Civics

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of the U.S. government, citizenship, and democratic principles. Students explore the three branches of government, the Constitution, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. They learn about civic participation through voting, volunteering, and public discourse, applying these concepts to current events. The course also provides historical context by examining key documents like the Declaration of Independence and influential figures in American democracy. Additionally, students gain basic economic literacy, understanding how taxes, markets, and personal finance connect to citizenship. By the end of the course, students will develop critical thinking skills, form informed opinions on political issues, and recognize the importance of active civic engagement.

To successfully complete this course, students will need access to a laptop or desktop computer with a reliable internet connection and a working webcam and microphone.

In addition, this course may require purchase of texts or other course materials.

CLI partner schools observe a wide range of calendars, including academic years which begin both before and after Labor Day. To accommodate this, yearlong courses are offered with both “August start” and “September start” options. For more information and to assist us in matching your school’s calendar, please reach out to your CLI contact.

This Fixed-Paced course incorporates a blend of synchronous and asynchronous elements. Students and teacher meet live via zoom on a regular weekly schedule. In addition, students complete coursework including guided readings, interactive videos, text and video-based discussion threads, problem sets, individual and collaborative projects, and so on. While these activities are time-flexible, teachers sequence them with weekly deadlines to help students keep on track and encourage and support the development of productive time management skills.

During the course orientation period, CLI asks students to complete a survey on their availability for live class meetings. Teachers set individual class meeting times based on student responses.