STS examines the social contexts and consequences of science and technology through a wide array of interdisciplinary courses. STS students learn to think critically about how science and technology have evolved over time and their impact on issues like inequality, as well as how society shapes scientific and technological development. The STS major takes an interdisciplinary approach, providing a broad foundation of STS courses alongside submajors that incorporate related topics from other departments. This enables students to develop an understanding of science and technology from both specialized and broad perspectives.

1. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY
Science, Technology and Society (STS) is an interdisciplinary field that studies the conditions under
which the production, distribution and utilization of scientific knowledge and technological systems
occur; the consequences of these activities upon different groups of people. STS builds on the
history and philosophy of science and technology, sociology and anthropology, policy studies, and
cultural and literary studies; all of which shape the modes of analysis deployed in the field. The
intercollegiate program brings together courses taught in a variety of departments, and is divided
into three principal areas: history of science and technology, philosophy of science and technology,
and social science approaches to technology and science. Courses explore the effects of science and
technology on society and culture; the politics of socio-technical systems; science policy in national
and international contexts; the social and environmental risks vs. benefits of technological and
scientific advancement and, more specifically, cover topics such as the political economy of
pollution, the culture of the scientific laboratory, theories of race and genetic engineering, social
networking and the Internet, the body and politics of health.
How have the fields of science and technology evolved over time, and what does the future hold?
How should societies manage those fields to achieve just and sustainable communities? The
Science, Technology & Society (STS) major prepares students to address these important questions
through an integrated approach to science, technology, and their relationships to culture, history,
and society.
STS students work with faculty members trained in disciplines ranging from biology and
mathematics to political economy and philosophy. Housed in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts &
Sciences, the major enables students to develop their skills in scientific and technological research
along with their capacities for critical, creative, and ethical reflection. Students leave the program
with the capacity to make informed decisions about the responsible use of science and technology --
as professionals and citizens.

2. Essence of Science, Technology and Society (STS)
Science, Technology & Society (STS) examines the social contexts and consequences of science and
technology. In a wide array of courses, STSC students learn to think critically about questions such
as: Why does modern science look the way it does? How and why do particular technologies and
technological systems emerge, expand and become obsolete? How do science and technology
sometimes exacerbate race, gender and class inequalities, and how might they be changed to reduce
them? How do science and technology shape society, and how does society shape science and
technology?
The STSC major has an interdisciplinary methodology. It balances a broad foundation of courses
within the department with submajors that draw on courses from across the university. Those
submajors focus on more specialized interests within science and technology studies, including
biotechnology and biomedicine, energy and environment, global science and technology,
information and organizations, and the history and philosophy of science.
THE ESSENCE OF STS EDUCATION