Temporary Continuing Education Instructor - Art History 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 complete renovation of the Museum was completed in 2019 in celebration of ISAC's centennial.

Job Summary

The Temporary Continuing Education Instructor – Art History will teach an online, non-degree continuing education course on the art history of West Asia and/or North Africa, including the Islamic period. Through its continuing education program, ISAC offers in-depth, non-degree classes to lifelong learners, focused primarily on the ancient and medieval history of West Asia and North Africa and pitched at a level equivalent to an undergraduate or graduate university course.

Responsibilities

• Teach one 8-week online class on the art history 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.
• Structure course content to build adult learners toward a foundational understanding of the topic by the end of the session.

Competencies

• Subject-matter expertise in the art history of West Asia and North Africa.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the art history of the region, including the Islamic period, sufficient to develop and teach course content at an undergraduate or graduate level.
• Ability to build a coherent syllabus, select appropriate readings, and sequence course material so that adult learners progress toward a foundational understanding of the topic over an 8-week session.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.

Education

• Master's Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g., art history, archaeology, or language of West Asia/North Africa, or a related field pertaining to West Asia and/or North Africa), required.
• Advanced degree in a relevant discipline (PhD), preferred.

Experience

• Skill in delivering engaging lectures and presentations to adult learners in a live, virtual format, and in explaining complex material clearly to a non-degree audience, required.
• Experience using Zoom or other similar platforms for live instruction and session recording, and a learning management system such as Canvas for posting materials, readings, and course resources, required.

Technical Knowledge or Skills

• High proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Zoom, Box, and Google Suite (Drive, Sheets, Docs, and Forms).

Required 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

• Pay rate: $35.00 - $45.00 per hour
• Pay frequency: Hourly
• This position is not eligible for benefits.

Schedule

• Scheduled weekly hours: 8
• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt