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

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · $35.00–$45.00 an hour · Part time

Posted Aug 31, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

This is a temporary role teaching one eight-week online course on the archaeology of West Asia and North Africa to adult learners. What field or research experience do you bring to it?

What they are checking: Whether they have real fieldwork or research grounding in this region, because students trust instructors who can speak from direct experience.

Archaeological interpretation is often provisional. How do you teach uncertainty without making the subject feel unknowable?

What they are checking: Whether they can show how evidence leads to tentative conclusions, so students learn how archaeology works rather than only memorizing claims.

Parallel courses on the art history and the history of the same region are posted alongside this one. Why the archaeology course?

What they are checking: Whether they have a genuine reason to teach archaeology specifically, which shows their expertise matches this course rather than a sibling.

What would you do

How do you teach archaeology to people who will never handle an object or visit a site?

What they are checking: Whether they can bring sites and objects alive through images, maps and stories, since online learners never get to handle the material.

The institute's collections came from its own expeditions in the region. How would you address the questions that raises with a class?

What they are checking: Whether they can discuss how collections were acquired openly and fairly, since thoughtful students will ask about ownership and colonial history.

You'd record sessions for those who cannot attend live. What do you change about how you teach knowing it is recorded?

What they are checking: Whether they plan for recorded viewers by making sessions clear on replay, so people who cannot attend live still learn fully.

About the work

Walk me through how you would build an eight-week course on this subject for a non-degree audience.

What they are checking: Whether they can shape a coherent eight-week arc for curious adults, choosing themes that build understanding rather than covering everything.

How would you use the museum's own material in an online course?

What they are checking: Whether they would draw on the museum's own collection, which gives the course something students cannot get from a textbook.

What is happening in the archaeology of this region right now that a class should hear about?

What they are checking: Whether they follow current excavations and debates in the region, because current work makes the course feel alive and relevant to students.

The posting requires a master's degree in a relevant discipline with a doctorate preferred, two hours a week over eight weeks, starting October 2026, January 2027 or March 2027. Where do you sit, and which session?

What they are checking: Whether they meet the degree requirement and can commit to a session, so the program can plan its schedule with confidence.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by University of Chicago.

Department ISAC: Public Programs About the Department The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures 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 the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures 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 Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum was opened to the public in 1931. The majority of ISAC's collections are from its 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. A complete renovation of the Museum was completed in 2019 in celebration of ISAC's centennial. The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures is a unit within the University of Chicago and the name of the corporation is 'The University of Chicago.' The corporation was originally incorporated on September 10, 1890. Job Information Job Summary: The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) is seeking a Temporary Continuing Education Instructor - Archaeology of West Asia/North Africa, 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. Additional Responsibilities Education, Experience, or Certifications: Education: • 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: • Experience teaching online using Zoom and Canvas, required. • Demonstrated expertise in archaeology of West Asia and/or North Africa, 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. The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions. When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Temporary Staff Scheduled Weekly Hours 10 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Frequency Hourly Pay Rate Type Hourly ​ FLSA Status Non-Exempt ​ Pay Range $35.00 - $45.00 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. Benefits Eligible This position is not eligible for benefits. Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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