 | |
 American Political Science Association headquarters located in theDupont Circle neighborhood ofWashington, D.C. | |
| Formation | 1903; 122 years ago (1903) |
|---|---|
| Type | Professional association |
| Headquarters | 1527New Hampshire AvenueNW,Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Location |
|
Region | United States |
| Fields | Political science |
President | Taeku Lee |
Executive Director | Kimberly A. Mealy |
Main organ | 4 journals |
| Website | apsanet |
TheAmerican Political Science Association (APSA) is aprofessional association ofpolitical scientists in theUnited States. Founded in 1903 in the Tilton Memorial Library (now Tilton Hall) ofTulane University inNew Orleans,[1] it publishes fouracademic journals:American Political Science Review,Perspectives on Politics,Journal of Political Science Education, andPS – Political Science & Politics. APSA Organized Sections publish or are associated with 15 additional journals.
APSA presidents serve one-year terms. The current president isTaeku Lee of theUniversity of British Columbia.[2]Woodrow Wilson, who later becamePresident of the United States, was APSA president in 1909. APSA's headquarters are at 1527New Hampshire Avenue NW inWashington, D.C., in a historic building that was owned by Admiral George Remy, labor leaderSamuel Gompers, theAmerican War Mothers, andHarry Garfield, son of PresidentJames A. Garfield and president of the association from 1921 to 1922.[3]
APSA administers the Centennial Center for Political Science and Public Affairs, which offers fellowships, conference, research space and grants for scholars, and administersPi Sigma Alpha, thehonor society for political science students. It also periodically sponsorsseminars and other events for political scientists,policymakers, the media, and the general public.
The association broadly aims to encourage scholarly understanding of political ideas, norms, behaviors, and institutions, and to inform public choices about government, governance, and public policy. APSA's mission is to "support excellence in scholarship and teaching and informed discourse about politics, policy and civic participation."[4] APSA conducts several annual conferences, which provide an environment for scholars and other professionals to network and present their work, along with other pertinent and useful resources. The APSA Annual Meeting is among the world's largest gatherings of political scientists. It occurs onLabor Day weekend each summer.
The APSA Teaching and Learning Conference is a smaller working group conference hosting cutting-edge approaches, techniques, and methodologies for the political science classroom. The conference provides a forum for scholars to share effective and innovative teaching and learning models and to discuss broad themes and values of political science education—especially the scholarship of teaching and learning.
With funding from theAndrew W. Mellon Foundation, APSA has organized political science workshops in various locations in Africa, APSA Africa Workshops.[5] The first workshop was convened in Dakar, Senegal in partnership with the West African Research Center from July 6–27, 2008. The annual residential workshops are led by a joint U.S. and African organizing team and aimed at mid-and junior-level scholars residing in Africa. They will enhance the capacities of political scientists and their resources in East and West Africa while also providing a forum for supporting their ongoing research. Each three week workshop brings together up to 30 scholars and cover substantive issues, methodologies, and reviews of research. See also, APSA International Programs.
Through its facilities and endowed funding programs, APSA'S Centennial Center for Political Science and Public Affairs supports political science teaching, research, and public engagement. Opened in 2003, the centenary of APSA's establishment, the Centennial Center encourages individual research and writing in all fields of political science, facilitates collaboration among scholars working within the discipline and across the social and behavioral sciences and humanities, and promotes communication between scholars and the public.[6]
The Centennial Center, its facilities, and research support programs continue to be made possible in part through the donations of APSA members. It assists APSA members with the costs of research, including travel, interviews, access to archives, or costs for a research assistant. Funds can also be used to assist scholars in publishing their research. Grants can range in size from $500 to $10,000, depending upon the research fund.[6]
The APSA Congressional Fellowship Program is a nonpartisan program devoted to expanding awareness ofCongress. Since 1953, it has broughtpolitical scientists, journalists, federal employees, health specialists, and other professionals toCapitol Hill to experience Congress at work through fellowship placements on congressional staffs.[7]
One key component of APSA's mission is to support political science education and the professional development of its practitioners. The APSA publications program attempts to fill the diverse needs of political scientists in academic settings as well as practitioners working outside of academia, and students at various stages of their education:[8][9]
APSA members may also join the 52 membership organized sections focused around research themes in political science.[a]
To recognize excellence in the profession, the Association offers awards in the following categories:
These awards are presented at the Association's Annual Meeting.[10]
In addition to the APSA awards, the APSA organized sections also present over 200 awards annually to recognize important research and contributions to the profession. These awards are presented at the section's business meetings and receptions, held in conjunction with the APSA Annual Meeting.