Through Columbia University's Pre-College Programs, high schoolers from around the globe prepare for the college experience through exploratory coursework and community activities over seven weeks in the summer. This highly selective program is open to academically exceptional high school students, entering grades 9–12 and freshman year of college.

Columbia University’s Pre-College Programs for High School Students is seeking qualified candidates to develop and teach on-campus (i.e., in person) during Summer ’24. 

Please Note: Course(s) and course availability is subject to change. Dates are tentative and subject to change.  

Three week courses:

• Session 1: June 24th - July 12th (Classes do not meet on July 4th)
• Session 2: July 16th - August 2nd

One week course:

• Session 3: August 5th - August 9th

Course description:

Can economic growth be reconciled with sustainability? Can social entrepreneurs find solutions to climate adaptation challenges? How do we incentivize fishermen to conserve the world’s fisheries? Can microfinance loans to the entrepreneurial poor reduce global poverty? What practices can businesses adopt to align their bottom lines with sustainability? How can we do well while doing good – and while embracing principles of equity, access, participation, and human rights?

In this course participants are introduced to key concepts and skills associated with social entrepreneurship, finance, and economics and are consequently enabled to think proactively about solving some of the world’s biggest problems – while also probing how profitability and social justice might intersect and at times come into conflict.

Students are introduced to economic concepts such as supply and demand, utility, macro- and microeconomics, the time value of money, and the use of indicators. They also engage with key concepts relating to business formation and management, raising funds using debt or equity, and financial accounting.

Participants begin to see some of the largest social problems we face today as essentially economic challenges – and are then asked, through a mix of projects, debates, field trips, and case studies, to come up with potential solutions, their work culminating with a social enterprise pitch competition.

Responsibilities:

• Develop course content, syllabus, lesson plans, and assigned work
• Lead and attend all in-person class sessions
• Establish and maintain a dynamic in-class environment tailored for our high school population
• Evaluate student work and write a holistic evaluation of each participant after the course ends
• Monitor and address student concerns and inquiries (you will have around 20-24 students)
• Attend and complete all required online trainings

• Graduate degree or equivalent professional or academic background
• Expertise in the pertinent subject matter
• Aptitude for teaching

Hiring Salary Ranges: 

Sessions 1 & 2 on-campus: $6,150 - $7,850
Session 3 on-campus: $2,200 - $2,800

Please specify which session(s) you would be interested in teaching.  

• Please submit a resume inclusive of teaching experience as well as formal teaching evaluations (if available)
• Applicants must have U.S. work authorization and will need to be in the U.S. while teaching
• Applicants may not hold a concurrent appointment with Columbia for the duration of their appointment
• Once hired, applicants are required to submit to a third party background check and complete Protection of Minors training in addition to other training(s) mandated by the University

For more information on the program, hiring process, and class schedules, please see here.  

Your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.