2. About the Jefferson Center
Focus is not an academic discipline, region, time period, or
any specialized body of knowledge
Not applied knowledge aimed at some particular vocation
Creates a locus of sustained dialogue about questions of
enduring significance
Provides new ways for undergraduates to integrate their
studies
3. Overview of Our Programs
Certificate Program in Core Texts and Ideas
Introduction to the liberal arts through the study of the great books
Open to all UT undergraduates
Will complement any major with an integrated sequence of six
courses that can also meet other UT requirements
Consists of 4 required courses and 2 electives
Required courses will cover:
Classical philosophy and literature, especially from ancient Greece
Texts of major world religions, including the Hebrew Bible and New Testament
The tradition of political philosophy in the West from Aristotle to Nietzsche
The principles of American government as they were debated by the framers of
the Constitution and as they have played out in subsequent American political life
5. Core Government Options
GOV 312L topics vary by section
GOV 312P America’s Constitutional Principles: Core Texts
Close readings from primary texts that have shaped or that reflect deeply on
American democracy, including the Declaration of Independence, The Federalist
Papers, and Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. Three lecture hours or two lecture
hours and one discussion hour a week for one semester. Partially fulfills the
legislative requirement in American and Texas Government. Prerequisite: 24 hours of
coursework, GOV 310.
GOV 312R America’s Constitutional Principles: the Challenge of Equality
Close readings from primary texts that have shaped or that reflect deeply on
American democracy, including the Declaration of Independence, The Federalist
Papers, and Tocqueville’s Democracy in America, with special attention to the issue of
equality and the experience or perspectives of one or more underrepresented cultural
groups in the United States. Three lecture hours or two lecture hours and one
discussion hour a week for one semester. Partially fulfills the legislative requirement
in American and Texas Government. Prerequisite: 24 hours of coursework, GOV 310.
Carries Cultural Diversity flag.
6. Other Program Options
Concentration in Western Civilization and American
Institutions
The student must fulfill the following requirements:
Completion of the requirements of a major
Three semester hours of political philosophy, chosen from CTI 302, CTI 303, GOV
351C, GOV 351D, and any section of GOV 335M that is cross-listed with CTI.
Fifteen additional semester hours of coursework, chosen from the list of approved
CTI qualifying courses
7. Minor in CTI
Students in most majors may take a minor in the
great books by completing 12 hours of CTI
coursework, six of which must be upper division
8. Summer Scholars Program
The Jefferson Center Summer Scholars Program offers an opportunity for
undergraduates to continue to study of the Great Books during the summer
months.
Under the guidance of a Jefferson Center faculty member, Summer Scholars
will do a careful study of a single core text.
Each week, they will read a small portion of the text and then meet with the
faculty member and the other Scholars for a discussion.
At the end of the summer, each Scholar will write a short paper.
In order to participate, students must be in Austin for most of the summer.
All students pursuing the certificate in Core Texts and Ideas are
automatically eligible to enroll.
Other undergraduates, including students from institutions other than the
University of Texas, can apply to become Summer Scholars by special
arrangement.
9. Jefferson Scholars Program
The Jefferson Scholarship is awarded each semester on a
competitive basis to 10 or more honors students who are
pursuing the Certificate Program in Core Texts and Ideas.
The scholarship provides $300 each semester.
Scholars also have the opportunity to take part in lunches with
faculty meetings, receptions with visiting scholars, coffee
hours, and other events planned by the scholars themselves.
10. Jefferson Scholars Program
Eligibility
To qualify for the scholarship, students must:
be enrolled in one of the existing honors programs (Plan II, Liberal
Arts Honors, Business Honors, Engineering Honors, Turing
Scholars, CNS Dean’s Scholars; CNS Health Science Honors, or
Women in Science Honors), or have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or
higher; and
be enrolled in at least one course that qualifies for the Program in
Core Texts and Ideas. A list of these courses may be found at
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/coretexts.
Preference will be given to students who are on track to graduate with
the Certificate in Core Texts and Ideas.
11. Contact Information
Dr. Lorraine Pangle, Co-Director
lorrainepangle@austin.utexas.edu
Nathan Vickers, Advisor
nvickers@austin.utexas.edu
