UT’s School of Civic Leadership recently announced two new majors that will be available through SCL in Fall 2026: Great Books and Strategy and Statecraft. These new programs are part of a larger shift within the School of Civic Leadership to focus on specialized programs for students with unique interests.
In a conversation between SCL Dean Justin Dyer and the Texas Horn, he stated that interest has largely come from outside the School of Civic Leadership, having seen similar programs succeed at other universities, and, in the case of Strategy and Statecraft, significant demand has come from the Clements Center. He also stated that the ideal Great Books student is someone interested in classical works of the Western canon, seeking an environment of like-minded peers, while the ideal student for Strategy and Statecraft would be someone interested in diplomacy or intelligence, as well as international business.
Some of the new courses specific to the Strategy and Statecraft major will include Classic Texts of Strategy and Statecraft, Strategy and Statecraft and Justice, Grand Strategy: Theory and Practice, and American Military and Diplomatic History, among others. The exact coursework for the Great Books major is still being finalized, as the name implies, it will mainly be reading-based classes. Dean Dyer also stated that these majors pair well with a broad array of career paths, such as law, policy, and government, as well as some business and pre-med routes.
In addition to their new majors, SCL is also starting the Levy and Rosenthal Scholars’ Ackerman Program, an opportunity for achieving students to study Jewish and Western Civilization. New opportunities as a part of the Ackerman Program include new classes focusing on Jewish intellectual works, regular conference speakers, and study abroad programs in Israel. The Rosenthal and Levy Scholars also operate through the School of Civic Leadership’s sister program at the University of Florida, the Hamilton School, bringing the two programs closer together.
Together, these new majors and programs actively fulfill the School of Civic Leadership’s stated intent to bring Western Civilization back into the classroom. Whether a student chooses to study the history of military and diplomacy or dedicate themselves to reading the great minds of the Western world, or take a trip to the Holy Land, each of these paths offers a rigorous exploration of the ideas upon which our society is built. The nascent school is quickly asserting its devotion to scholarship and the cultivation of the mind.