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Bachelor of Science in STS

Degree Audit (Degree Key: 16STS 046)

STS Honors Program

Core Courses

  • STS 214: Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society (3 credit hours)
  • STS 403: Seminar in Science, Technology, and Society (3 credit hours)

Breadth Requirement

4 courses (12 credit hours). Student chooses one course from each of four groups:

Group I: History
  • HI 321: Ancient & Medieval Science
  • HI 322: Rise of Modern Science
  • HI 341: Technology in History
  • HI 440: American Environmental History
  • HI 480: Scientific Revolution: 1300-1700
  • HI 481: History of the Life Sciences
  • HI 482: Darwinism in Science & Society
  • HI 483: Science and Religion In European History
  • HI 484: Science in European Culture
  • HI 485: History of American Technology
Group II: Philosophy of Science and Ethics
  • PHI/STS 325: Biomedical Ethics
  • PHI 340: Philosophy of Science
  • PHI 375: Ethics
  • PHI 415: Life Science Ethics
  • PHI 422: Philosophical Issues in Environmental Ethics
  • PHI 440: The Scientific Method
  • REL/STS 471: Darwinism and Christianity
  • STS 304: Ethical Dimensions of Progress
  • STS 320: Ethics in Engineering
Group III: Assessment and Policy
  • COM 436: Envriomental Communication
  • ET 410: Toxic Substances and Society
  • GN 301: Genetics in Human Affairs
  • NR/IDS 303: Humans and the Environment
  • NR 406 Conservation of Biological Diversity
  • PS 314: Science, Technology, and Public Policy
  • PS 320: U.S. Environmental Law and Politics
  • PS 336: Global Environmental Politics
  • SOC 450: Environmental Sociology
  • STS 322: Technological Catastrophes
  • STS 323: World Populations & Food Prospects
  • STS 326: Technology Assessment [*]
  • STS 402: Peace and War in the Nuclear Age
  • STS 412: Entering the 21st Century: Agricultural, Technological, and Environmental Perspectives

[*] Benjamin Franklin Scholars may substitute E 497B: Franklin Scholars Capstone for STS 326

Group IV: Other STS Courses
  • ANT 253: Introduction to Prehistory
  • ANT/SOC 261: Technology in Society and Culture
  • ARS/STS 257: Technology in the Arts
  • COM 447: Communication and Globalization
  • COM 487: Internet and Society
  • ENG 232: Literature and Medicine
  • ENG 376: Science Fiction
  • ENG 425: Analysis of Scientific and Technical Writing
  • ENG 520: Science Writing for the Media (with instructor permission)
  • SOC 381: Sociology of Medicine
  • STS 301: Science and Civilization
  • STS 302: Contemporary Science, Technology & Human Values
  • STS 324: Alternative Futures
  • STS 405: Technology and American Culture
  • STS 451: The Practice of Science and the Arts
  • STS 484: Cross Cultural Technology Transfer
  • WGS/STS 210: Women & Gender in Science & Technology

With approval of the STS Program Director, the following courses may be used to meet breadth requirements:

  • STS 490: Issues in Science, Technology, and Society
  • STS 491: Independent Study in Science, Technology, and Society

Specialty Courses

4 courses (12 credit hours)

Each STS major, in consultation with the STS Program Director, will design an STS Specialty (at least 4 courses, 12 hours) that addresses a coherent theme related to science, technology and society. The courses selected for the STS Specialty must include at least two courses drawn from the humanities and social sciences. BS students will be limited to one science or engineering course within their Specialties. 100-level courses are not permitted in the Specialty. Example specialties.

Additional Requirements

  • ENG 314, 331, 332, or 333 (3 hours)
  • A course in statistics at the 300-level or above (3 hours)

General Education Requirements

All students must complete the general BS degree requirements in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences including a 15-hour Science/Technology Option.

General Application Requirements

  1. The major has two required courses, STS 214 and STS 403. STS 214, usually offered in both fall and spring semesters, is a prerequisite for STS 403 which is offered only in the spring semester. Normally this means that the degree will take at least a full academic year to complete following admission.
  2. Upon admission to the program, all students are required to meet with the Program Director to obtain approval of their specialty and selection of courses in the specialty. Students who have taken more than 45 credit hours will not be issued a registration PIN unless and until their STS Specialty Form and Science/Technology Option Form are approved by the Program Director. With the advice of the program advisory committee, the Program Director will maintain a list of examples of specialties and possible courses to aid students in their selection. The specialty will normally include at least one course at the 400-level and no more than one course at the 200-level. At least three of the four specialty courses must be completed in the semesters following approval of the specialty. (Courses “in progress” at the time the specialty is approved cannot be included in the three courses needed to meet this requirement.) Example specialties
  3. Courses selected to meet the Breadth Requirement cannot be used in the specialty.
  4. No more than 15 hours of the major may come from a single discipline.
  5. No more than 15 hours of the major may consist of transfer credits.
  6. With the exception of the "additional requirements," courses may not be counted to fulfill both basic requirements and major requirements.
  7. At least six of the ten courses in the major must be completed in the semesters following admission to the program. Courses “in progress” at the time the major is declared cannot be included in the six courses needed to meet this requirement.
  8. Admission to the program requires a grade point average of 2.0 or above.
  9. A letter grade of C- (or higher) and an overall 2.0 grade point average in all major courses is required for graduation.

Contact: hope_ziglar@ncsu.edu