Our Curriculum
Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership Curriculum
The School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership offers four distinct academic tracks in its undergraduate curriculum. To graduate with a BA or a BS degree in civic and economic thought and leadership, students are required to take at least one course from each academic track in addition to the required core courses.
“I’m better in my STEM classes because of SCETL, but I’m also better in my SCETL classes because of my STEM major.”
- Ariana A., neurobiology major and CEL minor
Listed below are the civic and economic thought and leadership elective courses that are regularly offered in each track. Additional rotating electives may be offered each semester. If you have any questions, you can schedule an academic advising appointment.
Moral and Political Thought
Study the questions at the heart of ethics and politics through the study of classics and contemporary texts.
Available courses
CEL 100: Great Ideas of Politics and Ethics (HUAD)(HU)
CEL 294: The Bible and Civic Thought
CEL 306: Justice and Virtue: Classical Political Thought (HUAD)
CEL 307: Reason and Revelation: Medieval Political Thought (HUAD)
CEL 308: Liberty and Equality: Early Modern Political Thought (CIVI) (HU)
CEL 394: Progress and Power: Late Modern Political Thought (GCSI)
CEL 324: Science, Society, and Faith: Gaming the Galileo Affair (H)
CEL 325: Comparative Political Thought
Christian Political Thought
Political Thought of Islam, Hinduism, and Confucianism
Latin American Political Thought (GCSI)(G)
Russian Political Thought (G or H)
CEL 420: Political Thought & Literature
American Civic Literature
C.S. Lewis: Reason, Imagination, and Politics (HUAD) (HU)
CEL 429: Studies in European Literature and Culture
Politics and Culture in European Short Fiction
What is Europe?
CEL 494: Technology and the Good Life (Sci and Soc)
CEL 494: Women and Rights in Western Political Thought
American Political Thought
Available courses
CEL 200: Great Debates in American Politics (AMIT)(HU)
CEL 331: Debating American Constitutionalism: The Founding (HU)
CEL 334: Tocqueville’s Democracy in America
CEL 335: Lincoln: Rhetoric, Thought, Statesmanship (HUAD)
CEL 394: Religion and the American Civic Tradition
CEL 340: Race and the American Story (HUAD)
CEL 394: Left and Right in America (CIVI)
CEL 394: Debates in American Civic Affairs
CEL 494: American Constitutionalism I: Structures and Powers
CEL 494: American Constitutionalism II: Civil Liberties (CIVI)
CEL 494: Arizona Constitutionalism and Political Development
Explore American political institutions and culture, constitutionalism, and leadership through the study of foundational documents and other important sources.
Economic Thought and Political Economy
Available courses
CEL 345: Modern Economic Classics
CEL 350: Philosophy, Politics & Economics (SOBE) (SB)
CEL 351: Classical to Modern Economic Thought
CEL 352: Debating Capitalism (SOBE)
CEL 394: Debating Socialism (HUAD)
CEL 394: American Political Economy
CEL 394: Energy, the Environment, and Humanity
Answer fundamental questions around economic inequality, relationships between the market and the state, and how markets do (or don't) work in this track through the study of classic texts in the history of economic thought and the writings of more recent economists.
Leadership and Statesmanship for the 21st Century
This track forms future leaders through courses in political rhetoric and speech writing, American foreign policy, exemplary leadership styles, and navigating conflicts in a complex and interdependent world.
Available courses
CEL 194: The American Way of War
CEL 194: Great Battles
CEL 371: Classical Political Statecraft
CEL 394: Modern Political Statecraft
CEL 375: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Revolutions, 1776-1826
CEL 394: Sports and Leadership
CEL 394: Left and Right Around the World
CEL 475: Statesmanship and American Grand Strategy (HUAD) (SB)
CEL 481: Debating Globalism and Nationalism, Past and Present (G)
CEL 494: War as a Moral Problem: Just War
CEL 494: War as a Legal Problem: Law of Armed Conflict
CEL 494: Civil-Military Relations
CEL 494: Studies in Statecraft and War
Experiential Courses
CEL 390: Leading a Life of Meaning (HUAD)(HU)
CEL 391: Shakespeare's Leadership Lessons
CEL 395: Civic Leadership: Global Intensive Experience
Leadership and Service GIE: India
Leadership and Service GIE: Israel & West Bank
War and Culture in Central Europe: Romania
Non-track
CEL 110: Civic Thought and Leadership in Action
CEL 484: Internship
CEL 485: Capstone