Instructional Professor in Chicago Studies (Open Rank) at The University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois

Job Description:

Description



The Social Sciences Collegiate Division at the University of Chicago is accepting applications for a full-time Instructional Professor (IP) who will teach foundational and elective courses on behalf of the College's Chicago Studies (CHST) program. The appointment is renewable, with an initial term of at least two years, beginning September 1, 2025. Appointment at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or full Instructional Professor will be considered based on the candidate's prior teaching experience. The IP's teaching and program responsibilities will take place during the nine-month academic year, approximately October through June.


Chicago Studies supports academically rich collaborations between instructors, students, and external partners to leverage Chicago as an illuminating locus for study. In so doing, it distinguishes the College as a premiere space for place-based, interdisciplinary urban studies nationwide. Part of the Office of Teaching and Research Innovations in the College Dean's Office, Chicago Studies has historically served as a resourcing platform and networking space for course instructors interested in teaching about and with the city, but has increasingly offered its own curricular, undergraduate research, and para-curricular opportunities in response to growing demand from students and collaborating academic units. This IP position will enhance Chicago Studies' ability to respond to these increased demands (especially for introductory coursework and mentored research opportunities) throughout the academic year.


The IP will teach an annual load of six undergraduate courses, including one section of "Chicago(land) Introductions" (an introductory course that emphasizes the histories, geographies, and cultures of the Chicagoland region); two sections of a methodology-focused interdisciplinary research seminar (which may align with the instructor's own expertise and/or be developed in close collaboration with Chicago Studies' leadership); a course that contributes either to Chicago Studies' new thematic Civilizations Core sequence or to Chicago Studies' forthcoming Arts Core offerings; and two additional Chicago-focused electives of their choosing. Applicants are requested to provide a draft/summary syllabus for one of these classes (e.g. a CIV or Arts Core class, a research seminar, or a Chicago-focused elective) as a component of their application materials.


In addition to teaching, the IP will advise undergraduates on Chicago-focused research projects (including BA thesis projects and other capstones); participate in planning and executing Chicago Studies' programming, including orientation and academic-year events, co-curricular opportunities, and community engagement activities; provide support to the development and execution of an inaugural intercollegiate academic conference (Winter/Spring 2026); represent Chicago Studies nationally and internationally at relevant academic meetings and conferences; and collaborate with the Chicago Studies team to develop partnerships on and off campus. Unlike many other academic units, Chicago Studies offers considerable investment of time and effort in programming for and with the wider College (and University) community; depending on the IP's degree of involvement in these aspects of Chicago Studies' work, this position's courseload may be reduced from six to five classes per year, at the discretion of the Executive Director of Chicago Studies and Assistant Dean of the College as well as the Deputy Dean for Research and Teaching Innovations.


The terms and conditions of employment for this position are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the University.



Qualifications



The position requires a Ph.D. in a field of social sciences or humanities relevant to the proposed teaching duties, and is open to applicants who will have completed all requirements for their Ph.D. no later than August 31, 2025. Experience teaching relevant coursework at the college level is required, and experience living in, researching, and/or teaching about Chicago(land) is strongly preferred.



Application Instructions



To apply for the position, candidates must submit an application through the University of Chicago's Interfolio jobs board at apply.interfolio.com/160094 and upload the following: (1) a cover letter/letter of intent, (2) a current CV, (3) a brief course proposal or draft syllabus for at least one of these Chicago Studies classes: a CIV or Arts Core class, a research seminar, or a Chicago-focused elective, (4) a teaching statement, (5) additional evidence of pedagogical accomplishment and promise: such as a teaching portfolio, recent course evaluations, third-party observations of the applicant's teaching if available, or other relevant assessments, and (6) a list of 3 academic/professional references, which the committee may contact at a later stage of the search process.


The review of applications will begin on January 4, 2025, and continue until the position is filled or the search is closed.