master of Social Work Program with the primary duties being effective delivery of instructional material and course management (e.g., assessments, grading, etc.). Adjunct faculty members are also expected to demonstrate a commitment to advancing human rights and empowering all individuals and communities through curriculum delivery, clinical training & supervision, and advising & mentoring with students.
Content expertise and/or professional applied experience (e.g., practice with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations) in the field of social work is required. Past teaching experience in a social work program (MSW/BSW) or in a related field is preferred. MSW courses at Merrimack College are offered both in-person and online. In-person and synchronous online (i.e., via Zoom) courses are taught in the late afternoon and evening. Asynchronous courses do not have set weekly meeting times, but require active instructor engagement, especially in the forms of connecting with students to check understanding of course concepts, answering questions, and timely grading, as well as communications. Asynchronous courses will further require faculty to periodically meet with students either 1:1 or in small groups.
The successful candidate should demonstrate the experience or ability to teach a range of courses in social work discipline in both in-person and online formats, including but not limited to: Introduction to Social Work Research and Practice, Evaluation of Social Work Practice, Contemporary Social Welfare Policy, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, plus other related courses.
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Social Work from a CSWE accredited program or equivalency as defined by CSWE is required.
- Demonstrated expertise in the content area(s) of the course(s) being taught
- Ability to teach classes that meet in the late afternoon and evening hours, typically after 4 pm through 9:30 pm.
Preferred Qualifications:
- An earned doctorate (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.) or an advanced doctorate candidate in Social Work, Counseling, Counseling Psychology, or a related doctoral degree.
- LCSW/LICSW with minimum 5-years post clinical practice experience.
- Previous teaching experience via in-person and online (synchronous and asynchronous) formats in a social work program or related profession.
Review of candidates is ongoing based on the needs of the program by semester.
Application Materials Should Include:
- Cover letter stating (Please make sure to add this even if the system doesn’t specifically require it.):
- motivation and interest in the position,
- experience relevant to the position qualifications, and experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values,
- specification of preferred teaching course content area(s),
- the semester(s) you would be available to teach.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Recent teaching evaluations (optional but preferred)
- Contact information for three professional references (name, title, address, phone number, email address). Applicants will be notified before references are contacted.
This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.
Compensation
Minimum: $5,000 per 4-credit course
The actual pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, candidate qualifications and prior experience, scope of responsibilities, internal equity, and market considerations.
Statement on Our Mission
Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.
Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.
About Merrimack College
The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students from 46 states and 45 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused academic programs in science, engineering, business, nursing, health sciences, education, social sciences and humanities across undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the Girard school of business, and the Graduate School of counseling and social work. The College’s suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest-growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 37th in the Regional Universities North category in 2025. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.
Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
