The Letter, Arts & Science STS Option
STS
as Integrative Education
Science,
Technology, and Society (STS) is an interdisciplinary field which reflects
the wide-spread realization that in order to meet the increasing demands
of a technical society education must integrate across disciplines. Understanding
the relationships among political systems, social traditions and human
values, and learning how those relationships are influenced by science
and technology, is a necessary part of contemporary education.
The
LAS Major
Letters, Arts, and Sciences is a multidisciplinary, theme-oriented,
and student-designed major in the College of the Liberal Arts leading
to a Bachelor of Arts degree. The major consists of 36 credits, divided
into 2 sections. The core (12 credits) consists of 3 credits each in the
following: research methods/projects; communication skills; theory/application;
and critical analysis. The option (24 credits) consists of courses directed
toward the student's theme, 15 credits of which must be at the 400 level.
The student chooses one of six options: Arts; Humanities; Social and Behavioral
Sciences; Science and Mathematics; Science, Technology, and Society; or
Liberal Studies.
The
STS Option
The Science, Technology, and Society option within the LAS Major is
one of six options. The
STS option makes available a liberal course of study appropriate for the
contemporary world. The STS Program is committed to integrative, interdisciplinary
teaching and research related to the impact of science and technology
on our environment and on humanity.
The
STS Program
The STS program's mission is to provide interdisciplinary education
about and future research on the interactions among science, technology,
and society, as a foundation for comprehensive understanding and democratic
action. As such, it promotes:
- broadened technological and scientific literacy beyond the norm
- deepened ethical, political, and social sensibility
Typical STS Courses Focus on:
- energy and resource management
- science and technology policy
- global climate change and world food problems
- history of science and technology
- religion in socio-technical cultures
- information and media technologies
- environmental pollution and conservation
- social and ethical implications of technology
Career Enhancement
Many careers increasingly require both scientific and technical literacy as well as an understanding of the relationships among science, technology, and society. This is especially true in such areas as business, management, journalism, government, education, agriculture, law, health care, science, engineering, and economics.
STS Option Requirements (24 credits)
- Prescribed Courses (Credits)
- STS 200, Critical Issues in STS (3)
- STS 407, Technology and Human Values (3)
- Supporting Courses 12 credits from STS courses at the 400 level (in addition to STS 489)
- 6 credits from STS courses at the pre-400 level (in addition to STS 200)
For
More Information Contact:
Dr.
Martin Pietrucha, Director
Science, Technology, and Society Program
102 Old Botany
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 865-9951
mtp5@psu.edu