Teaching Training in Canadian Political Science PhD Programs

Despite a wealth of literature examining the current state of teaching training in American Political Science PhD programs, there is still a relative lack of literature focused on Canada. In this article, we present our findings and analysis from an anonymous online survey sent to the Graduate Chairs (or equivalent) of Canada’s Political Science departments with PhD programs (19). Garnering 14 responses, the survey results present an initial snapshot of current teaching training opportunities. We show that most teaching training is offered informally and typically outside of individual departments. Further, opportunities vary considerably across departments and institutions, even though there is some agreement that more formal training would improve program quality. The article concludes with key takeaways from the research and ideas for strengthening teaching training in Canadian Political Science PhD programs, including fostering greater collaboration and communication between administrators, graduate students, and faculty.