The Department of Art Education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for two full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professors. Positions begin in August of 2025. One position will specialize in SAIC’s Master’s of Art in Art Education (MAAE) program, which focuses on art education in museums, communities, and alternative or informal settings. The other will focus on SAIC’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education (BFAAE) and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) programs, which lead to preK-12 licensure in art education and require knowledge of processes such as: Illinois State Board of Education program reviews and reporting, mapping standards to newly designed curriculum, and oversight of data collection and teacher licensing. Salary is competitive with peer institutions and commensurate with level of practice, scholarship, current academic research, extent of teaching experience, and current professional standing.
Program Profile
With historical ties to the Art Institute of Chicago and other vibrant cultural sites, SAIC has been a leader in developing art and design curricula for over 150 years. SAIC’s art education programs prepare students to become exemplary art teachers, educators in museums and community-based settings, as well as socially engaged teaching artists, committed to shaping vibrant communities and culturally responsive institutions.
The Department of Art Education, one of 22 studio and academic programs, currently has five full-time faculty and over 10 part-time faculty offering more than 25 courses each year to undergraduate and graduate students through three degree programs. Two programs are certified by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE): Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education (BFAAE) and the 42-credit hours Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). The 36-credit hours Master of Arts in Art Education (MAAE) focuses on teaching in museums, communities, and alternative or informal settings without certification requirements.
Further information can be found at: https://www.saic.edu/art-education
Responsibilities
The ideal candidate will be prepared to teach graduate seminars and core courses within the undergraduate and graduate programs (including licensure courses), develop new and refine existing curricula, supervise thesis projects and fieldwork, and advise students planning careers in art education and related fields.
Administrative responsibilities may include the oversight of graduate and undergraduate degree programs; the Illinois State Board of Education program review; school, community and constituency relations; and collaborative program development within an art school and museum. Candidates may also assume placement coordinator responsibilities. Candidates must maintain professional scholarly and/or creative production; represent the department in local, regional, and national professional forums; and provide service to the department, institution, and community. Candidates should have experience working across diverse populations, including supporting students through coursework differentiation and accommodations as well as sharing examples of successful teaching and designs for the development of caring and generative classroom culture.
Department faculty cultivate and maintain professional affiliations and ongoing community programmatic initiatives within the Chicago area; provide leadership in the national and international field of art education; and model innovative pedagogical practice as they work across the curriculum to demonstrate a deep understanding of transdisciplinary practices. Full-time faculty participate in the SAIC community through ongoing curricular development, departmental administration, school governance, and service.
Qualifications
A terminal degree in art education or related field is required: PhD, EdD, or MFA. Candidates should emphasize creative and critical perspectives in an expanded field of art, community, and museum education, and maintain a robust, creative scholarly or artistic practice. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of and participation in contemporary fields of art and education. Professional experience should include school, museum, or community settings, as well as college and/or graduate-level teaching. The candidate should have experience teaching courses related to art, design, or digital technology education in relation to fields such as visual and material culture, museum studies, disability studies, indigenous studies, ecology, artificial intelligence, or culturally sustaining and public pedagogies. Applicants should demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively with others to build strong and innovative programs and initiatives. Evidence of significant recognition for practices in research, publications, presentations, and/or art making is required.
The ideal candidates will contribute to the School’s diversity by bringing perspectives, ways of thinking, and unique experiences that expand the intellectual and artistic conversations and practices in the field as well as the department. Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to educational equity and justice. Candidates should demonstrate their experience with, or aptitude for, departmental administration as service will be expected.
Application Procedures
Applicants are encouraged to apply by Wednesday, January 8, 2025 for full consideration. Please submit application materials via https://saicfaculty.slideroom.com/#/Login. You will be asked to create an account after which time you may complete the application, which consists of fill-in fields and required documents to upload. You are encouraged to begin the application well before the priority deadline.
Complete the fields for educational background; current position; and contact information for three professional references.
Please convert all word documents into PDFs before uploading. Required files to upload include:
- Cover letter stating your interests and qualifications
- Curriculum vitae
- Statement of teaching philosophy including details on how your teaching has supported the success of students from racial, ethnic, gender, and/or socioeconomic backgrounds that are underrepresented in your academic field
- Statement of research and practice
- Two examples of course syllabi
- Portfolio of creative and/or scholarly work with other support materials as appropriate
All applicants for this position must complete and sign a Prior Workplace Conduct Declaration as part of their initial application materials in order to be considered as a candidate and sign a release authorizing SAIC to conduct a misconduct reference check should the candidate ultimately be selected as a finalist for the position.
Questions
Questions regarding the School and its open positions, application procedures, or the search process may be emailed to saicteach@saic.edu. Please consult www.saic.edu for information on the School and its programs, or https://www.saic.edu/about/work-at-saic for open positions and application procedures.
About SAIC
A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs to students from across the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, the School is one of the largest and oldest private schools of art and design in the country with programs reflecting current practices in art. SAIC's educational philosophy is built upon a transdisciplinary approach to art and design that provides unparalleled opportunities for students to develop their creative and critical abilities with renowned faculty who are leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC's resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its Modern Wing, and numerous special collections and programming venues that provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances. The campus is located on Chicago’s magnificent lakefront amid the city’s cultural and architectural treasures.
Degree tracks include the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio; BFA with Emphasis in Art Education or Writing; BA degrees in Art History and Visual and Critical Studies; Master of Architecture; Master of Design (MDes) in Designed Objects; MFA in Fashion, Body, and Garment; MFA in Studio or Writing; MA degrees in Arts Administration; Art Education; Art History, Theory, and Criticism; Art Therapy; Teaching; Visual and Critical Studies; and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation.
Requests for Accommodations
SAIC provides reasonable accommodations during the interview process for candidates with disabilities in adherence with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Should you need an accommodation to participate in an interview, please contact Molly Roth Scranton, Associate Director of Faculty Affairs, at mscranton@saic.edu.
