This class examines both direct and indirect ways of participating in politics and being civically engaged. There is a real sense of urgency and agency in abandoning avoidance and non-participation in politics and civic engagement in general. Hence, this class embarks on new trajectories within our culture and system. It addresses the traditional ways of voting and looks at new and even “non-conventional” approaches to be active and engaged. There will be an increased emphasis on methods of engagement with other individuals and politics, venturing into the realms of social media, political activism, and community service.

Why should you participate in our democracy?
How can your voice and participation make a difference?
What methods can be used to be an engaged citizen?

By addressing these questions, we will examine how individuals have the power to deeply impact the views of politicians and leave their marks on the course of politics at all levels: national, state, and local. The class is thus a “journey,” per se, a dialogue with different individuals, political culture, status quo, and our society in an attempt to explore the meaning of political participation and civic engagement. By the end of this course, every student should understand what it means to be an engaged citizen and be able to analyze different civic engagement tactics and apply them to the real world.

The focus of this class is your education, not boring you with dense assignments. As such, the only assignments will only be two short response papers (500 words) and a 5-minute in-class presentation about one of the topics we taught in class. Looking forward to seeing you all soon!