Temporary Continuing Education Instructor - Archaeology of West Asia/North Africa

About the Department

The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) was founded in 1919 by James Henry Breasted with the financial support of John D. Rockefeller Jr., and was originally envisaged as a research laboratory for the investigation of the early human career that would trace humankind's progress from the most ancient days of West Asia and North Africa. The goal of ISAC is to be the world's leading center for the study of the ancient civilizations of West Asia and North Africa by combining innovation in theory, methodology, and significant empirical discovery with the highest standards of rigorous scholarship. The ISAC Museum was opened to the public in 1931, with the majority of its collections from expeditions in West Asia and North Africa during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. A major reinstallation of the Museum, including the construction of a climate-controlled wing for housing collections and archives, took place in the 1990s and early 2000s, and a complete renovation was completed in 2019 in celebration of ISAC's centennial. ISAC is a unit within the University of Chicago.

Job Summary

The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) is seeking a Temporary Continuing Education Instructor to teach an online, non-degree continuing education class on the archaeology of West Asia and/or North Africa (including the Islamic period). ISAC's continuing education program offers non-degree classes to lifelong learners, focusing primarily on the ancient and medieval history of West Asia and North Africa. Classes are robust and in-depth, and should be structured at a level equivalent to an undergraduate or graduate university course.

Responsibilities

• Teach one 8-week online class on the archaeology of West Asia/North Africa, beginning October 1, 2026, January 4, 2027, or March 15, 2027.
• Meet with students via Zoom for two hours per week over the 8-week session.
• Deliver class lectures, including PowerPoint presentations, appropriate to an undergraduate/graduate level of instruction.
• Develop a syllabus and post readings and course materials on CANVAS, the University of Chicago's online learning platform.
• Ensure sessions are recorded so that students unable to attend live can access the material.
• Provide adult learners with a foundational understanding of the course topic by the end of the class.

Competencies

• Subject-matter expertise in the archaeology of West Asia and North Africa.
• Ability to build a coherent syllabus, select appropriate readings, and sequence course materials so that adult learners progress toward a foundational understanding of the topic over an 8-week course session.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g., archaeology, language, art history, or a related field pertaining to West Asia and/or North Africa) required.
• Advanced degree in a relevant discipline (Ph.D) preferred.
• Experience teaching online using Zoom and Canvas, required.
• Demonstrated expertise in archaeology of West Asia and/or North Africa, required.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Zoom, Box, and Google Suite (Drive, Sheets, Docs, and Forms).

Application Documents

• Resume
• Letter of interest, describing the applicant's interest in teaching for ISAC and experience teaching online
• Proposed class title & class description
• Names & contact information for (2) references

Pay

$35.00 - $45.00 per hour. The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.