Proposal Submission Options

Individual Submission Options

Individual Paper: Individual paper submissions by an author(s) that, if accepted, could be incorporated into any session type, at the division chair’s choosing. Associated Roles: Author, Non-presenting Co-author

30-Minute Paper Presentation:  Individual paper to be considered for inclusion on a Featured Paper Panel. Featured Paper Panels allow for a scholar to present his or her work for a longer period of time and to have a dedicated discussant who isn’t overburdened by having to read multiple papers. Associated Roles: Author,  Non-presenting Co-author

iPoster Presentation: Individual paper submission by an author(s) that will be incorporated into the electronic, online poster hall. In addition to iPoster kiosks onsite at the Meeting, posters will be available to view prior to and after the convention, providing greater opportunity for poster presenters to solicit feedback and engage in critical discussion of their research. Attendees will be able to provide comments directly to the presenters, and would also be able to arrange for time to meet onsite at the meeting. Associated Roles: Author, Non-presenting Co-author

Emerging Scholars Symposium NEW!
Each scholar will have five minutes to present, followed by five minutes of feedback or Q&A. This format provides a structured framework giving presenters not only an opportunity to share their research at the world’s largest political science meeting, but also an opportunity to develop and enhance research communication skills through a concise presentation. The Symposium coincides with other emerging scholar events on Saturday, such as the Graduate School Information Fair and the Graduate Student Happy Hour. The three categories for individual submission under the Symposium are:

  • Research Design: Scholars will have five minutes to discuss their research design and logistics. This is followed by five minutes of feedback from discussants.
  • Research in Five (Undergraduate students): Scholars will present their research using five slides for five minutes. Following their presentation, there will be five minutes to receive feedback from discussants and hold a Q&A with the audience. Panels will be held on Saturday morning to allow undergraduates to attend the Graduate School Information Fair on Saturday afternoon. Participants in this category will need to submit a faculty advisor or mentor name to APSA and will be required to complete one test run of their presentation at their college/university. Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, will sponsor the registration fees for presenters accepted to this category.
  • Research in Five (Graduate students): Scholars will present their research using five slides for five minutes. Following their presentation, there will be five minutes to receive feedback from discussants and hold a Q&A with the audience.

Full Session Submissions

Full Paper Panel (90 min): A full panel proposal is a fully formed panel session. You must submit all panel details, including panelist names, paper titles, and abstracts. No more than 4 papers are permitted. One or two discussant(s) and one chair needed. All panelists must be in agreement that they will participate if the panel is selected. Division Chairs may also compile these from the submitted papers. Associated Roles: Author, Non-presenting Co-author, chair, discussant

Roundtable (90 min): A roundtable proposal is for a discussion format session. Participants agree on a specific topic to discuss and debate. You must submit a session title and all participant details. You may submit up to 8 participants, and all participants must be in agreement that they will participate if the panel is selected. Associated Roles: Presenter, Chair

Author(s) Meet Critics (90 min): Similar as the regular roundtables, but proposal submitters and Division Chairs are encouraged to think creatively about incorporating works in progress to be published on the roundtable. These sessions could begin with a 10 minute presentation of a single paper that presents the next logical step in the research agenda set forth in the book, followed by a panel of critics talking about the book and about the work in progress. We also encourage Division Chairs to consider having author panels for articles that have appeared in refereed journals in addition to books. Associated Roles: Presenter, Chair

Café (90 min): This session format incorporates a handful of topic clusters, each staffed with a moderator to discuss various outreach efforts in the field. Members will share successful engagement methods and provide guidance to colleagues on ways to apply what they’ve learned in other ways. This session could be about interdisciplinary outreach, public engagement, or any variety of outreach to unique audiences. Associated Roles: Presenter, Chair

Featured Paper Panel: 30-minute Paper Presentations (3 papers at 30 minutes each; 90 min): This format allows an author to present his or her work for a longer period of time and to have a dedicated discussant who isn’t overburdened by having to read multiple papers. One session chair would guide the time, but each paper would have its own discussant. The sessions might follow the “Brookings format,” in which the discussant presents and then comments on the paper; the author would then have a chance to respond. Associated Roles: Author, Non-presenting Co-author, Chair, Discussant

Mini-conference (full day – 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.): A full day of content devoted to a theme. The mini-conference can be in pursuit of a larger cohesive goal than traditional panels provide, such as an edited volume or an omnibus dataset. Sessions within the mini-conference might be comprised of other formats in this list. Associated Roles: Presenter, Chair, Author, Non-presenting Co-author, Discussant

Theme Panel (90 min): Theme panels can be submitted by individuals during the Call for Proposals process or can be elevated up for review by division chairs.  The program co-chairs review all panels submitted to this category and accept sessions that best explore this year’s theme, “Promoting Pluralism” Associated Roles: Presenter, Chair, Author,  Non-presenting Co-author, Discussant


Wednesday Pre-Conference Short Course (4 hours/full day): 
Pre-conference short courses take place on Wednesday, September 9, and provide diverse opportunities for professional development and offer attendees the chance to connect with scholars from a range of backgrounds. They are typically sponsored by APSA Organized Sections and other affiliated organizations.  Wednesday Pre-Conference Short Courses do not count toward a division or related group’s allocation. Associated Roles: Presenter, Chair

Workshop (4 hours): These programs allow for a deep dive in a focused environment. Workshops might be professional development focused or subfield specific, or thematically of the same spirit or accomplishing the same knowledge-sharing or learning goals. Workshops provide participants with hands-on experience and should embrace adult learning principles with clear, pre-determined learning objectives that would be included in the proposal description. Associated Roles: Presenter, Chair