Science, Technology, and Society (16STM)

Description

A Science, Technology, and Society minor is a 15 hour, multidisciplinary minor providing students an opportunity to appreciate and understand better the roles that science and technology play in the larger sociocultural context. A goal of the minor is to help students develop the ability to order and integrate the diverse aspects of their educations. Two essential components of this ability are sensitivity to the moral dimensions of scientific and technological inquiry, as affecting how people may live or want to live, and an appreciation of the practical implications of scientific and technical theory. In addition, the Science, Technology, and Society minor enables students to increase the breadth of their science and technology. No courses for the minor may be taken for S/U credit.

Requirements

  • Completion of 15 hours of relevant courses, including:
    • at least one course from each of the category groupings,
    • one additional course from any of the categories, and
    • STS 214 Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society
  • Students must take at least one scientific or technical course beyond the introductory level.
  • Students must take mathematics through a first calculus or statistics course.
  • In order to receive an introduction to the field and to promote communication among themselves, STS minors are required to take STS 214 in their junior year or as soon as possible after declaring their intention to pursue the STS minor.
  • A maximum of ONE (1) course may be used (double-counted) towards both departmental major requirements and minor requirements.

Required Courses (3 credit hours)

  • STS 214 Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society

Elective Courses (12 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from EACH Group (3 courses total) AND choose 1 additional course from any of the 3 Groups.*

Group I – Developmental Context of Science and Technology

  • STS 301 Science and Civilization
  • STS 302 Contemporary Science and Human Values
  • STS 405 Technology and American Culture
  • HI 321 Ancient and Medieval Science
  • HI 322 The Rise of Modern Science
  • HI 341 Technology in History
  • HI 480/580 Scientific Revolution
  • HI 481/581 History of the Life Science
  • MA 433 History of Mathematics

Group II – Ethical Issues

  • IDS 201 Environmental Ethics
  • STS 302 Contemporary Science and Human Values
  • STS 324 Alternative Futures
  • STS 325 Biomedical Ethics
  • PHI 340 Philosophy of Science
  • PHI 422 Philosophical Issues in Environmental Ethics

Group III – Theories, Methodologies, Implications of Science and Technology

  • PHI 340 Philosophy of Science
  • PS 314 Science, Technology, and Public Policy
  • IDS 303 Humans and the Environment
  • STS 323 World Population and Food Prospects
  • STS 326 Technology Assessment
  • STS 402 Peace and War in the Nuclear Age
  • ET 410 Toxic Substances and Society
  • STS 412 Entering the 21st Century: Agricultural, Technological & Environmental Perspectives
  • GN 301 Genetics in Human Affairs
  • SOC/ANT 261 Technology in Society and Culture

*Important Notes:

Because of some duplication of subject matter a student may take either one or the other of the following courses but not both:

  • Either STS 301 or HI 322 but not both
  • Either IDS 201 or PHI 422 but not both
  • A course may fulfill the requirement for only one group.

Admissions

Students interested in the Science, Technology and Society minor should contact the minor advisor by their junior year or earlier, if possible.

Certification

Certification must be submitted no later than the registration period for the student’s final semester at NC State. The minor must be completed no later than the semester in which the student expects to graduate from his or her degree program.

Contact Person

Dr. Matthew Booker
Director, STS
1911 Building 106A, Box 7107
919.513.1431
mmbooker@ncsu.edu
SIS Code:  16STM
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