Job Description

Date Posted:

09/02/2025

Req ID:

45037

Faculty/Division:

UofT Mississauga

Department:

UTM: English & Drama

Campus:

University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)

Description:

Why do we play? Game designers, philosophers, sociologists, and performance theorists have long argued that play can tell us about our development as children and adults, our search for freedom, our relationship to animals, and the values and problems of our societies. This course introduces students to Play Studies and Game Studies in the humanities by considering the reasons we play in relationship to the objects we play with, including things that are more normally thought of as games--card and board games, sports, toys, video games--as well as other sites of playful thought and action, like paintings, films, and short stories. Students in this course will encounter major scholars of play and games and key terms and concepts in the analysis of play and games. We will play and design story-rich games and we will discuss effective narrative design primarily in digital games. Students will also consider problems in play and games like cheating, addiction, and gamification.



Section: LEC0101


Lecture Day(s): Tuesday 1-3


Tutorials: Thursday either 1-2, or 2-3


Estimated Enrolment: 84


Est of TA hours: 150



Sessional dates of appointment: September 2, 2025 - December 31, 2025



Salary Sessional Instructor Assistant:

$54.27 per hour plus 4% vacation pay
Please note that should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.



Duties:



Holding up to 2 one-hour tutorials each week Preparation for tutorials and grading Grading Attending training sessions/meetings with the course instructor Organizing and submitting grades Holding office hours Lecture attendance (as required) General teaching-related duties

Minimum Qualifications: Minimum qualifications: PhD in English, Comparative Literature, or related field and demonstrated expertise in video game studies. Evidence of knowledge of media studies and narratology also desirable. Experience teaching at the university level; strong academic record, demonstrated teaching ability, evidence of currency in subject matter.



Application Instructions:

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications may apply by submitting:

CUPE Local 3902 Unit 3 Application Form. Download here: http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/english-drama/about-us/employment Current CV.
E-submissions are preferred and should be sent to Professor Jacob Gallagher-Ross, Chair, Department of English and Drama c/o edapps.utm@utoronto.ca

Closing Date:

09/04/2025, 11:59PM EDT



This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement.



It is understood that some announcements of vacancies are tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolment. Should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.

Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II or Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12 of the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 collective agreement.

Please note: Undergraduate or graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of the University of Toronto are covered by the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 collective agreement rather than the Unit 3 collective agreement, and should not apply for positions posted under the Unit 3 collective agreement.