Description
The Department of Art and Art History invites applications for Sessional Instructors to teach the following courses in the Fall 2025.
Lectures for the Fall 2025 term run from September 2 to December 5, 2025. Individual course dates are noted below; please see the academic schedule for additional important dates and deadlines.
NOTE: THE FOLLOWING COURSE OFFERINGS ARE TENTATIVE, PENDING FUNDING AND SUFFICIENT ENROLMENTS.
NOTE: THERE MAY BE CANDIDATES WITH THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL (ROFR) (TUCFA Collective Agreement 23.12).
ARHI 201: Introduction to Art History I
Course dates: September 2 - December 5, 2025
Tuesdays and Thursdays 14:00 - 15:15
Course description: An examination of art and architecture before 1400 in relation to significant historical and cultural events.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- A PhD in Art History or related field is required.
- Applicants should have a record of teaching within the field of art history, and ideally experience teaching large, introductory surveys of global art history.
- Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level.
- Outstanding professional achievement or substantial training in the field of art history.
- Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
ARHI 343 A History of Design
Course dates: September 2 - December 5, 2025
Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30 - 10:45
Course description: An introduction to the history of design including international movements, materials and technologies, production and consumption, and contemporary issues of critical design practice.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- A PhD in Art History or related field is required.
- Applicants should have a record of teaching within the field of art history and experience teaching courses that focus on design practice.
- Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level.
- Outstanding professional achievement or substantial training in the field of art history.
- Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities
ARHI 431 Art and the Body
Course dates: September 2 - December 5, 2025
Monday and Wednesday 11:00 - 12:15
Course description: A critical analysis of the power dynamics inherent to forms of looking and representations of the body in a variety of historical periods and geographical locations. May include gendered representations, the medicalized body, the body in classical art, and displays of marginalized bodies.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- A PhD in Art History or related field is required.
- Applicants should have a record of teaching within the field of art history and experience teaching courses that focus on the representation of the body.
- Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level.
- Outstanding professional achievement or substantial training in the field of art history.
- Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
ART 231 Art Fundamentals: 2D
Course dates: September 2 - December 5, 2025
Mondays and Wednesdays 08:30 - 11:00
Course description: Foundation course in two-dimensional art making. Creative exploration of pictorial space, composition and design will occur via learning fundamentals of perspective, colour, shape, balance and unity. Approaches may include wet and dry media, digital technologies, printmaking, and collage. These will be addressed in the context of research, problem solving, visual fluency and conceptual development.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- A terminal degree in Art (MA or MFA, but a studio-based PhD is preferred for Art courses).
- Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level, especially introductory courses in art fundamentals.
- Outstanding professional achievement or substantial training in the field of Art and the focus of the course(s).
- Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
ART 241 Introduction to Drawing
Course dates: September 2 - December 5, 2025
Dates: Mondays and Wednesdays 11:15 - 13:45
Course description: Introductory course in observational and representational drawing. Creative exploration includes mark-making, hand-eye co-ordination, proportions, perspective, line, texture, figure-ground relationships and pictorial composition. Approaches may include pencil, conté, charcoal, pastel, pen and ink. These will be addressed in the context of research, problem-solving, visual fluency and conceptual development.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- MFA in Art. Other relevant graduate-level credentials (MA or studio-based PhD) will also be considered.
- Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level, especially in drawing courses.
- Outstanding professional achievement or substantial training in the field of Art and the focus of the course.
- Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
ART 311.28 Topics in Art (Art and Social Change)
Course dates: September 2 - December 5, 2025
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:15 - 12:30
Course description: This course explores contemporary art practice that is engaged with issues of social justice, equity, and political mobilization.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- MFA in Art. Other relevant graduate-level credentials (MA or studio-based PhD) will also be considered.
- Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level.
- Outstanding professional achievement or substantial training in the field of Art and the focus of the course.
- Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
ART 420.1 Advanced Topics in Art (Sustainable Art Practice)
Course dates: September 2 - December 5, 2025
Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30 - 11:00
Course description: This course explores approaches to interdisciplinary art practice focused on climate change, as both a thematic and a guiding methodology.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- MFA in Art. Other relevant graduate-level credentials (MA or studio-based PhD) will also be considered.
- Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level, especially drawing courses.
- Outstanding professional achievement or substantial training in the field of Art and the focus of the course.
- Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
Desirable Skills and Abilities for all Postings:
- Energy, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence in teaching.
- The willingness to work with students having a wide range of skills, varying abilities, motivations, and academic or vocational goals.
- The ability to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with others in a team environment.
- The ability to use instructional strategies designed for diverse learning styles and academic goals.
- Demonstrated knowledge of current literature on art.
- Demonstrated respectful engagement with Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonizing, anti-racist, and inclusive frameworks.
Application Process:
To apply to the above teaching opportunities, please submit your application documents (in pdf form) to the U of C Careers site, using the "Apply Now" link.
In support of your application, please provide the following:
1. Current CV (if the Department does not already have one on file)
2. Names and contact information for 3 potential referees; and
3. Teaching evaluations (if available)
If you have any questions, please contact Charles Tepperman, Interim Department Head by email at daahhead@ucalgary.ca
Application Deadline: June 12, 2025
Additional Information
For salary information, please refer to TUCFA's Collective Agreement, Schedule B. As per the Collective Agreement, the Faculty of Arts adheres to the right of first refusal terms (Section 23.12.1 and 23.12.2) for Sessional Appointments.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments(equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)
For a listing of all academic opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Academic Careers website. For more information about the Faculty of Arts, click here.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
About Calgary, Alberta
Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders - in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.
