American Culture & Society: Living, Learning, and Thriving in the U.S
$240 | ONLINE
+ registration fees
36 Hours (equivalent to 3 credits)
Saturdays 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM ET / 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM PT
Sundays 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM PT
Check which Time Zone you are in!!
Offered in collaboration with Hudson County Community College
Instructor: Aycha Edwards
February 7 – 8, 2026
Zoom meetings will only take place ONE weekend, on Saturday February 7 & Sunday February 8 | CLASS END DATE: March 8, 2026
March 14 – 15, 2026
Zoom meetings will only take place ONE weekend, on Saturday March 14 & Sunday March 15 | CLASS END DATE: April 12, 2026
April 11 – 12, 2026
Zoom meetings will only take place ONE weekend, on Saturday April 11 & Sunday April 12 | CLASS END DATE: May 10, 2026
May 23 – 24, 2026
Zoom meetings will only take place ONE weekend, on Saturday May 23 & Sunday May 24 | CLASS END DATE: June 21, 2026
COURSE DESCRIPTION
America is much more than what you see on TV: it’s a diverse, fast-changing country shaped by history, innovation, and people from around the world. Whether you’re visiting, studying, or starting a new chapter here, this course helps you understand how Americans live, think, and connect, and gives you the tools to navigate daily life with confidence.
You’ll explore what it means to be “American” today, from the famous idea of the American Dream to how new generations are redefining identity, success, and community. Through lively discussions, videos, and hands-on activities, you’ll gain insight into both cultural values and practical topics that affect everyday life in the U.S.
What You’ll Learn
- Regional Identity: Explore the accents, food, weather, and traditions that make each region unique.
- Politics & Social Issues: Understand the U.S. political system, voting rights, and how social movements shape change.
- Education System: Learn how schools, colleges, and universities work, and what to expect as a student in America.
- Visas, Study, and Work Life: Overview of student, au pair, and work visas; adapting to professional and academic culture in the U.S.
- Immigration & Citizenship: A look at America’s immigration history, pathways to citizenship, and what it means to “belong.”
- Everyday Communication: Master common slang, idioms, and unwritten social rules: from small talk to text messages.
- Dating & Relationships: How Americans approach dating, friendship, and boundaries in multicultural contexts.
- Food & Etiquette: Dining customs, restaurant culture, and tipping: what’s expected (and what’s not!).
- Health & Wellness: How the healthcare system works, plus current social topics like mental health and the opioid crisis.
- Media & Pop Culture: The movies, music, and media that shape how Americans see themselves and the world.
- Sports & Pastimes: Why sports like football, baseball, and basketball hold such cultural power.
- Law & Daily Life: From renting an apartment to understanding your rights: how local, state, and federal laws affect you.
Course Experience
You’ll learn through interactive assignments and real-world examples that connect culture to your own experiences. You’ll also have opportunities to share your observations and questions about living in the U.S. and compare perspectives with others from around the world.
By the end of this course, you’ll understand not only how American culture works, but how to confidently live, study, and thrive within it.
ONLINE FORMAT
This class will consist of readings and assignments posted on Google Classroom and TWO scheduled zoom sessions (zoom is a video conference app.) You will only have two zoom meetings the first weekend of class, and then work independently on your assignments for the remaining 4 weeks. Please make sure you register for the course with a valid email address, since this is where you will receive an invitation notification to join Google Classroom. Both zoom and Google Classroom are free platforms and easy to use. You will be invited to join Google Classroom a week before class starts. Make sure you check your spam/junk folder, as invitations to join Google Classroom sometimes end up there. Your email must be Google compatible, so it’s best if you use gmail, hotmail or yahoo. If you don’t receive a notification before class starts, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to contact us.
ASSIGNMENTS & COMPLETION CERTIFICATE
All assignments must be successfully completed in order to receive your course completion certificate. Course completion certificates will be emailed to you, to the email address you registered for the class with. If you have a deadline and need your certificate earlier, please indicate it during the registration process and upload proof (there is a question that asked about early certificate.) You may receive your certificate as early as ONE week after class has started, as long as you complete all assignments successfully and it is confirmed by your instructor.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance during the scheduled zoom sessions IS MANDATORY and we will be taking attendance! If you do not attend these, you will NOT receive a course completion certificate. Meetings are not recorded and there are no make-up sessions. It is not possible to sign up for a new class if you miss the zoom meetings – your will have to pay for a new class! Other than the zoom sessions, the class is self-paced and you will be free to work on your assignments whenever you can. You will have 4 weeks to complete all assignments and course requirements.
ZOOM SESSIONS
Please note that all zoom sessions are scheduled in Eastern Time (New York City). Please check which time zone you are in, and make sure you attend the zoom sessions on time!