POLS 3010: Topics in Amer Pol or Pub Admn: Free Speech and Civil Discourse in a Divided Age
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
An intensive study of a topic in American politics or public administration. The particular topic investigated may vary from semester to semester, and a student may take more than one course under this number. Section information text: This course explores the causes and consequences of America’s deepening political polarization, especially the rise of affective polarization—the tendency to see political opponents as not just wrong, but irrational or immoral. Drawing on political science, sociology, ethics, and the notion of free speech, we examine how partisan identities harden, why dialogue breaks down, and what this means for democratic life. Our classroom will serve as a laboratory for practicing civil discourse. Through readings, scholarly discussion, and experiential learning, students will engage directly with contentious issues while building a community grounded in trust, intellectual rigor, and curiosity. Together, we will consider the costs of division and the possibilities for more honest, humane, and productive conflict in a divided age.
Average GPA: 3.07
Grade distribution records: 1,348 students across 26 terms.
Grade distribution
| Grade | Students | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| A | 586 | 43.5% |
| B | 385 | 28.6% |
| C | 152 | 11.3% |
| D | 53 | 3.9% |
| F | 78 | 5.8% |
| W | 72 | 5.3% |
Based on 1,348 student grade records across 26 terms and 24 professors.
Instructors
- Jim Morrill 188 students, Average GPA 3.14
- Eric Heberlig 141 students, Average GPA 3.03
- Mary Atkinson 131 students, Average GPA 2.45
- Martha Alexander 125 students, Average GPA 3.47
- Maria Usher 108 students, Average GPA 3.18
- James Douglas 107 students, Average GPA 2.04
- Regina Branton 89 students, Average GPA 3.57
- Jason Giersch 65 students, Average GPA 3.25
- Martha Kropf 65 students, Average GPA 3.86
- John Kunich 49 students, Average GPA 2.81
- Cherie Maestas 40 students, Average GPA 2.85
- Zachary Mohr 40 students, Average GPA 2.18
- Jonathan Perry 29 students, Average GPA 3.35
- Holly Brasher 26 students, Average GPA 2.76
- John Szmer 26 students, Average GPA 4.00
- Vernon Couch 20 students, Average GPA 2.63
- Andrej Milic 18 students, Average GPA 3.94
- Christopher Gonyar 18 students, Average GPA 3.53
- Daniel Piar 18 students, Average GPA 3.33
- Mindy Sanchez 16 students, Average GPA 2.94
- Anne Tompkins 11 students, Average GPA 3.45
- Carol Mcguckin 10 students, Average GPA 4.00
- Nathan Duma 5 students, Average GPA 3.80
- Michelle Stanley 2 students, Average GPA 3.50