A prominent theme in current discourse about U.S. higher education is the goal of "civic" education. In this chapter, the author explores three related perspectives on civic engagement. First, he examines how John Dewey viewed the relationship between the educated individual and democratic society. Next, he highlights ways in which contemporary authors are exploring the connection between science and civic engagement, both in broad terms and in specific applications. Finally, he summarizes the results of a recent survey that examined the civic viewpoints of high school and college students.