A new college course called "Friendship & Society" is helping students understand the complex role of friendships in both personal and public life. Designed by a political science professor, the course was inspired by the growing concern over loneliness among young people. According to a 2026 national survey of over 40,000 college students, almost 60% reported feeling lonely sometimes or always. Meanwhile, federal data show that fewer Americans are socializing in person—dropping from 38% in 2015 to 30% in 2025. The professor noticed that students, despite being surrounded by peers, often struggle to form meaningful connections. The course explores how friendships begin and evolve, looking at the role of repeated interactions and shared experiences. Students analyze how friends influence identity, memory, and long-term loyalty, even when life paths diverge. They also examine the impact of friendships on physical and mental health, which the professor views as an underappreciated public health issue. Friendships, the course suggests, are essential for a sense of belonging and community, which in turn supports social trust and civic engagement. To test their understanding, students participate in 10 "Friendship Practices"—hands-on activities that encourage them to engage with classmates in real-world settings. These include sharing meals, visiting public places like cafés, and going on a "friendship safari" to observe how conversations begin or fail to start on campus. Students keep journals to reflect on their expectations and experiences, and they create short films and memoirs to document how their views on friendship have changed during their first semester of college. The course includes a range of reading materials, from memoirs like "Stay True," which recounts a deep friendship that shaped the author’s identity, to scientific works like "Why Brains Need Friends," which explores the neurological basis of connection. Students also engage with longform journalism, research, and films that highlight how even small interactions with strangers can grow into lasting friendships. The course emphasizes that meaningful relationships are built from many small, seemingly insignificant moments—like a casual meal or a brief conversation—that, over time, accumulate into relational capital. This shared trust and history can strengthen not only individual relationships but also the broader community.