Dan Nuckols, Donald Salisbury, Co-Directors
There is a complex relationship between science and society, and this relationship is global in scope. The Global Science, Technology, and Society Program explores this relationship both in contemporary societies and from an historical perspective. The goals of the minor are to:
1. Understand the practice and philosophy of science
2. Explore how societal and historical forces shape, and are shaped, by science, its boundaries, its implementation, and its use
3. Examine ethical questions about the use of science and technology
4. Explore multicultural and international approaches to science in a global context, including how differences of culture, class, gender, and ethnicity affect how science is practiced
The minor in global science, technology, and society is designed to foster awareness, of the interrelationship of global culture and the changing nature of scientific knowledge and technology. The quest for scientific knowledge is universal, yet both the advances in knowledge and the implementation of technologies can be properly understood only in their multicultural context. Historical and contemporary studies of the relationship between science and society help to moderate our parochial conceits. Such studies create conditions that allow international problems like global warming, pandemic disease, secure telecommunications, militarization of space, economic inequality, and environmental degradation to be addressed in true cooperative and informed spirit.
A minor in global science, technology, and society consists of five courses: GSTS 250: Intermediate Topics in Global Science, Technology, and Society, and four courses from the following list of approved courses. At least one of those courses must have a global perspective; such courses are designated with an asterisk. Students are in addition required to undertake an approved GSTS-related international experience and present their reflections on this experience in a public forum on campus.
* ANTHRO 263 Whose Amazon?
* BIO 101 Influenza – From 1918 until 2009
BIO 101: Microbes and Society
CHEM 101 Women and Science
* BIO 246 Eukaryotic Pathogens
* ECON 234 Economic Development
ECON 270 Economic History
ECON 485 History of Economic Thought
ENG 252 Literature and Science
ENVS 235 Introduction to Environmental Studies
ENVS 230/330 Globalization
ENVS 479 Environmental Policy
PHIL 205 Ethics
PHIL 207 Environmental Philosophy
PHIL 209 Ethics and Medicine
PHIL 306 Knowledge and Reality
PHIL 307 Environmental Philosophy
PHIL 310 Mind and Language
* PHY 101 The Day After Tomorrow (Global Climate and Extreme Weather)
* PSCI 240 Introduction to Asian Politics
* PSCI 430 International Relations Theory
PSY 214 Psychopharmacology
* PSY 340 Cultural Psychology
* REL 220 Illness, Medicine, and Healing in Asian Religions
SCI 201 All sections
SCI 202 Axioms and Atoms
* Approved courses in Classics, History, Philosophy, Anthropology, Sociology, and Religion
* Approved courses in African Studies, Art History, Asian Studies, English, and Modern Language Literature and Culture
* Approved Science 101 courses
* Approved Science disciplinary courses
Other courses may be appropriate and relevant to students’ specific interests and may be included with director’s approval.
250 Intermediate Topics in Global Science, Technology, and Society
Interdisciplinary subjects dealing with the interrelationship of global culture and the changing nature of science and technology. May be repeated when topics vary. No prerequisites. (Each spring)
260 Intermediate Directed Study
(Variable course credit)
350-450 Advanced Topics in Global Science, Technology, and Society
Interdisciplinary subjects dealing with the interrelationship of global culture and the changing nature of science and technology. May be repeated when topics vary. Prerequisites: GSTS 250 or equivalent. (Each fall)
460 Advanced Directed Study
(Variable course credit)
490 Independent Study
491 Global Science, Technology, and Society Honors Thesis
492 Independent Study Off-Campus/ISOC
