Rethinking Political Science Education: Supplemental Resources

Examples Syllabi:

• "Professionalization in Political Science Course Syllabus," by Curtis Bram.

Journal Articles and Essays:

• "Practicing Democratic Engagement in the Political Science Classroom," by George Davis (APSA's Raise the Vote Campaign).
• "Civic & Political Engagement in Introductory Courses: The Why & What to Think About Ahead of Time," By Terry Gilmour, Lanethea Mathews-Schultz, Shannon McQueen (APSA Educate: Teaching American Politics Symposium Collection, 2022).
• "Talking Politics: Creating a Course for Incoming Freshman on Political Discourse," By Matto, Elizabeth C. Matto and Randi Chmielewski (Journal of Political Science Education, 2021).

APSA's Book Series:

• Political Science Internships: Towards Best Practices, Renée Van Vechten, Bobbi Gentry, John Berg.
• Teaching Civic Engagement Globably, Elizabeth Matto, Alison McCartney, Elizabeth Bennion.
• Teaching Civic Engagement Across the Discipline, Elizabeth Matto, Alison Rios Millett Mccartney, Elizabeth A. Bennion, and Dick Simpson.
• Teaching Civic Engagement: From Student to Active Citizen, Alison Rios Millett Mccartney, Elizabeth A. Bennion, and Dick Simpson.
• APSA's Teaching Civic Engagement Book Series Resource Toolkit

Select Journal Articles and Essays:

• "Teaching Community Organizing and the Practice of Democracy," by Jyl Josephson (Journal of Political Science Education, 2018).
• Best Practices in Civic Education: Lessons from the Journal of Political Science Education, By Elizabeth A. Bennion and Xander E. Laughlin (Journal of Political Science Education, 2018).

APSA Resource Collections:

• Raise the Vote Campaign

Select APSA Educate Resources:

• "Learning Module: How Elections Are Run," by Carah Ong Whaley.
• Engaging in Difficult Election Conversations: 2024 Edition, by Carah Ong Whaley.
• "Revamped Raise the Vote Resources, by Bill Waychunas.
• "Practical Politics: Lessons in Democracy and Power," by Titus Alexander.

Example Syllabi:

• "Democracy & Citizenship Course Syllabus" by Jyl Josephson.

Resources from APSA's civic engagement partners:

• Student Learns Student Votes Resource Library
• The Citizens Campaign
• The National Center for Learning, Voting, and Engagement

Teaching Resources:

• Critical Thinking Modules, by Terry Gilmour.

Webinars:

• Incorporating Information Literacy Skills into Your Syllabus, by Kimberley MacVaugh.

Past APSA Presidential Task Force Reports:

• "Political Science in the 21st Century," from the Task Force on Political Science in the 21st Century, 2011. Dianne M. Pinderhughes, APSA President, 2007-08.

Select Journal Articles and Essays:

• Special Issue: Teaching College Students about Asian Pacific American Politics from Multiple Perspective, Editors: John Ishiyama and James S. Lai, (Journal of Political Science Education, 2022)
• Hard Truths: The Importance of Teaching Race in Introductory American Government and Politics for Undergraduates, By Rongal D. Watson (Journal of Political Science Education, 2019).
• Civic Engagement as Critical Pedagogy at Middle Tennessee University, By Sekou Franklin (APSA's Raise the Vote Campaign, 2020).
• Toward an Intersectional Political Science Pedagogy, by Rasmussen, Amy Cabrera Rasmussen (Journal of Political Science Education, 2014).
• Learning Civic Identity Outside of the Classroom: Diversity and Campus Associational Life, by Cherie J. Strachan and Chris T. Owens (Journal of Political Science Education, 2011).

Webinars and Resources:

• "Building and Inclusive Syallbus."
• JPSE: The Inclusive Classroom Reading List.

Select Journals Articles:

• “Integrating Classroom and Community with Undergraduate Civically Engaged Research.” By Sam Schmitt, Isaac D. Mehlhaff, and Emily Cottle Ommundsen, (PS: Political Science & Politics, 2003).
• “Creating New Knowledge with Undergraduate Students: Institutional Incentives and Faculty Agency.” By Zvobgo, Kelebogile Zvobgo, Paula M. Pickering, Jaime E. Settle, and Michael J. Tierney. 2023. (PS: Political Science & Politics, 2023).
• “The Stewardship Model: An Inclusive Approach to Undergraduate Research.” By Megan Becker, Benjamin A. T. Graham, and Kelebogile Zvobgo. (PS: Political Science & Politics, 2021).
• “Challenges to, and Suggestions for, Merging Research and Teaching in Undergraduate Regional Public Universities.” By Juan Carlos Huerta. (PS: Political Science & Politics, 2015).

Webinar:

• "Researching with Undergraduates: Strategies and Best Practices." 

Example Syllabi:

• Appendix 3: Sample Syllabus for Graduate Teaching in Political Science course.

APSA Books, Journal Articles, and Chapters:

• How to Teach American Politics (and Other Subjects) Effectively, by Marjorie R. Hershey.
• Strategies for Navigating Graduate School - select chapters:
  • Serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant: Tips and Strategies, by Zoe Nemerever and Christina Boyes
  • Preparing for the First Solo Teaching Experience: An Alternative to Learning as You Go, by Mario Guerrero, Matt Lamb, and Mary Anne S. Mendoza
  • Teaching as an International Graduate Student, by Irmak Yazici
  • Resources for Teaching Excellence: APSA’s Education Section and the TLC, by Megan Becker, Elizabeth A. Bennion, Colin M. Brown, and Eric Loepp
• What We Wish We Knew: Reflections of Brand-New Teaching Assistants, by Nakissa Jahanbani, Charmaine Willis, and Donnett Lee (Journal of Political Science Education, 2018).
• SoTL as a Subfield for Political Science Graduate Programs, by Lee Trepanier, (Journal of Political Science Education, 2018).

Academic Career Track Resources:

• Strategies for Navigating Graduate School - select chapters:
  • Expect the Unexpected: Choices and Challenges in the Political Science PhD Job Market, by Bobbi G. Gentry, Kyla K. Stepp, and Jeremiah J. Castle
  • Mental Health and the Job Market, by Anna A. Meier, Adnan Rasool, and Annelise Russell
  • What Your PhD Advisors Can’t Tell You Because They Don’t Know: Landing a Job at a Student-Focused Institution, by Karen M. Kedrowski
  • A Commitment to Teaching, Learning, and Student Advocacy: Community College Careers, by LaTasha Chaffin DeHaan, Josh Franco, Verónica Reyna, and Randy Villegas
  • More than Reordering the Cover Letter: Preparing for Careers at Small Liberal Arts Colleges, Kelly Bauer and Shamira Gelbman
  • Preparing for a Career at a Regional Comprehensive University, by Elizabeth A. Bennion, Monica E. Lineberger, and Eric D. Loepp
  • Succeeding at a Research-Intensive Institution (R1 or R2), by Karen M. Kedrowski and Benjamin Melusky
  • Weighing Up the Options: The Adventure of an Academic Career Outside of the United States, Dale Mineshima-Lowe, Pablo Biderbost, and Guillermo Boscán Carrasquero
  • Making a Statement: Research, Teaching, and Diversity Statements for the Academic Job Market, Kelly Bauer, Colin M. Brown, Melissa L. Sands, and Maricruz Ariana Osorio
  • A Limited Time Offer: Exploring Adjunct, Visiting, and Fixed-Term Positions, Austin Trantham, Connor J.S. Sutton, Margaret Mary Ochner, and Jennifer E. Lamm
  • The Academic Interview/Marathon, by Christopher Macaulay and Michelle D. Deardorff
  • You Have an Academic Job Offer…Now What? Negotiating Advice from Two Perspectives, William O’Brochta and Lori Poloni-Staudinger
  • Started from the Bottom, Now We’re Here: Navigating the Job Market Without a “Top Tier” PhD, by Rachel E. Finnell and Alexandra T. Middlewood
  • Getting “Us” a Job: The Two+ Body Problem and the Academic Job Market, by Tyler P. Yates
• APSA's Career Paths Series
  • Part 1: You’ve Decided to Go on the Job Market. What Might Your Next Year Look Like? By Kelsey Shoub
  • Part 2: You’ve Decided to Go on the Job Market. Now It’s Time to Put Together Your Packet By Kelsey Shoub
  • Part 3: The Phone Rings. Now What? By Kelsey Shoub.

• APSA's Pedagogy Workshop
  • Preparing Teaching Materials for the Job Market, By Sondra Richards.

Applied Career Track Resources:

• APSA's Careers Diversity Committee Resource Page
  • Careers Outside of the Academy: An APSA Careers Diversity Committee Roundtable Webinar
  • Turning Your Academic CV into a Resume: An APSA Careers Diversity Committee Workshop
    • Handouts:
      • CV Resume Resource Guide
      • Transferable Skills In Practice Handout
      • Ross Action Verbs
      • Harvard Resume Examples
      • Colombia University Examples
• Strategies for Navigating Graduate School - select chapters:
  • Pushing the Boundaries of Your PhD: Exploring Careers Outside the Ivory Tower, by Danielle Gilbert, S.R. Gubitz, Jennifer Kavanagh, and Kelly Piazza

Resources to Support Undergraduate Enrollment:

• Where Can Political Science Take You? APSA Presidential Task Force on Rethinking Political Science Education (American Political Science Association, 2024).
• "What is the Point of a Political Science Degree?" By Josiah Franklin Marineau (Journal of Political Science Education, 2020).
• "Increasing Enrollment in Political Science Majors: Opportunities and Challenges" By Susan Scarrow and Bennett Grubbs (Notes from APSA's 2023 Department Chairs Annual Meeting Luncheon Roundtable).

Hiring, Tenure, and Promotion:

• "Systemic Inequalities in the Discipline." APSA Presidential Task Force on Systemic Inequalities in the Discipline (American Political Science Association, 2022).
• APSA Resources for Diversity Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement.

Program Assessments:

• "Outcomes Assessment in Higher Education as a Scientific/Intellectual Movement: Implications for Political Science," By Fletcher McClellan (Journal of Political Science Education, 2021.)
• “Assessment in Political Science Redux: Introduction.” By Michelle D. Deardorff (PS: Political Science & Politics, 2016).
• Assessment in Political Science, By Michelle D. Deardorff,  Kerstin Hamann, John Ishiyama. (American Political Science Association, 2008).
• APSA's Updated Resources for Conducting an External Review, 2023. (APSA Departmental Membership required.)
• APSA's External Review Program (APSA Departmental Membership required.)