Teaching Civic Engagement: From Student to Active Citizen provides an exploration of key theoretical discussions, innovative ideas, and best practices in educating citizens in the 21st century. Edited by Alison Rios Millett McCartney, Elizabeth A. Bennion, and Dick Simpson, this book addresses theoretical debates over the place of civic engagement education in political science. It offers pedagogical examples in several subfields, including evidence of their effectiveness and models of appropriate assessment.

Written by political scientists from a range of institution types and subfields, Teaching Civic Engagement makes the case that civic and political engagement should be a central part of our mission as a discipline. In 27 chapters and four major sections, over 30 authors explore key practices and offer several subfield-specific pedagogical examples of educating student citizens in the 21st century and advocate for the centrality of civic engagement education in political science.

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Section One reviews debates, definitions, benefits, challenges of civic engagement; multiple modes of engagement in higher education; bridging adolescent and adult engagement; civic engagement pedagogy and political science education; and political science faculty as models of engagement.

Section Two covers how to implement civic engagement in the political science classroom and speaks to specific subfields and topics including urban, local, and state government; public policy and public law; American government and elections; political philosophy; comparative politics and international relations; internships; and high school civics.

Section Three provides guidance on formulating appropriate learning outcomes and objectives and incorporating civic engagement into the curriculum and all aspects of college life such as study abroad, internships, and student organizations. Section Four supplies readers with an assessment toolkit to rigorously evaluate engagement activities and an overview of civic engagement research in political science journals.

The book concludes with a call to political scientists to reflect on their teaching and research as it relates to civic learning and engagement and defines an action plan for the discipline towards civic and political engagement. We encourage all political scientists to add the Teaching Civic Engagement book to their personal libraries!

Table of Contents
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Book Preview: Section 1 and Chapter 1