STS Minor
Description
The 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 interests in science and technology.
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/MDS 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/MDS 214 in their junior year or as soon as possible after declaring their intention to pursue the STS minor.
Required Course
STS/MDS 214: Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society (3 credit hours)
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/MDS 301: Science and Civilization
- STS/MDS 302: Contemporary Science and Human Values
- STS/MDS 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
- STS/MDS 201: Environmental Ethics
- STS/MDS 302: Contemporary Science and Human Values
- STS/MDS 324: Alternative Futures
- STS/MDS 325: Biomedical Ethics
- PHI 322: Philosophical Issues in Environmental Ethics
- PHI 311: Philosophical Issues in Medical Ethics
- PHI 340: Philosophy of Science
Group III - Theories, Methodologies, Implications of Science and Technology
- PHI 340: Philosophy of Science
- PS 314: Science, Technology, and Public Policy
- STS/MDS 303: Humans and the Environment
- STS/MDS 323: World Population and Food Prospects
- STS/MDS 326: Technology Assessment
- STS/MDS 402: Peace and War in the Nuclear Age
- STS/MDS 410: Toxic Substances and Society
- STS/MDS 412: Entering the 21st Century: Agricultural, Technological & Environmental Perspectives
- GN 301: Genetics in Human Affairs
- SOC 261/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/MDS 301 or HI 322 but not both
- Either STS/MDS 325 or PHI 311 but not both
- Either STS/MDS 201 or PHI 322 but not both
- Either STS/MDS 402 or PHI 323 but not both
- A course may fulfill the requirement for only one group.
Admissions and Certification of Minor
Admissions
Students interested in the Science, Technology and Society minor should contact the minor adviser Amanda Matson, 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.
Application Form for STS Minor
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