Learning at Cornell
Across Cornell's colleges and schools, the Center supports and develops coursework on civil discourse, disagreement and pluralism, democratic citizenship, public policy, freedom of speech and association, and rule of law — building democratic literacy into students' education from the start.
Democracy Fellows Program
Students work directly alongside faculty and practitioners on real research projects tied to the Center's three pillars — rule of law, democratic participation and pluralism, and new technologies. The Fellows Program is the Center's signature pathway for students who want to contribute to democracy work in a meaningful, hands-on way. Students receive mentorship in research and an opportunity to build their skill sets while contributing to democracy locally, nationally, and globally.
Democracy PhDs
The center convenes a monthly workshop for PhD students who are engaged in democracy themes from across colleges. This provides an opportunity for early-stage researchers to receive in-depth feedback on works-in-progress, data collection, and dissertation prospectus or chapters from an interdisciplinary audience.
Democracy Research and Practice Lab
Undergraduate and master students have the opportunity to enroll in a full academic year course to conduct a research project delivered to academic or practitioner clients in this lab styled course. Students work in small groups to learn about salience issues and theories of democracy, develop a methodological tool kit and then apply this knowledge towards a real-world research project.
Democratic Dialogues Course
We offer an online course to both Cornell continuing education students and external partners on ideas, theories, and experience of democracy. We partner with the Communities of Democracy to provide this learning experience for dozens of young leaders around the world.
Disagreement Course (GOVT 1109)
Disagreement drives democracies, and this course trains students to engage thoughtfully around the most pressing disagreements of our time. Students will watch and discuss live, cross-disciplinary debates on provocative questions, then deepen their thinking through faculty-led seminars and targeted writing assignments to sharpen argumentation and civic reasoning. The fall 2026 one-credit course offering will focus on disagreements central to the founding of the United States in reflection of its 250th anniversary.
Pathways to Purpose Course (PUBPOL/HE 2700)
In the Pathways to Purpose pilot, students explore questions of public purpose and civic responsibility. In partnership with the Cornell Center for Dialogue and Pluralism, students practice the skills that pluralistic democracy depends on — listening across difference, engaging in civil discourse, and sustaining dialogue in divided times.
Civic leadership class asks students to consider their purpose
For more courses related to democracy, see the course roster for Fall 2026.