Dialogue in Polarized America

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Why is the United States so polarized, and what can be done about it? This course uses interdisciplinary scholarship to examine the structural and cultural forces that fuel toxic polarization, as well as the pathways that can lead toward repair. Students engage both theory and practice; they study the conditions that entrench division and learn dialogue-based approaches capable of interrupting those patterns. Through dialogic methods, students develop concrete skills for fostering understanding across deep differences. The course prepares students to approach conflict with courage, compassion, and intellectual integrity. By the end of the course, students will understand the roots of polarization and will be equipped with practical tools for rebuilding civic relationships in a fractured democracy.