Teaching and Learning Political Science in the Era of AI

Abstract: This chapter examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping teaching and learning in political science. Drawing on faculty surveys and a review of 42 scholarly papers, it assesses instructor attitudes toward AI, finding that, while most view AI tools skeptically, they believe students must learn to engage with them. The chapter identifies six themes in the emerging literature: ethical and equitable use, detection and punishment, departmental policies, assignment redesign, faculty development, and career preparation. It highlights concerns, including privacy, environmental costs, algorithmic bias, and the unreliability of AI detection tools. Rather than prescribing a single approach, the chapter presents pedagogical strategies – including project-based learning, scaffolded assignments, and oral assessments – that instructors have adopted to maintain academic integrity while fostering critical thinking. The authors call on APSA to develop discipline-wide guidance emphasizing that educators should focus on higher-order learning outcomes, digital literacy, equity, and a commitment to democratic values.