University of Toronto
Faculty of Information
Sessional Lecturer
Fall Term 2025 (September - December)
INF451H1 LEC5101 – Information Design Studio IV: Information Visualization
Course Description: Problems, practices, and techniques of conveying complex information analysis. Issues of clarity, persuasion, visual literacy, and cultural context will be explored. Students will develop a data visualization project that will speak to or engage surveillance, data analytics, activism, or other issues covered in advanced IDM courses.
This course (INF451H1 — Information Design Studio IV: Information Visualization) addresses problems, practices, and techniques that arise from the growing use of visualization media to analyze and interpret data, manage information complexity, and communicate data-driven messages. Through it, students will acquire the ability to use and understand a number of important visualization methods (e.g. dashboard communication), and will learn how to critically interrogate the application of visualization technologies in novel domains (e.g. data journalism). Various important topics will be discussed, including the use of visualization to mislead, the tension between truth and aesthetic concerns in data design, and the recent growth of visualization literacy initiatives. Throughout the course, students will develop a visualization project that will engage with surveillance, data analytics, activism, or other themes covered in advanced BI courses. Additionally, students will engage with a number of important visualization tools (e.g. Matplotlib) that will be introduced through activities and case studies with real-world import, providing them with an opportunity to develop theoretical knowledge through applied work, as well as enhance their professional portfolios.
INF451H1 LEC5101 – Information Design Studio IV: Information Visualization
Estimate of the course enrolment: 50
Estimate of TA Support: Estimate of 75 hours with enrollment of 36 or greater. Allocation of TA hours, if any, will be based on enrolment numbers.
Class Schedule: Thursday, 6:00pm – 9:00pm. (6:00 - 8:00pm LEC5101 and 8:00pm - 9:00pm PRA5101). You are required to be located in geographical proximity to the applicable University premises in order to attend and perform your duties on University premises as of the Starting Date.
Sessional dates of appointment: September 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025
Salary: Sessional Lecturer I: $10,696Sessional Lecturer I Long Term: $11,445Sessional Lecturer II $11,445Sessional Lecturer II Long Term: $11,713Sessional Lecturer III: $11,713Sessional Lecturer III Long Term: $11,986 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.
Qualifications: Preferably candidates will have a completed, or nearly completed, PhD degree in an area related to the course or a Master’s degree plus extensive professional experience in an area related to the course. Teaching experience is preferred.
Brief description of duties: Preparing course materials; delivering course content (e.g., seminars, lectures, and labs); developing and administering course assignments, tests & exams; grading; holding regular office hours.
Application Deadline: Aug. 22, 2025
Application Process: Applicants must submit a CV and a completed CUPE 3902 Unit 3 application form in one pdf file to the attention of:
Melissa Szopa, Administrative Coordinator, AcademicFaculty of Information, 140 St. George Street University of Torontosessional.ischool@utoronto.caThis job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement. Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II and Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12.
Candidates who are members of Indigenous. Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity-deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the position.
