STS Undergraduate Minor
The Science, Technology, and Society (STS) minor can complement all majors throughout the University. Housed in the STS Program, it provides interdisciplinary instruction and integrated knowledge to enhance education in a world permeated by science and technology.
For students in science and engineering, STS courses promote an understanding of science and technology as social processes with aesthetic, ethical, philosophical, religious and other dimensions. The STS minor enriches the learning experience of students regardless of their educational interests. For students in non-science and non-engineering majors, STS courses promote scientific and technological literacy as well as critical awareness of the impact of science and technology.
STS studies involve integrative, general education designed to bridge the non-technical and technical communities, providing a basis for informed and responsible citizenship in contemporary society.
Typical STS Courses Focus on:
- environmental pollution and conservation
- the social history of science and technology
- global climate change and world food problems
- energy usage and resource management
- biomedical and engineering ethics
- science and technology policy
- religion and socio-technical culture
- information and media technologies
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 Minor Requirements (21 credits)
PRESCRIBED COURSE (3-6 credits)
- S T S 496(3-6) (Sem: 5-8)
SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (15-18 credits)
- Select 9-12 credits from S T S courses (at least 6 credits must be at the 400 level) (Sem: 1-8)
- Select 6 credits in consultation with an adviser. These courses may be courses that are also used to fulfill either major or college requirements. (Sem: 1-8)
For More Information Contact:
Dr. Steven Walton
Science, Technology, and Society Program
202 Old Botany
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 863-9526
Email: < saw23@psu.edu >