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Author Topic: postdoc application and teaching  (Read 4334 times)
jaws2006
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« on: October 06, 2009, 09:26:58 AM »

Is one supposed to mention what courses one can teach in a post-doc application with a teaching component? Are these usually courses that are already existing in that particular college or is one supposed to also suggest new courses they can offer if accepted?


Thanks
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locutus
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« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2009, 09:32:32 AM »

Is one supposed to mention what courses one can teach in a post-doc application with a teaching component?

I would assume so.

Quote
Are these usually courses that are already existing in that particular college or is one supposed to also suggest new courses they can offer if accepted?
Thanks

Perhaps both. What does the application say?
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jaws2006
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« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2009, 09:35:37 AM »

The application does not mention anything actually. For the first round of selection they have asked for only a personal statement, CV, transcripts and recommendation letters. But I was wondering if I need to mention something about teaching and what kind of courses I could teach/offer in the Cover letter?

This is a Social Science post-doc.
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dr_strangelove
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« Reply #3 on: October 06, 2009, 10:48:39 AM »

If I'm reading your application, I'm more interested in what teaching experience you already have, what you learned from it, and how you approach teaching than I am in what courses you think you can teach for us.
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bhavani
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« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2009, 09:26:04 AM »

Is one supposed to mention what courses one can teach in a post-doc application with a teaching component?

I would assume so.

Quote
Are these usually courses that are already existing in that particular college or is one supposed to also suggest new courses they can offer if accepted?
Thanks

Perhaps both. What does the application say?

In my case (humanities) I indicated the courses that I had taught in the past as well as the general direction that I hoped my teaching would take in the future. I was then asked (during the interview) whether I'd be prepared to teach topics/courses X and Y. Both were new course topics for me but they also constituted the logical extension of my dissertation research. The school/program wanted to add courses that had not been offered before, and they trusted that I'd be able to develop them. Long story short, I would not get into too much detail in the app! When asked whether you'd be prepared to cover topics xyz, by all means say "yes" even if it is a stretch! My two new courses turned out to be a great success, and they helped me to advance my research agenda in unforeseen ways.
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polly_mer
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hiding out from my grading. Shhh!


« Reply #5 on: October 26, 2009, 07:09:43 AM »

Yes, mention your teaching interests, but don't make them the focus of your application unless the ad specifically states that the position is primarily a teaching postdoc. 
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