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Temporary Continuing Education Instructor - History 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

You'd post readings on the university's learning platform. What makes a reading good for an adult learner with a full-time job?

What they are checking: Whether they choose readings that are short, clear and worth the time, since working adults will skip anything that feels like a burden.

Alongside this there are parallel courses on the art history and the archaeology of the same region. Why the history course rather than one of those?

What they are checking: Whether they have a genuine reason to teach history over the sibling courses, which shows their expertise truly fits this subject.

What would you do

How would you handle the relationship between ancient history and the modern politics of the same region?

What they are checking: Whether they can connect ancient and modern history carefully and fairly, since students will bring strong views about the region's current politics.

The institute's collections come from its own expeditions in the region. How would you talk about that history with a class?

What they are checking: Whether they can discuss how the institute gathered its collections honestly, since students respect instructors who address uncomfortable history directly.

A class discussion turns into a disagreement between students. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can steer a heated discussion back to respectful exchange, since a tense virtual room quickly drives adult learners away.

About the work

This is a temporary role teaching one eight-week online course on the history of West Asia and North Africa to adult learners. What periods and places do you know best?

What they are checking: Whether they know where their depth lies in a huge field, so the course draws on real expertise rather than general survey knowledge.

This region's history spans thousands of years. How would you decide what an eight-week course leaves out?

What they are checking: Whether they can make hard choices about coverage with a clear rationale, since a survey that tries to include everything teaches very little.

Walk me through how you would sequence eight sessions so each builds on the last.

What they are checking: Whether they can design sessions that build on each other logically, so students finish with a connected picture rather than scattered facts.

How do you teach something that relies on evidence people cannot read in the original language?

What they are checking: Whether they can teach how historians use translated sources and their limits, so students understand evidence even without the original languages.

The posting requires a master's degree in a relevant discipline with a doctorate preferred, and lists three possible start dates. Where do you sit, and which session works?

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

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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 instructor to teach an online, non-degree continuing education class on the history 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 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. • Provide adult learners with a foundational understanding of the course topic by the end of the class. Additional Responsibilities Education, Experience, or Certifications: Education : • Master's Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g., history, language, or archaeology 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. • Demonstrated expertise in the history 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). • Strong written and verbal communication skills. 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 & contract 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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