Elizabethtown College Professor of Political Science, Fletcher McClellan, recently collaborated with alumnus and former Etown Associate Professor of Political Science Kyle Kopko ’05, as well as alumna Amanda Hafler ’19, M’20 to co-author an academic article, “Giving It the Old College Try: Academic Departments and Undergraduate Curriculum Change in Political Science, 2009-2019” in the Journal of Political Science Education.
“Our study shows how the discipline of political science is trending, what kinds of curriculum changes departments are making, and what factors are driving change,” McClellan said. “We show that departments frequently adjust major requirements, but most changes are relatively minor. There is greater attention to cultivating job-related skills and providing hands-on experiences in politics and government.”
The article focuses on undergraduate curriculum reform across political science departments, specifically during the 2010s. The study tested multiple causes for a shift in curriculum and results showed a learning-based and market-based incentive for change, including institutional limitations.
Journal of Political Science Education is the leading publication of political science, as it pertains to teaching, learning, and pedagogy of the subject. The journal publishes work that focuses primarily on political science education, from graduate study, curriculum, technique, and practical use.