STS text

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
Science, Technology, and Society (STS) is a program of teaching and research devoted to the study of science and technology in society, in contemporary and historical perspectives. STS as a field of study is predicated on the belief that science and technology are two of the most potent forces for individual, social, and global change in the contemporary era. Understanding the natures, causes, and consequences of scientific and technological developments, how science and technology function in different societies, and how social forces attempt to shape these activities to serve diverse, often conflicting interests is both intellectually challenging and socially important. Since understanding this subject matter requires study beyond the confines of any single academic discipline, STS is constituted as a multi- and interdisciplinary program.
STS offers both the B.A. and the B.S. degree. The B.A. option may be of special interest to students majoring in engineering. Such students may obtain either a B.A.S. degree or both a B.A. and a B.S. by completing the requirements for the B.A. degree in STS as well as those for the B.S. degree in any field of engineering. The STS B.A. curriculum provides a natural complement to the technical coursework of the engineering student's B.S. major curriculum.
All STS majors take the STS Core. The eight (8) courses taken to fulfill STS Core requirements afford a basic, comprehensive understanding of phenomena of science and technology in society.
STS CORE REQUIREMENTS
ONE FOUNDATIONAL COURSE:
STS 101/E 130: Science, Technology, and Contemporary Society
FIVE DISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS (LEVEL I) COURSES IN THE FOLLOWING THREE AREAS (DISTRIBUTED 2-2-1, 2-1-2, OR 1-2-2):
a. Philosophical perspectives
STS 110/PP 103B: Ethics and Public Policy
STS 118/ME 214: Good Products, Bad Products
b. Historical perspectives
STS 121/History 115: Technology and Culture in 19th Century America
STS 122/History 234A: Technology and Culture in 20th Century America and Europe
STS 124/Economics 116: American Economic History
STS 130/History 133: The Darwinian Revolution
STS 131/History 134A: The Industrial Revolution: Historical and Cultural Perspectives
c. Social Scientific perspectives
STS 107/Economics 113: Technology and Economic Change
STS 137/Communications 137: The National Information Infrastructure Policy Debate
STS 162/Communications 169: Communication, Technology, and Society
STS 172/EES 171: Role of Technology in Policy Decisions
TWO ADVANCED COURSES:
a. One Disciplinary Analysis (Level II) course from among:
STS 207/Econ 224: Science and Technology in Economic Growth
STS 215/CS 201: Computers, Ethics, and Social Responsibility
STS 219/IEEM 220: Management and Organization of Research and Development
STS 221/History 263A: Automobile Industry in 20th Century America
STS 222/HPSci 251: Science and High Technology in Silicon Valley,1930-1980
STS 231/IEEM 221: Technology and Work
STS 232/Anthropology 232: Science, Technology, and Society
STS 246/Anthropology 246: Feminist Theories of Science and Technology
STS 253/HPS 253: Body Works: Medicine, Technology, and the Body in Late
20th-Century America
STS 266/Communication 266: Communication Policy in Comparative Perspective
b. Required Senior Seminar
STS 200: Senior Colloquium
B.A. MAJOR
Beyond the STS Core, the B.A. major curriculum has two additional components: Technical Literacy and a Thematic Concentration.
The Technical Literacy component requires completion of CS 106A or its equivalent and a sequence of four courses: either four courses amounting to at least 12 units in a field of science, engineering, or mathematics; or four "Engineering Fundamentals" courses. For details see the STS section of 1996-97 Stanford Bulletin or the STS BA Degree Major Requirements Form available in the STS Office (Bldg. 370, Rm. 109). Note: the Technical Literacy component of the STS B.A. major is waived for engineering majors.
The Thematic Concentration component requires a structured package of at least five courses amounting to at least 20 units on a pre-certified or student-designed area or topic approved by the Program. For details see Stanford Bulletin or the same B.A. Degree Major Requirements Form.
B.S. MAJOR
The B.S. major adds to the STS Core a Technical Depth component, comprised of a coherent package of at least 50 units of courses in science, engineering, and/or mathematics. The student may fulfill this requirement via either the "Focused Depth" or "Clustered Depth" option. For details, see Stanford Bulletin or the B.S. Degree Major Requirements Form, available in the STS Office. Some students elect to pursue a B.S. in STS, incorporating a strong Technical Depth component, and then go on to earn a co-terminal M.S. in a field of engineering, particuarly in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, EES&OR, and Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management.

STS HONORS
Engineering students in all majors are encouraged to consider the STS Honors Program. Earning "Honors in Science, Technology, and Society" requires completion of four STS courses and an original senior honors thesis on a topic involving science or technology in society. For details see Stanford Bulletin or contact the STS Office. A number of past STS honors theses written by engineering students are on file in the STS Office and are available for perusal upon request.