Strategies for Navigating Graduate School and Beyond

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PUBLICATIONS > Books & Brochures > Strategies for Navigating Graduate School and Beyond

Edited by Kevin G. Lorentz ii, Daniel J. Mallinson, Julia Marin Hellwege, Davin Phoenix, and J. Cherie Strachan

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Download individual chapters by clicking the links in the table of contents below!

Earning a graduate degree in political science is the first step in pursuing an academic or alt-academic career. yet there is a large hidden curriculum in graduate school pertaining to strategies, norms, and practices which, when implemented, can help students navigate graduate school. yet these can be difficult to learn and navigate, even for the most successful undergraduate students and early career professionals who are beginning their graduate career. beyond gaining entry to graduate school, surviving, and thriving as a successful graduate student requires insights into academia and political science that most undergraduates, recent college graduates, or early career professionals simply will not know. additionally, lack of access to this hidden curriculum most disadvantages first generation and minoritized students, which maintains inequalities in the discipline.

Presently, the APSA leadership is enhancing its efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion across the profession by addressing issues of climate and culture, as well as institutional and systemic inequality through a variety of measures: diversity and inclusion programming, presidential task forces, and other council-backed initiatives. this resource guide is an essential component of APSA’s effort to fill the knowledge-gap for prospective and current graduate students, as it provides insights into everything from applying for admission and finding a mentor to landing that first job—and everything in between.

“This book is a road map for students in graduate school pursuing a degree in political science—one that i wished i had 30 years ago! graduate students can gain real insight into how to apply to graduate school and whether that is the right choice for them. they also can learn the importance of mentorship and service to the profession. finally, after graduation—there are many helpful resources to navigate the job market and make the most of that first job in academia. Being a graduate student is a scary process and this book has answers to so many questions, all in one book. valuable!” —Dr. Terry L. Gilmour, Midland College and Executive Council, APSA

“Strategies for Navigating Graduate School and Beyond is a remarkably comprehensive resource for new and prospective students seeking to understand the “unwritten curriculum” of political science. Readers who are new to the field will get a broad overview of the culture of our profession and learn what issues they may confront during their academic career.”—Dr. Justin Esarey, Wake Forest University and Co-Editor of PS: Political Science and Politics

“This extensive volume, featuring advice from an impressive group of political scientists representing a diverse range of perspectives, is a helpful starter guide for anyone interested in pursuing a PhD in political science. For years, many of us have been cobbling together this kind of advice for prospective students—and now we can find it all in one place! Strategies for Navigating Graduate School and Beyond is an important addition to the professional development literature for early career political scientists.” Dr. Tanya Schwarz, Executive Director of Pi Sigma Alpha

“This urgently needed book provides comprehensive, sage advice to current and prospective graduate students who are entering the field of political science. From navigating mentor relationships to conferences to teaching to the perilous job market, it lays out the previously unspoken information which graduate students really need to know from insiders. A must-read for anyone seeking to succeed during and after a political science graduate program!” —Dr. Alison Rios Millett McCartney, Towson University and associate editor for the Journal of Political Science Education