Core Texts and Ideas
Certificate in the College of Liberal Arts
Core Texts and Ideas is an introduction to the liberal arts through the study of the great books.
Through this integrated sequence of six courses, students explore an ongoing series of debates about human nature, ethics, and the meaning of life that have unfolded over centuries and that have profoundly shaped the modern world.
Four fundamental course cover major works of religion, literature,
philosophy, ethics, and American constitutional thought, supplemented by two electives
that may be drawn from such topics as Eastern classics, the history of science,
Shakespeare, and art history. The program easily complements any major at the University, as the courses needed for the certificate can also fulfill up to six University core requirements.
How to Declare
ShowStudents intending to complete the Certificate Program in Core Texts and Ideas should contact the CTI advisor to schedule an advising appointment. Once the requirements for the certificate have been met, the advisor will certify completion of the program and it will appear on the student's transcript after graduation.
Personality
ShowParticipants in the Program in Core Texts and Ideas come from a wide range of majors at UT Austin. CTI students are inquisitive students who enjoy reading and discussing ideas that cross disciplinary boundaries. Many of them share an interest in the study of literature, philosophy, ethics, classics, and government.
Skills
ShowThe program provides a broad interdisciplinary context for the ideas students will encounter in many fields of study. It trains them in careful reading, cogent writing, and critical reasoning. It teaches them to ask probing questions that others may not be asking. It encourages them to examine their own presuppositions and to listen sympathetically but critically to the ideas of others. By putting contemporary controversies into historical and intellectual perspective, it thus enables students to respond more thoughtfully to the urgent challenges and conflicts of our own time.
Thomas Jefferson Center for the Study of Core Texts and Ideas
Telephone
(512) 471-6648
Office Location
MEZ 3.112