Description
The Department of Art and Art History invites applications for sessional instructors to teach the following courses in the Fall 2026.
Lectures for the Fall 2026 term run from September 1 to December 4, 2026. 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 (Two sections available)
LEC 01:
Course dates: September 1 - December 4, 2026
Web-based, Asynchronous
LEC 02:
Course dates: September 1 - December 4, 2026
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:
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A PhD in Art History or related field is required.
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Applicants should have a record of teaching within the field of art history, and ideally experience teaching large, introductory surveys of global art history.
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Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level.
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Outstanding professional achievement or substantial training in the field of art history.
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Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
ARHI 311.1: Topics in Art History and Visual Studies: Gender and Art History
LEC 01:
Course dates: September 1 - December 4, 2026
Web-based, Asynchronous
Course description: Examines art through the lens of gender, addressing issues of identity, power, and representation.
Qualifications/Requirements:
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A PhD in Art History or related field is required.
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Applicants should have a record of teaching within the field of art history and experience teaching courses that focus on Gender and Art History.
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Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level.
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Outstanding professional achievement or substantial training in the field of art history.
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Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
ARHI 340.3: Topics in Art and Technology: History of Video Art
LEC 01:
Course dates: September 1 - December 4, 2026
Web-based, Asynchronous
Course description: The history and theory of video art, via examination of significant works in the field, as well as important concepts from related fields.
Qualifications/Requirements:
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A PhD in Art History or related field is required.
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Applicants should have a record of teaching within the field of art history and experience teaching courses that focus on video art.
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Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level.
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Outstanding professional achievement or substantial training in the field of art history.
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Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
ARHI 425: Architecture in the Western World since 1900
LEC 01:
Course dates: September 1 - December 4, 2026
Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30 - 10:45
Course description: A survey of significant examples of modern architecture, defining their stylistic character in light of developments in technology, the history of ideas, and social and historical factors.
Qualifications/Requirements:
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A PhD in Art History or related field is required.
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Applicants should have a record of teaching within the field of art history and experience teaching courses that focus on architecture.
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Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level.
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Outstanding professional achievement or substantial training in the field of art history.
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Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
ART 231: 2D Fundamentals
LEC 02 / LAB B02:
Course dates: September 1 - December 4, 2026
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:
- MFA in Art. Other relevant graduate-level credentials (studio-based MA or PhD) will also be considered.
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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).
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Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
ART 233: 3D Fundamentals
LEC 01 / LAB B01:
Course dates: September 1 - December 4, 2026
Mondays and Wednesdays 08:30 - 11:00
Course description: Foundation course in three-dimensional art making. Students will be introduced to the elements and principles of art through three-dimensional creative exploration. Students will be introduced to the technical shops and will have the possibility of working in wood, metal, and other materials. Research, problem solving, visual fluency and conceptual development.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- MFA in Art. Other relevant graduate-level credentials (studio-based MA or PhD) will also be considered.
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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).
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Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
ART 319: Digital Illustrations
LEC 01 / LAB B01:
Course dates: September 1 - December 4, 2026
Tuesdays and Thursdays 14:00 - 16:30
Course description: Introduces students to vector-based illustration techniques, their historical context, and terminology. The course provides a focus on the fundamentals of layout and image construction, the various methods of output possible with vector-based designs, and the relationship between verbal and visual communication.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- MFA in Art. Other relevant graduate-level credentials (studio-based MA or PhD) will also be considered.
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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.
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Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
ART 564: Studio Research
LEC 01 / LAB B01:
Course dates: September 1 - December 4, 2026
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:15 - 13:45
Course description: Advanced studio course that introduces students to self-generated approaches to creative research. Situated in an interdisciplinary setting, students can work across a variety of media as best supports their creative and conceptual interests.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- MFA in Art. Other relevant graduate-level credentials (studio-based MA or PhD) will also be considered.
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Outstanding professional achievement, professional development, or substantial training and experience in the field of art.
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Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level.
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Demonstrated experience evaluating written work.
- Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
Desirable Skills and Abilities for all Postings:
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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. Please note that only four attachments are allowed, which may require you to merge documents.
In support of your application, please provide the following:
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Current CV (if the Department does not already have one on file)
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Names and contact information for 3 potential referees; and
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Teaching evaluations (if available)
If you have any questions, please contact Susan Cahill, Department Head by email at [email protected].
The application deadline is May 26, 2026.
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 ii' taa'poh'to'p 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 ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).
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.
The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.
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.
With a growing urban Indigenous population of approximately 50,000 people, there are several Indigenous organizations and many events and ceremonies taking place in the city throughout the year.
