The inquiry-based AU Core Curriculum includes the following civic and democracy components in its CLDE Pathway:
AU Encounters II is a shared intellectual experience that examines key themes in U.S. society and beyond with a focus on the works and legacy of James Baldwin. The multi-disciplinary seminar is taught to first-year students by full-time faculty and University leaders.
First-year students also enroll in a Complex Problems Seminar. Each seminar focuses on a real-world problem or enduring question and includes co-curricular experiences. Learning outcomes using multiple perspectives to refine understanding of an issue or context, synthesizing and integrating sources to develop and communicate arguments, and incorporating feedback.
Habit of Mind requirements include courses in areas related to civic and democracy learning, particularly Cultural Inquiry, Ethical Reasoning, and Socio-Historical Inquiry. In many cases, these courses are related to student major or minor.
A Diversity and Equity requirement includes the learning outcome of evaluating and reflecting on values, policies, or practices needed to develop a more equitable society.
Augsburg University's core curriculum is designed to prepare students as effective, informed, and ethical citizens.
Engaging Minneapolis, a course-based element of the AugSem (first year seminar) curriculum, includes field experiences that connect students to the communities and civic issues around Augsburg University.
The Augsburg Experience, a signature experiential learning requirement, provides opportunities to integrate and apply knowledge, skills, and dispositions to high-impact on- and off-campus internships, faculty-student research, and civic or community engagement opportunities.
These experiences culminate in keystone and capstone courses in the major, deepening discipline-specific opportunities to engage and serve the community. Staff and faculty work to support all students towards Augsburg Local experiences - those that encourage students to learn, engage, work, lead, and invest civically in the Augsburg community.