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 305 Classical Political Philosophy & Statesmanship
CEL 320 Modern Political Thought / Liberty & Equality
CEL 375 Politics & Leadership in the Age of Revolutions
CEL 394 Ancient Political Thought / Justice & Virtue | (L or HU)
CEL 394 Medieval Political Thought / Natural Law & the Common Good
CEL 394 Faith & Reason: The Trial of Galileo
CEL 394 Comparative Political Thought
CEL 394 Women in Political Thought and Leadership | (L)
CEL 494 Political Thought: Islam, Hinduism, and Confucianism
CEL 494 Politics & Literature | (L)
American Political Thought
Available courses
CEL 394 Debates in American Civic & Public Affairs | (H)
CEL 394 Race and the American Story | (C)
CEL 394 Liberalism & Conservatism in America
CEL 394 Democracy in America | (HU)
CEL 394 Lincoln: Rhetoric, Thought, Statesmanship | (L or HU)
CEL 394 Arizona Politics & Constitutionalism
CEL 494 American Constitution I: Structures
CEL 494 American Constitution II: Civil Liberties
Explore American political culture, constitutionalism, and leadership through the study of foundational documents and other important sources.
Economic Thought and Political Economy
Available courses
CEL 304 Classical to Modern Economic Thought
CEL 345 Modern Economic Classics
CEL 350 Philosophy, Politics & Economics
CEL 394 The American Political Economy
CEL 494 Adam Smith and Classical Political Economy
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 394 Leadership & Service GIE: Israel & West Bank
CEL 394 GIE India: Politics & Leadership
CEL 394 Shakespeare's Leadership Lessons
CEL 394 Leading a Life of Meaning
CEL 394 Left & Right Around the World
CEL 494 Globalism, Nationalism, Citizenship | (G)
CEL 494 Political Leadership & Statesmanship
CEL 494 Just War
CEL 494 National Security Policy