The Science and Technology Studies major addresses the challenges of our increasingly high-tech world. The interdisciplinary field of science and technology studies (STS) examines science and technology in relation to social, political, economic, and cultural contexts. It combines the history and philosophy of science; the anthropology and sociology of science; science and law; science policy; studies of innovation and high-tech industries; critical data studies; medical humanities; literature and science; science journalism; and media studies of science.
The Science and Technology Studies major offers students a broader understanding of science than is available in most traditional science majors, and it is especially suitable for students who are interested in interpreting science, technology, and medicine as part of society and culture. The STS major features a wide variety of courses that focus on the relations of science and society, and it also includes advanced training in one or more fields of the natural sciences or engineering sciences.
The Science and Technology Studies major prepares students for careers at the interface of science, technology, and society: health care and medicine, public service and policy, law, business, education, science journalism, environmental studies, data and information technologies, and new media industries, as well as advanced research careers in the sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences.
Major Requirements
Graduation with a degree in science and technology studies requires completion of introductory courses in the social sciences and humanities, in the natural sciences, and introductory, laboratory and seminar courses in STS. Upper division work includes 12 units from each of two different, complementing areas of concentration ("modules") and 12 units (plus prerequisites) providing depth, concentration and field work opportunities in the sciences. The modules are: I. Cultural studies of science and technology; II. Ethics, values and science policy; III. History and philosophy of science; IV. Medicine, society and culture. Courses in the modules require careful selection to make the best use of the STS major. Prerequisites for courses in the sciences can be extensive and require substantial advance planning for timely completion. Students are encouraged to take advantage of faculty and staff advising to plan their courses of study.
