School of Hard Knocks: Rebuilding a Program

Abstract

This research addresses the challenges of rebuilding a political science department from the ground up. By looking at student needs, departmental resources, and assessment of recent graduates and seniors, this research helps faculty by providing tools and information about building and strengthening a department. By describing what is unique to the challenges of political science as a discipline and as a department, I argue that political science is in a particular position to serve both the university goals and the goals of our majors. With our service to the university including courses geared toward educated citizenship, political science often fulfills the mission of universities geared toward being an active participant in society and politics. With the growing challenge of universities to cut back on departments and to become more cost efficient, I argue that political science is a necessity on campus. By acknowledging the need for a campus presence and strategies for recruitment and retention of students, this article looks at political science as a department and its self-evaluation of what can be done to rebuild.