Teaching Philosophy

Your statement of teaching philosophy should be deeply reflective in nature, and should be closely connected to the institution to which you are applying to teach. 

Ask yourself the following before drafting:  

• What pedagogical methods influence your teaching? 
• What evidence do you have to support that your teaching is effective? 
• How do you ensure a sense of belonging and inclusion in your classroom? 
• Are there concrete examples that demonstrate your teaching philosophy? 

To tailor your statement for each application, research the following before drafting:  

• What are some keywords that stand out from the job description? 
• What is the institution’s mission and how does that align with your teaching philosophy? 
• Are there particular strategies or components to their academic experiences (i.e., emphasis on experiential learning)? 

Resources for writing teaching philosophy statements: 

• Application Materials for the Faculty Job Search from the University of Pennsylvania  

• Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement from Cornell  

• Teaching Philosophy Statements from the University of Michigan  

• Guide to writing a teaching statement from the University of Notre Dame 

• Guide to writing a teaching statement from University of Connecticut