Science, Technology and Society
Modern science and technology underpin almost every feature
of our society. They impinge daily upon our lives and shape
our futures. Science, Technology and Society is the academic
discipline which studies the origin, nature and social impact
of science and technology.
To be considered fully educated today, you must have learned
to examine for yourself questions such as, 'What are science
and technology? Why and how have they grown in Western Societies?
How can we best control and direct science and technology?'
In the past generation there has been a revolution in our
understanding of the answers to these questions. The field
of Science, Technology and Society is where this intellectual
revolution is taking place. STS has a long and distinguished
history in European and North American Universities. In the
last twenty-five years it has undergone enormous expansion.
In Australia there are now STS programs at Melbourne, NSW,
Murdoch, Griffith, as well as here at Wollongong, where we
have one of the longest established programs in the country.
STS can be studied as a major, leading to Honours and PhD
programs; as a joint major with another subject (eg with History,
Sociology, English, Psychology or Philosophy); or STS subjects
can be selected to complement majors in these subjects or
in others, such as Science, Economics, Accountancy, Education,
Metallurgy and Computing Science.
Major Study
A major in STS is composed of 60 credit points, including
at least 52 cp of subjects having the prefix STS. The STS
subjects must include:
- STS100/103/200/203 Social Aspects of Science and Technology
OR STS278/378 Scientific and Technological Controversy and
- at least 24 cp of STS subjects at 300-level.
8 cp may be taken from the following: AUST101; CCS105; CCS334;
CCS337; HIST363; PHIL256; PHIL258; PHIL262; PHIL322; POL121;
POL224; POL314; SOC104; SOC224 (SOC221 prior to 2003); SOC231;
SOC241.
Honours
See Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Study Program
Many of the STS subjects have multiple versions depending
on level, credit points and mode of delivery. Students will
need to choose the subject appropriate to their program of
study. In general, subject numbers beginning with the number
one are for 1st year students, with a two are for 2nd year
students and with a three are for third year students.
| Subjects |
|
Credit points |
| Core: |
STS100
/
STS103
|
Social Aspects of Science & Technology
|
6 |
| or |
|
|
STS200
/
STS203
|
Social Aspects of Science & Technology
|
8 |
| or |
|
|
STS278
/
STS378
|
Scientific and Technological Controversy
|
6 |
| Electives: |
STS100
/
STS103
|
Social Aspects of Science & Technology
|
6 |
STS200
/
STS203
|
Social Aspects of Science & Technology
|
8 |
STS112
/
STS117
|
The Scientific Revolution: History, Philosophy
and Politics of Science |
6 |
STS212
/
STS217
|
The Scientific Revolution: History, Philosophy
and Politics of Science |
8 |
STS116
/
STS216
|
Environment in Crisis: Technology and
Society |
6 |
| STS218
|
Environment in Crisis: Technology and
Society |
8 |
STS120
/
STS221
|
Technology in Society: East and West |
6 |
| STS220
|
Technology in Society: East and West |
8 |
| STS128
|
Computers in Society |
6 |
| STS228
|
Computers in Society |
8 |
STS215
/
STS315
|
Globalisation: Technology ,Culture and
Media |
8 |
STS223
/
STS323
|
The Politics of Medicine and Health |
8 |
STS235
/
STS335
|
The Politics of Risk |
8 |
| STS376
|
The Politics of Risk |
6 |
STS238
/
STS338
|
Changing Images of Nature and the Environment
|
8 |
STS240
/
STS340
|
Technological change, popular culture
and new media |
8 |
| STS241
|
Technological change, popular culture
and new media |
6 |
STS250
/
STS350
|
From Molecular Genetics to Biotechnology
|
8 |
STS260
/
STS360
|
Technology and Body Politics |
8 |
STS278
/
STS378
|
Scientific and Technological Controversy |
8 |
STS288
/
STS388
|
Science and the media |
8 |
| STS300
|
The Environmental Context |
8 |
| STS306
|
Special Topics in the Social and Policy
Aspects of Engineering |
6 |
| STS390 |
Media, War and Peace |
8 |
| STS399
|
Research Topics in Science, Technology
and Society |
8 |
Other Electives:
Of the 60 credit points of the STS major, up to 8 credit
points can come from this list, provided that the other
conditions of the major have been met. (See STS Major
above) |
| 100-level |
|
|
| CCS105
|
Introduction to Communication and Cultural
Studies |
6 |
| POL121
|
Politics in a Globalising World |
6 |
| SOC104
|
Communication, Media and Society |
6 |
| 200-level |
|
|
| PHIL256
|
Ethics and the Environment A |
6 |
| PHIL258
|
Ethics and the Environment B |
8 |
| PHIL262
|
Theories of Knowledge and Metaphysics
A |
8 |
| POL224
|
Politics and the Media |
8 |
| SOC224
|
Violence, Fear and civilisation: the Evolution
of States |
8 |
| SOC231
|
Social Analysis |
8 |
| SOC241
|
Culture and Communication |
8 |
| 300-level |
| CCS334
|
Technologies of The Body |
8 |
| CCS337
|
Hollywood and American Culture |
8 |
| HIST363
|
Revolutions in World History |
8 |
| PHIL322
|
Theories of Knowledge and Metaphysics
B |
8 |
| POL314
|
Power and the Modern State |
8 |
Double major in STS and Business Information Systems
Students wishing to consider this option should first consult
with the Heads of BUSS and STS.
Joint Major in Sociology & Science, Technology
& Society (STS)
Joint major in STS and Sociology: Students wishing to consider
this option should first consult with the Convenors of Sociology
and STS. The full requirements of the joint major are set
out in the Sociology entry.
|
