Statement of Philosophy

Definition:The Statement of Philosophy is a brief document that describes your core approach and values in
facilitating the healthy development of children and adolescents. This document is often requested from
candidates who apply for professional positions and graduate programs and should include a concise, firstperson description of your beliefs, values, approach, concrete examples (whenever possible drawn from
courses), influential scholars/theorists that you feel have shaped your development as a child and adolescent
professional/scholar. These examples should:
(1) Demonstrate the range of your academic and field-based knowledge
(2) Illustrate your preferred methods/pedagogy
(3) Allow readers to envision your philosophy in action.
The Statement of Philosophy is NOT a summary of the experiences on your résumé/CV, nor is it an article on
pedagogy. Rather, it is a practical, specific articulation of the objectives and approaches you currently value,
have used in the past, and/or plan to use in the future.Purpose and Audience When you write your Statement
of Philosophy for an application for employment or graduate school, think critically about the reasons a search
committee/selection committee may request the document and try to anticipate questions they may have about
your beliefs on children’s development and learning including:
•What role do you think adults have/play in children’s learning/development?
•Which theoretical perspectives CHOOSE ONE OF THIS THEORICIANS (e.g., Piaget, Vygotsky, Erikson,
Bronfenbrenner) are most relevant to YOUR philosophy?
•What role do you see YOURSELF in as a professional and how is your philosophy of development/learning a
good fit for this particular career?
•How does your philosophy facilitate the development of children or adolescents with various developmental
disabilities?