Discourse at Berkeley is a DeCal intended for students who are interested in exploring the rich history of discourse, activism, and political movements at UC Berkeley, all of which are particularly relevant to campus today. This includes dissecting and understanding the Free Speech Movement, Third World Liberation Front, a discussion of the role of the ASUC, and more.

Discourse at Berkeley is a discussion-based class in which students are expected to attend at least 6 of the approximately 15 virtual events hosted by the Berkeley Forum throughout the F20 semester, and submit proof of their attendance to the course instructors. Students can expect to be exposed to a wide range of disciplines as event speakers generally come from various fields (for example, this semester we are hosting Dr. Anthony Fauci of the NIAID, a Panel on the Sustainability of the Gig Economy, and Joanna Calo, a television writer and producer).

Class activities will include debates, a history of discourse at Berkeley, and in-depth discussions on the questions posed by speakers at the weekly events. Students may miss up to two classes without it impacting their grade. There are no other assignments required for the class except the final exam, which consists primarily of free-response questions.

At this point, we will accept students with applications submitted on time. Should we run into issues of capacity, we will then defer to the strength of the student's application. High-quality applications should clearly express an interest in free speech and an eagerness to develop research, writing, and public speaking skills. After applying, it will take 1-2 days for us to add you to the course enrollment.