How to Write an Adjunct Professor Cover Letter That Gets Interviews
An adjunct professor cover letter is your first opportunity to demonstrate academic credibility, teaching effectiveness, and alignment with a department's mission. Unlike corporate roles, higher education hiring committees review dozens of applications from candidates with similar credentials, so your cover letter must do more than restate your CV.
This guide walks you through what search committees prioritize, how to structure your letter, and provides a ready-to-use example. Whether you are transitioning from a full-time faculty role or applying to your first adjunct position, these strategies will help you stand out. For broader guidance, see our complete resource on how to write a cover letter or explore more roles in the education career area.
What Hiring Committees Look For
Search committees and department chairs evaluate adjunct professor candidates on a specific set of criteria. Understanding these priorities helps you frame your experience effectively.
- Teaching philosophy and pedagogy. Committees want evidence that you have a thoughtful, student-centered approach to instruction. Briefly articulate how you engage learners and adapt to diverse classrooms.
- Scholarly activity. Even for adjunct roles, publications, conference presentations, or ongoing research signal that you remain active in your discipline.
- Course development experience. Highlight any courses you have designed, revised, or adapted for online delivery. Curriculum design skills are highly valued.
- Student outcomes and evaluations. Quantifiable results such as evaluation scores, pass rates, or student retention figures add credibility to your claims.
- Department and institutional fit. Show that you have researched the program. Reference specific courses, initiatives, or values that align with your background.
- Terminal degree or ABD status. Most adjunct positions require a master's degree at minimum. If you hold a terminal degree or are ABD, state this clearly and early.
How to Write Your Cover Letter Step by Step
Open With a Specific, Confident Introduction
Avoid generic openers. Name the position, the department, and one reason you are a strong fit. If a current faculty member referred you, mention them in the first sentence. This immediately signals relevance and initiative.
Connect Your Teaching Experience to Their Needs
Rather than listing every course you have taught, select two or three that align with the department's catalog. Describe your approach and results. If you have experience as an adjunct instructor or served in a broader adjunct faculty capacity, draw on those experiences to show range and adaptability.
Demonstrate Scholarly Engagement
Dedicate a short paragraph to your research or professional development. Mention recent publications, conference papers, or projects that connect to the courses you would teach. Committees value candidates who bring current disciplinary knowledge into the classroom.
Close With a Clear Call to Action
End by expressing enthusiasm for contributing to the department and invite further conversation. Mention your availability for an interview or a teaching demonstration. A strong closing reinforces your professionalism and interest. For related academic roles, also consider our guides for instructor positions.
Cover letter example
Adapt names, metrics, and achievements to your own experience.
Subject: Application for the Adjunct Professor position
Dear Dr. Hernandez,
I am writing to apply for the Adjunct Professor of Sociology position in the Department of Social Sciences at Westfield University, as advertised on your careers page. With a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Michigan and five years of college-level teaching experience, I am confident in my ability to contribute to your department's commitment to applied learning.
Over the past four years at Lakeview Community College, I have taught 14 sections of Introduction to Sociology, Social Problems, and Research Methods, consistently earning student evaluation scores averaging 4.7 out of 5.0. I redesigned the Research Methods curriculum to incorporate community-based projects, which increased student pass rates by 12 percent.
My scholarly work complements my teaching. I have published three peer-reviewed articles on urban inequality and presented at six regional and national conferences since 2022. I integrate current research findings into my lectures to ensure students engage with the latest developments in the field.
I am drawn to Westfield University's emphasis on experiential learning and would welcome the opportunity to bring my community-engaged pedagogy to your program. I am available for an interview or teaching demonstration at your convenience.
Sincerely, [Your Name]
Before You Send: A Quick Checklist
Review your adjunct professor cover letter against these points before submitting your application.
- The letter is addressed to the correct department chair or search committee by name.
- You have named the specific position and institution in the opening paragraph.
- At least two concrete metrics (courses taught, evaluation scores, publications) are included.
- Your terminal degree or highest credential is stated clearly.
- The letter aligns your experience with the department's stated needs or values.
- You have proofread for formatting consistency and grammatical accuracy.
- The document is saved in the requested file format (usually PDF).
For detailed formatting advice, visit our guide on cover letter format.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should an adjunct professor cover letter be?
Keep your letter to one page, roughly 300 to 400 words. Hiring committees review many applications, so conciseness matters. Focus on teaching experience, relevant credentials, and fit with the department rather than attempting to summarize your entire CV.
Should I include my teaching philosophy in the cover letter?
Include a brief reference to your teaching philosophy, but do not reproduce your full teaching statement. One or two sentences that convey your approach to student engagement are sufficient. Many applications request a separate teaching philosophy document, so save the detailed version for that.
What if I do not have a terminal degree yet?
If you are ABD (all but dissertation), state this clearly along with your expected completion date. Many departments hire ABD candidates for adjunct roles. Emphasize your teaching experience and any publications to strengthen your application. If you are shifting fields, our career change cover letter guide offers additional strategies.
How do I tailor my letter for different institutions?
Research each department before writing. Reference specific courses you could teach, faculty whose work aligns with yours, or institutional initiatives that resonate with your experience. A generic letter sent to multiple schools is easy for committees to spot and rarely succeeds.
Can I use this letter for full-time faculty positions?
An adjunct cover letter is shorter and more focused than a full-time faculty application letter, which typically requires a more extensive discussion of research agendas and service commitments. Use this as a starting point, but expand significantly for tenure-track roles. Browse our cover letter templates for additional formats suited to different academic positions.