Courses

All Democracy Scholars take the following classes together during their first year at �鶹�ƽ��:

Fall semester:

Govt 100: Public Sphere / Public Space (COLL 100 class, 4 credit hours)

Instructor: Professor Rebekah Sterling

Fall 2026: Tuesday / Thursday 3:30-4:50pm

This course explores the ideas of the public sphere and public space within democracy. We will examine the public sphere as a context for discussion and deliberation and public space as a setting for interaction and collective action among citizens. Through these themes, the course will explore competing perspectives on the meaning, practice, and values of democracy and questions about the role of citizens within democracy. Readings will include classic and contemporary works from political theory and related subjects. Students will also practice research and communication skills through multi-modal projects.

Fall and Spring semesters:

INTR 390: Democracy Scholars Practicum (1 credit hour each semester)

Instructor: Professor Terrell Taylor

Fall 2026: Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30pm.

Spring 2027: Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30pm.

The Democracy Scholars Program seeks to guide a select group of students in exploring the arts, humanities, social sciences and STEM for approaches and perspectives on what it means to be an active citizen in a democratic society. INTR 390 is required of Democracy Scholars in both Fall and Spring Semesters. This course will expose students to interdisciplinary practices and concepts of democracy from both inside and outside academia, offer opportunities for dialogue with invited guests and one another as a microcosm of the public sphere, and prepare them to develop collaborative multimedia projects in the spring semester.