Offered by the Department of Government, School of Public Affairs, the Dialogue (Undergraduate Certificate) provides students with the tools and knowledge to lead and participate in meaningful conversations about community issues. Students gain foundational skills in dialogue such as communicating to be understood, developing lovable questions, and active listening while learning about civic engagement, academic freedom, and First Amendment rights. This program is administered by the School of Public Affairs, but is open to all AU students interested in learning to communicate meaningfully in professional, academic and personal settings.

Admission to the Program

Open to undergraduate degree and nondegree students.

Certificate Requirements

• 12 credit hours with grades of C or better
• Compliance with all regulations for a certificate (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 10.3)

Course Requirements

Required (1 credit hour)

• GOVT-184 People Like Us: Dialogue for Civic Engagement (1)

Additional (2 credit hours)

Complete 2 credit hours from the following:

• GOVT-182 First Amendment Moot Court (1)
• GOVT-183 Mediation and Dispute Resolution (1)
• GOVT-185 Topics in Dialogue for Public Affairs Practice (1)

Elective Courses & Credit Supplements (9 credits total)

Elective course options include:

• SPA-220 American Constitution (3)
• GOVT-352 Law in the Political System (3)
• Introduction to Law (Justice/COVID and the Constitution) (3)
• Administrative Politics (3)
• Advanced Seminar in Corrections (Corrections: Confined and Surveilled (3)
• Children, Law, & Policy (3)
• Authoritarian Politics & Digital Governance (3)

Credit Supplements

Note: Supplement requirements include:

• Instructor approval from associated course
• Completed supplement form
• Completed additional assignment such as additional paper; presentation; adding 10 pages to a paper; research project; additional readings; or other assignments chosen by the instructor
• Tracked for completion

Option A

• 9 credit hours from elective courses with supplements

Option B

• 6 credit hours from elective courses with supplements
• 3 credit hours from internship with supplement

Option C

• 3 credit hours from an elective course with supplement
• 3 credit hours from internship with supplement
• 3 credit hours from independent study through PCD (Project on Civic Dialogue) as a fellowship or dialogue researcher