CIVICS
MINOR
Minor in Civics
The minor in Civics gives students of any major resources to live well and lead well. In this interdisciplinary program, students learn to think by wrestling with the great questions of the Western tradition and the American constitutional tradition.
Four courses in the Intellectual Foundations of Civics introduce students to the important questions of civic life. These courses address Perennial Problems in Civic Thought, Origins of American Institutions, Democracy and Capitalism, and Excellence of Character: The Virtues. In addition, students deepen their study through two upper- division courses in Constitutionalism, Western Civilization, or Civic Leadership.
Fall 2026 Catalog
Minor Requirements
For UT Austin students under the fall 2026 catalog, the minor in Civics requires a minimum of 15 semester credit hours. Students take a course in the American Constitutional Tradition and then choose four lower- or upper-division courses in Civics. These can be any Civics course offered by the School of Civic Leadership, several of which fulfill additional core requirements.
American Constitutional Tradition
- Either CIV 303C Foundations of American Civics (coming fall 2026) or CIV 303J Origins of American Institutions
Four Lower- or Upper-Division CIV Courses
- Any CIV class offered by SCL, including selections from these core courses (new core codes coming fall 2026):
- CIV 304 Foundations of Research Methods for Civics (fulfills Math core requirement)
- CIV 310K Ethics and Leadership in Ancient Greek Drama (fulfills Visual and Performing Arts core requirement)
- CIV 310L Ethics and Leadership in Shakespeare’s Drama (fulfills Visual and Performing Arts core requirement)
- CIV 303C Foundations of American Civics and CIV 312P Constitutional Principles: Core Texts (together fulfill Government core requirement)
- CIV 331F American Political Economy (fulfills Social and Behavioral Sciences core requirement)
- CIV 302C Classics of Social and Political Thought (fulfills Social and Behavioral Sciences core requirement)
Fall 2025 Catalog
Minor Requirements
For UT Austin students under the fall 2025 catalog, the minor in Civics requires a minimum of 18 semester credit hours. The Intellectual Foundations of Civics sequence makes up 12 of those hours. Students also take any two 3-credit-hour, upper-division CIV courses (320 or above) from the three areas of Civics study: Constitutionalism, Western Civilization, or Civic Leadership. Advisors can work with students to build a schedule that fits their interests.
Intellectual Foundations
- CIV 301 Perennial Problems in Civic Thought
- CIV 303J Origins of American Institutions
- CIV 303K Democracy and Capitalism
- CIV 305 Excellence of Character: The Virtues
Two Upper-Division CIV Courses
- Upper-division course in Constitutionalism, Western Civilization, or Civic Leadership
- Upper-division course in Constitutionalism, Western Civilization, or Civic Leadership
