The Art of Dialogue

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Dialogue is way of talking and listening together that cultivates shared understanding. Especially when we face divisive issues, dialogue provides a valuable alternative to debate. In this class, students lead conversations about controversial issues such as abortion, gun control, economic justice, and immigration – and practice withholding judgment, empathetic listening, and questioning assumptions. Reflecting on the theory and practice of dialogue, this course develops interpersonal and small-group communication skills for engaging conflict, building community, representing vulnerable people in conversation, and facilitating discernment.