Debate topics for college students

Debates and discussions are excellent ways to encourage college students to draw on knowledge from across disciplines, and engage with the diversity of real-world issues and academic research.

Best of all, you can have debates and discussions with college students on Kialo Edu (for free!), which offers a great way to actively involve large groups of students. Kialo discussions give students a space to explore their opinions and engage with different perspectives to encourage respectful dialogue and inquiry. 

Try using these debate topics with students as a bridge between the theory of the classroom and its broader implications!

Philosophical debate topics for college students

Students can engage with fundamental questions about how we live and relate to the world with these philosophical debate topics. These discussions will prompt students to challenge assumptions, question their thinking, and consider new viewpoints.

•  Should people break unjust laws?
• Should AI be allowed to make decisions that affect human lives?
• Should there be ethical limits on human enhancement technologies?
• Is social media a threat or benefit to democracy?
• Can morality exist without religion?
• Is the American Dream realistic for the average American?
• Is it good to make your beliefs a part of your identity?
• Is population decline a good thing?
• Is justice more important than peace?
• Should “victimless” crimes remain illegal?
• Is truth the same for everyone?
• Should animals have rights?
• Is war a necessary evil?
• Is war ever justifiable?
• Is the pen mightier than the sword?
• Should people be able to own personal vehicles?
• Should we prioritize cybersecurity over personal privacy?
• Is the right to privacy more important than freedom of the press?
• Is mandatory organ donation ethical?
• Should history include ethical judgments?
• Should drugs be legalized like alcohol?
• Is beauty in the eye of the beholder?
• Should euthanasia be legal?
• Should governments impose population controls?
• Can our senses be trusted?
• Is it ever ok to cheat?
• Are we living in a simulation?

Environment and sustainability debate topics for college students

Debate topics on the environment and sustainability give students the opportunity to express their ideas in meaningful discussions about our use of the planet and its future. Among the most pressing issues of our time, these topics touch on salient questions of ethics, activism, technology, and the impact of human activities. 

• Are governments doing enough to stop climate change?
• Are current international agreements sufficient to combat climate change effectively?
• Do rich countries have an obligation to help poorer countries weather climate change?
• Is it ethical to take short-haul flights?
• Should tourism be banned to benefit the environment?
• Should trophy hunting be banned worldwide?
• Could lab-grown meat be a useful tool for fighting climate change?
• Should countries be penalized for not meeting climate targets?
• Will the world face a major food insecurity crisis by 2050?
• Should citizens try to sue corporations and governments over climate change?
• Should coral reefs be regenerated?
• Should we use geoengineering to offset the impacts of climate change?
• Should climate change protestors target art to promote their cause?
• Should “necessity defense” be a legal defense for climate activists?
• Should governments stop subsidizing animal products?
• Are we currently experiencing a mass extinction?
• Is nuclear power our best option for energy production?
• Is it a good idea to use wind farms?
• Is species conservation a worthwhile use of resources?
• Are “debt-for-nature swaps” a good strategy for rainforest conservation?
• Should people have fewer children to help tackle climate change?
• Should fracking be banned?
• Should climate change protestors target art to promote their cause?

Geography debate topics for college students

From the challenges of urbanization to the cultural dynamics of tourism and globalization, students can examine the relationship between people, places, and environments with these geography debate topics. Students will have to think creatively about solutions to real-world problems or grapple with the complexities of resource management!

• Should natural geographical features be given legal personhood?
• Is it possible to build cities that don’t harm the environment?
• Are water transfer schemes a viable solution for water scarcity?
• Are water resources a basic human right?
• Is the trend of rural-urban migration a positive thing?
• What is the greatest challenge to megacities?
• Is the expansion of cities into surrounding areas a good thing?
• Is urban density a good thing? 
• Should we work to conserve endangered languages?
• Is space tourism a good idea?
• Should resource extraction in the Arctic and Antarctic regions be allowed?
• Does globalization threaten the preservation of local cultures and traditions?
• Should British people be proud of the British Empire?
• Is the gentrification of urban areas positive?
• Should popular tourist destinations implement caps on visitor numbers?
• Should local governments prioritize the concerns of residents over the economic benefits of tourism?
• Is the privatization of natural resources justifiable?

International relations debate topics for college students

These international relations debate topics can help students gain a deeper understanding of the complex global landscape. Students will explore global issues related to diplomacy, globalization, global governance, and conflict while engaging with different political and cultural perspectives.

• Do the political advantages of joining a supranational organization outweigh the political disadvantages?
• Are international organizations like the UN effective in promoting global stability and cooperation?
• Has the UN outlasted its usefulness?
• Should nations intervene in other countries to stop human rights abuses?
• Should foreign intervention be used to protect women’s rights?
• Should there be a global government?
• Are economic sanctions an effective tool for diplomacy?
• Should countries prioritize national security over global cooperation?
• Is the Gini coefficient a useful way of measuring inequality?
• Is taking care of global issues more important than caring about local issues?
• Is globalization a good thing?
• Should we lower international trade barriers?
• Should governments spend money on foreign aid?
• Is the US embargo of Cuba justified?
• Is the modern US an imperialist power?
• Is a truly cosmopolitan global ethics impossible?
• Should states prioritize national interests over global responsibilities?
• Should museums repatriate artifacts to their countries of origin?
• Should European countries pay reparations to their former colonies in the developing world?

Political science debate topics for college students

Students can critically engage with questions of governance and diverse perspectives to help them become informed citizens in an increasingly polarized world with these political science debate topics.

• Do the benefits of direct democracy outweigh the costs?
• Should lobbying be banned in politics?
• Is the separation of powers an effective safeguard against tyranny?
• Should proportional representation replace first-past-the-post?
• Is the concept of sovereignty outdated in the era of globalization?
• Do individual privacy rights supersede national security?
• National referendums: Should more laws be put to the citizens to accept or reject?
• Are social media explanations or economic explanations of the Arab Spring more convincing?
• Are military drones an ethical tool for modern warfare?
• Should modern justice systems include religious principles?
• Should the US adopt a form of proportional representation for its elections?
• Should countries have quotas to ensure representation of minority groups in legislative assemblies?
• What provides a better account for the causes of armed conflict: “greed” explanations or “grievance” ones?
• Is negative political advertising bad for democracy?
• Should judges be elected by the people?
• Should countries have strict limits on immigration?
• Should military spending be a top priority for governments?
• Is populism caused mainly by economic frustrations?
• Are stable dictatorships more likely to pursue economic liberalization than weaker ones?
• Is a dictatorship preferable to a democracy in some instances? 
• Are nation-states better than any other form of political entity?
• Which model of representative democracy best achieves the Founding Fathers’ intent for a stable, democratic government in the US?
• Can nationalism be compatible with democracy?
• Should there be a cap on private donations to electoral campaigns?
• Is torture justifiable in the name of security?

Civics debate topics for college students

From cultivating meaningful engagement with community issues to examining broader questions of public policy, these civics debate topics prompt students to consider how society functions and citizens’ role within it.

• Should governments provide reparations for historical injustices?
• Should governments pay a salary to stay-at-home parents?
• Do drones pose a significant threat to individual privacy?
• Should IDs be required to vote?
• Should prisoners have the right to vote?
• Should public prayer be allowed in schools?
• Should public transport be free?
• Should college admissions use race-based affirmative action?
• What is the strongest argument in favor of the separation of church and state?
• Should vaccines be made mandatory?
• Should governments pay reparations to women?
• Are open borders a good idea?
• Should climate policy be decided by a panel of experts rather than by politicians?
• If people benefit from a public good, do they have an obligation to pay tax for it?
• Should all citizens be required to vote?
• What is the best mode of peaceful protest?
• Do schools have an obligation to teach about racial inequality?
• Should Confederate war dead be excluded from Memorial Day observances?
• Should national service be mandatory?
• Should there be a tax on junk food?
• Should schools provide free meals for their students?
• Should countries with poor human rights records be allowed to host international sporting events?
• Should healthcare be free at the point of delivery?

Technology debate topics for college students

Students will explore ethical, social, and economic questions and touch on areas such as privacy and AI while gaining a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by rapid technological changes with these technology debate topics.

• Are online privacy controls more important than public safety?
• Should there be a global regulatory body to oversee AI development and implementation?
• Is technology improving people’s quality of life?
• Are there more advantages than disadvantages to open-source software?
• Can machines be intelligent?
• Should the use of AI in law be welcomed?
• Is technology eroding human communication and relationships?
• Should deepfake technology be regulated by law?
• Do the costs of AI outweigh the benefits?
• Should driverless cars prioritize passenger safety over everything else?
• Should internet service be nationalized?
• Does a focus on STEM undermine the importance of the liberal arts?
• Is it ethical to invest in military tech companies?
• Should the tech giants be broken up?
• Is the development of autonomous weapons ethical?
• Is the digital divide increasing inequality in society?
• Do the advantages of biometrics data collection outweigh the potential privacy risks?
• Should online anonymity be protected? 
• Can predictive policing algorithms ever be truly fair?
• Should AI tools be allowed in school assessments?
• Should companies be held responsible for damages caused by cybersecurity breaches?
• Should human doctors be replaced by automated ones?

Culture and media studies debate topics for college students

These culture and media studies debate topics prompt students to reflect on the intersection of media and culture in society. They’ll critically assess the powerful influence the media has on shaping our perceptions and influencing our values, alongside the challenges traditional media face. 

• Is it a bad idea to mix entertainment with news?
• Should social media companies be held accountable for the problems their platforms cause?
• Should digitally altered images be labeled?
• Should age restrictions for social media use be strictly enforced?
• Are paywalls essential for the survival of quality journalism?
• Has the rise of digital media undermined the quality of journalism?
• Does the rise of citizen journalism threaten traditional journalism?
• Is censorship ever warranted?
• Does traditional media help or hinder public understanding of political issues in the US?
• Should public figures be held responsible for their influence on public behavior?
• Is influencer culture beneficial to society?
• Is cancel culture good for society?
• Is cancel culture really a new phenomenon?
• Is celebrity culture harmful to society?
• Is the right to privacy more important than freedom of the press?
• Should news outlets that spread misinformation be shut down?
• Is it okay for parents to share photos of their kids on social media?

Science debate topics for college students

With these science debate topics, students will explore the implications of innovation alongside the ethics which underpin science. They’ll consider how science intersects with society and our lives while honing their critical thinking and analytical skills.

• Should scientists prioritize reproducing results over innovation?
• Should the Pavlovsk Experimental Station scientists have eaten the seeds during the siege of Leningrad?
• Should there be quotas for women in STEM?
• What is the most important factor in prioritizing vaccine distribution?
• Is the pharmaceutical industry too profit-driven?
• Which scientist should be brought back to help solve the world’s problems?
• Should animal testing be banned?
• Is the scientific process objective?
• Are drug consumption rooms a good idea?
• Should the genetic engineering of human embryos be banned?
• Should humanity establish colonies on Mars?
• Should scientists be required to share information with the public?
• Is religious faith compatible with science?
• What alternative energy source is the best?
• Should stem cell testing be banned?
• Should the genetic engineering of human embryos be banned?
• Which line of evidence provides the strongest support for evolution?
• Is de-extinction worth the cost?
• Should we create artificial wombs for humans?
• Is citizen science beneficial to science?
• Is science political?
• Should euthanasia be legal?
• Should genetically modified crops be banned?
• Is nuclear power our best option for energy production?
• Are viruses alive?
• Is space infinite?
• Should cloning humans be legal?
• Should we resurrect extinct species?

Business debate topics for college students

These business debate topics expose students to diverse perspectives on business practices and encourage them to think creatively about solving business dilemmas. Students engage with real-world questions related to business ethics and workplace and industry challenges, while learning to express their ideas clearly and persuasively.

• Has email improved communication?
• Is working from home a good thing?
• Should governments guarantee jobs for citizens?
• Are hard skills or soft skills more important in the workplace?
• Does globalization benefit local businesses?
• Should employers pay people extra to live close to their workplace?
• Should online gambling be legal?
• Should colleges and universities focus more on vocational training rather than traditional academic degrees?
• Should companies look at potential employees’ social media profiles?
• Is it justifiable for businesses to engage in practices that are legally acceptable but ethically questionable?
• Should companies have quotas for women in top-level positions?
• Should corporations be required to disclose the pay ratio between their CEO and average workers?
• Will AI create more jobs than it destroys?
• Should companies prioritize shareholder value over social responsibility?
• Should companies be allowed to collect and use consumer data freely?
• Should companies be allowed to use psychological tactics in advertising?
• Is it a good thing that most work will likely be done by machines?
• Is the gig economy a positive development for workers?
• Should business executives be held personally accountable for unethical practices within their organizations?

Economics debate topics for college students

Students can engage thoughtfully with economic policies and decisions that shape the world, whether discussing the ins-and-outs of Universal Basic Income or the ethics around taxation with these economic debate topics. 

• Should prisons be privatized?
• Should monetary policy be controlled by an independent central bank?
• Is Universal Basic Income a feasible strategy for tackling inequality?
• Are fair trade schemes actually fair?
• Are cryptocurrencies a viable alternative to traditional fiat currencies?
• Should cryptocurrency be banned?
• Are price caps a useful economic tool?
• Should environmental conservation take precedence over economic growth?
• Does microcredit cause more harm than good?
• Is increased investment by firms the most important factor for increasing economic growth?
• Does tourism help reduce development gaps?
• What is the most significant driver of economic growth?
• Should payday loans be banned?
• Should billionaires be taxed more?
• Is more trade always better for countries?
• Should anyone own outer space?
• Do protectionist policies benefit or harm a country’s economy in the long run?
• Is student loan forgiveness unfair?
• Do IMF programs cause economic damage to the countries they’re lending to?
• Should corporate tax rates be lowered to boost economic growth?
• Does globalization lead to greater inequality? 
• Should we lower international trade barriers?

Art and design debate topics for college students

From defining art to discussing the balance between usability and aesthetics, students can discuss their understanding of creativity, ethics, and design trends with these art and design debate topics. 

• Should artists have complete freedom of expression?
• Is art an effective method of driving social change?
• Should artworks be kept in their country of origin?
• Are readymade sculptures such as Marcel Duchamps’ “Fountain” really works of art?
• Are art critics worth listening to?
• Is AI art really art?
• Should the works of controversial artists be removed from museums?
• Should there be women-only prizes for art?
• Is digital art as legitimate as traditional art forms?
• Should design prioritize aesthetics over usability?
• Should art be publicly funded?
• Does art need to have meaning behind it?
• Is abstract art easier to make than other forms of art?
• Is it ethical to use dead animals in artworks?
• Is it ok to separate the art from the artist?
• Is freehand sketching better than computer-aided design (CAD)?
• Is graffiti art?
• Is it wrong to use AI-generated art?
• Is representational art superior to abstract art?
• Should famous artworks have such a high price tag?
• Should there be a strict definition of art?
• Should there be age restrictions on viewing some art?

Literature debate topics for college students

Explore diverse themes and human experiences across times with these literature debate topics! Students will delve into individual works as well as changes in how literature and language are viewed with the passage of time. 

• Should classic literature be adapted to modern sensibilities?
• Should controversial books be censored or banned?
• Does literature reflect or reinforce gender stereotypes?
• Can literature and art influence political change?
• Does The Crucible portray it as justifiable to sacrifice personal principles for the sake of societal norms?
• Can literature be separated from its historical or cultural context?
• Does The Canterbury Tales primarily uphold or challenge the social order?
• Is Jane Eyre a feminist novel?
• Does Their Eyes Were Watching God advance a feminist worldview?
• Does good literature have to question societal norms?
• Does the Bhagavad Gita promote the caste system?
• Does genre fiction have the same literary merit as classic literature?
• Can literature and art influence political change?
• In The Things They Carried, should Tim have gone to war?
• In the Letter from Birmingham Jail, is King’s criticism of the White moderate fair?
• In The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, is it morally justifiable to stay in Omelas?
• Does Julius Caesar suggest that in politics, the ends justify the means?
• Is Go Tell It On the Mountain an anti-religious novel?
• Is the World State of A Brave New World really a dystopia?
• Was Langston Hughes’s poetry more praising or critical of America?

We’d love to hear about how you use these topics with your students. Please do get in touch at feedback@kialo-edu.com or on any of our social media channels.