CIVICS 101

“… We're a bunch of raw materials that don't mean to be—have any process upon us. Don't mean to be made into any product. Don't mean ... Don't mean to end up being bought by some clients of the University, be they the government, be they industry, be they organized labor, be they anyone! We're human beings!” - Mario Savio

Civic education is the study of how citizenship actually works—its ideas, its politics, and the rights and responsibilities that come with it. In this course, we’ll explore political parties, political systems, local government, and interest groups. Expect a dash of history, a dose of sociology, some economics, and the occasional sprinkle of philosophy for flavour. The goal is simple: to pull these threads together into a coherent picture, giving people a practical sense of how the whole machine runs. This five-week, first-term course covers the essentials of civics—just enough to get you informed without requiring a constitutional law degree.