"This program helped me learn about the rich intellectual Catholic tradition that has influenced modern thought—from 19th century encyclicals on economics and sociology, to the contemporary role of the Catholic Church in Uganda!"
Marco Izzia, 2022-23 CSPT Fellow & Sociology Ph.D. candidate
Apply for a fellowship here.
Are you interested in learning about the Catholic Tradition? Want to know more about Catholic contributions to civilization in philosophy, political thought, literature, and law?
Catholic Social and Political Thought student fellows have access to a full range of CSPT programming, including reading groups, dinners and other small group discussions with visiting scholars, cultural excursions, and academic conferences. This program offers a unique opportunity for students to pursue academic interests related to knowledge and appreciation of Catholic heritage, including the exploration of Catholic social and political thought, history, law, religion, architecture, art, music, and literature. The program will allow students to conjoin their UW-Madison academic experience and projected career paths with Catholicism’s rich intellectual, moral and cultural heritage.
Each year we select up to twelve CSPT Fellows to participate in the program, which offers a range of learning opportunities, including:
UW Courses
Public lecture series
Research opportunities
Reading groups
Debates
Academic seminars
Catholic cultural encounter trips
Conferences
Student fellows will have the opportunity to converse with each other, and to engage with scholars, intellectuals, and public figures studying and working in the Catholic tradition. Throughout the year, fellows are invited to participate in events designed to promote their understanding of different aspects of the Catholic tradition and heritage, and to apply for national summer fellowships and other learning opportunities. Fellows are asked to commit to participating in at least two different CSPT events/learning opportunities, and to assist as able with event planning.
Apply by Sept. 30 for a 2024-25 fellowship. All current UW-Madison undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students in any program of study, from any religious or non-religious tradition, are invited to apply. Please direct questions to Professor Cecelia Klingele at cklingele@wisc.edu.
Fellows and all interested students are invited to participate in the CSPT Reading Group, which meets from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on 9/24, 10/1, 10/15, 10/29, 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, 12/3, and 12/10 in Room 7200 of the UW Law School. The topic for Fall 2024 is St. Augustine of Hippo’s classic text, City of God. Free copies of the text will be available at the first meeting.