Introduction

Political Science Education in Nepal, in it’s a six-decade-long history, has been passing through the process of expansion and diversification in its scope in terms of both teaching and research. However, this discipline is facing a crisis as the number of students has declined. Going back to the history, Political Science subject was introduced at the Proficiency Certificate Level as a civics subject in the early 1950s and extended to the postgraduate level (M.Ed., Faculty of Education) in 1992.

There are several campuses offering B.Ed. Level courses in Political Science education within the country; however, the Department of Political Science Education, at the Central Department of Education is the only Department offering Master’s Degree in Political Science Education (M.Ed.) since 1992. The major aim of the program is to produce trained and competent teachers (to teach political science related subjects at the different levels of education), educational planner, curriculum designers, educational researchers, and educational managers required for the country. The Department also carries on the responsibility of teaching courses on disciplinary philosophy (pedagogy) and paradigms, both theory and practice.

Faculties

Faculty Members (Past)

1. Prof. Ganesh Raj Sing
2. Associate Prof. Abdul Quaiyum
3. Prof. Balaram Shrestha
4. Prof. Govinda Malla, PhD
5. Prof. Bala Ram K.C.
6. Associate Prof. Gautam Dhoj Joshi
7. Associate Prof. Bhairaja Shakya
8. Prof. Satya Devi Manandhar
9. Prof. Jagadish Narayan Manandhar, PhD
10. Associate Prof. Rewati Prasad Dahal
11. Prof. Ram Kumar Ghimire, PhD
12. Prof. Ganga Bahadur Thapa, PhD
13. Associate Prof. Ramchandra Shrestha
14. Associate Prof. Prem Prasad Thapaliya
15. Prof. Bijaya Bahadur Silwal
16. Associate Prof. Bhabindra Bahadur Khadka

Faculty Members (Present)

1. Assistant Prof. Keshav Raj Paudel 

2. Prof. Bidur Prasad Phuyal, PhD
3. Prof. Ram Kumar Ghimire, PhD
4. Associate Prof. Vijay Kanta Karna
5. Shyam Prasad Phuyal, Lecturer (Head)

Courses Offered

The Department runs a four-semester Master’s program in Political Science Education. This program basically covers courses on three major areas—subject knowledge learning, practicum or practice teaching and thesis writing. The courses are grouped into three areas—core, specialization and elective. For core courses, the students can take six credits in the first, second and third semester and three credits in the fourth semester. There are forty-eight credits specialization courses of which twelve are offered in the first, second and third semesters. Similarly, three credits elective courses, three credits practice teaching, and six credits thesis writing are offered in the fourth semester. The specialization area covers content, pedagogical, practicum/ practice teaching and thesis writing courses. The specialization courses that the Department offers are as follows:

First Semester Core (Foundation) Courses Ed. 511 Foundation of Education Ed. 512 Advanced Educational Psychology            Specialization Courses Pol.Sc. Ed. 515 Political Theory Pol.Sc. Ed. 516 Political Analysis I Pol.Sc. Ed. 517 Political Thought I Pol.Sc. Ed. 518 International Politics	Second Semester Ed. 521 Curriculum Practice Ed. 522 Education and Development       Specialization Courses Pol.Sc. Ed. 525 Political Analysis II Pol.Sc. Ed. 526 Political Thought II Pol.Sc. Ed. 527 Public Value and Political Management Pol.Sc. Ed. 528 Nepalese Politics
Third Semester Core (Foundation) Courses Ed. 531 Measurement and Evaluation in                              Education Ed. 532 Research Methodology in Education                 Specialization Courses Pol.Sc. Ed. 535 Teaching Political Science Pol.Sc. Ed. 536 Constitution of Selected Countries Pol.Sc. Ed. 537  Federalism Pol.Sc. Ed. 538 Theory and Practice of Diplomacy	Fourth Semester Core Courses Ed. 541 Contemporary Educational Issues  Ed. 542 Teaching Practice  Ed. 543 Practicum (For EPM)  Ed. 544 Thesis  Specialization Courses (Elective Course) Pol.Sc. Ed. 545 Human Right and Social Justice or Pol.Sc. Ed. 546 Electoral Politics in Nepal

Course Description

Course Title:  Political Theory                                                                    

This course is designed for the students who studied in M. Ed. first semester in Political Science Education. It includes intensive studies of the selected theories of political science as Individualism, Utilitarianism, Idealism, Socialism, Fabians, Syndicalism, Guild socialism, Anarchism, Communism, Fascism and Nazism, Political pluralism, Nationalism, Imperialism and Internationalism.

Course Title: Political Analysis I                                         

This is a theoretical course of Political Science designed for the first semester of M. Ed. to provide    in-depth knowledge in the selected theories of Political Analysis. It also intends to help students to collect information about various methods and approaches of political analysis as well as the relation of Political Science with major social sciences.

Course Title: Political Thought I                                         

This is a theoretical course of Political Science designed for the first semester of M. Ed. to provide in-depth knowledge in the selected political thinker. It also intends to help students acquaints with the concepts of different thinkers on different topics. 

Course Title: International Politics

This course is designed to impart the knowledge of international politics for those students who specialized in Political Science Education in M. Ed. program. It includes the study of various aspects of international politics and various theories relating to international politics. It intends to provide in-depth knowledge of the concepts and theories to the students. 

Course Title: Political Analysis II                                       

This is designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge in the selected dimensions and components of Modern Political Analysis. It intends to help students internalize and apply those components as major variables to analyze contemporary political systems. 

Course Title: Political Thought II                                       

This is designed to enlighten students with selected political thinkers and their contribution to political sciences. It also intends to help students acquaint with the concepts of different thinkers on different topics. 

Course Title: Public Value and Political Management

This course is designed for those students who study in M. Ed. in Political Science Education. The course is divided in four units. Unit I deals with the concept of politics and public management, Unit II with the approval of public value in politics. Unit III includes the role and functions of public value in politics as well as Unit IV incorporate measurement of public value in politics.

Course Title: Nepalese Politics                                                                   

This course is designed for the students who specialize in Political Science Education. It intends to provide the knowledge of Nepalese politics. The contents of this course have been divided into six unites. Unit I, deals with the introduction of Nepalese politics and unit II, deals the political movements of 2007 BS. Unit III, focuses on the era of different political system. Unit IV, illustrates the restoration of democracy. Unit V, includes the Constituent Assembly Election and afterwards.  Similarly unit VI, gives the brief survey of Nepalese foreign policy respectively. 

Course Title: Teaching Political Science

This course is designed to provide a theoretical base of pedagogical components and various skills of teaching strategies. It is divided into six units. The unit I deals with the introduction, unit II with objective, while unit III with Curriculum. Unit IV & V includes instructional strategies and evaluation techniques, respectively the last unit gives emphasis on instructional planning in political science education. 

Course Title: Constitution of Selected Countries

This course is designed for the students who specialize in Political Science Education. It aims to provide a theoretical base of constitutionalism and the constitutional provision of different countries. A Constitution is the fundamental law of a country and it is first step of the way to democracy. All governments claim themselves as democratic one by their constitution. The contents of this course have been divided into four units. Each unites deals on the different titles of the courses. After completion this course the students will be aquatinted with constitutionalism as the provision of constitution of Switzerland, Japan and People's Republic of China.

Course Title: Federalism

This course is designed for the students who specialize in Political Science Education. It aims to provide a theoretical knowledge of federalism with reference to the federal system of different countries. A Constitution is the fundamental law of a country and federalism is the provision of the constitution. To strengthen the local body federalism has been adopted according to the provision in different countries. A Constitution is the first step of the way to democracy and democratic government tries to strengthen the local body. The contents of this course have been divided into five units. Each unites deals on the different titles of the courses. After completing this course the students will be aquatinted with Federalism as the provision of constitution of different countries.

Course Title: Theory and Practice of Diplomacy

This course is designed for the students who specialize in Political Science Education. It aims to provide a theoretical knowledge of Diplomacy to the students. Diplomacy is the skill of any government to tackle the issue of other countries and to settle down the differences of each other. Diplomacy is the subtle method of fulfilling own national interest of any country. 

Course Title: Human Right and Social Justice (Elective) 

This course is designed for the students who specialize in Political Science Education. It aims to provide a theoretical as well as a practical base of human rights and social justice within the constitutional provision in Nepal. Human rights and social justice is the core of the democratic government in the modern democratic world. The contents of this course have been divided into seven units. Each unites deals on the different titles of the courses. After completing this course the students will be aquatinted with the provision and the practice of the human rights in the country and the availability of social justice.

Course Title: Electoral Politics in Nepal (Elective)

This course is designed for the students who specialize in Political Science Education. It aims to provide a theoretical base of Electoral Politics and practice in Nepal. The contents of this course have been divided into five units. Each unites deals on the different titles of the courses. After completing this course the students will be aquatinted with the theory and practice of the Electoral System in the country.