Human Context of Science and Technology Certificate

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The program has a three-part structure:

A required introductory course, HCST 100 (three hours)
Electives chosen from a list of prescribed courses (15 hours)
Natural science/ engineering component (nine hours minimum)

I.) HCST 100 (3 credits) (GFR: meets A/H, GDR: meets H)

II.) Electives (15 hours)

A student in the HCST Certificate Program would take five of these courses, of which at least four would have to be at the upper level. Substitutions to this list can be approved by the director of the certificate program. This course list will be subject to periodic revision. For all courses, a grade of “C” or better is required.

Electives List:

AMST 270-American Culture and Science (3.00)
AMST 388-American Environments: Landscape and Culture (3.00)
ENGL 388 - American Environment: Landscape and Culture
ANTH 312-Medical Anthropology (3.00)
ENGL 200-Language and Scientific Value (3.00)
ENGL 317-Literature and the Sciences (3.00)
CPLT 317 - Literature and the Sciences
ENGL 383-Science Writing (3.00)
ENGL 418 - Advanced Topics in Literature and the Sciences
ENGL 419-Seminar in Literature and the Sciences (3.00)
GES 326-American Conservation Thought (3.00)
GES 432-Seminar in Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (3.00)
HIST 369-Darwinism: The Evolutionary Perspective (3.00)
HIST 387-Medicine and Health Care in China (3.00)
HIST 404 - History of Computers and Computing
IS 404 - History of Computers and Computing
CMSC 404-The History of Computers and Computing (3.00)
HIST 492 - Colloquium in the History of Science
HIST 445-History of Science to 1700 (3.00)
HIST 446-History of Science Since 1700 (3.00)
MATH 432-History of Mathematics (3.00)
PHIL 248-Introduction to Scientific Reasoning (3.00)
PHIL 251-Ethical Issues in Science and Engineering (3.00)
CMSC 304-Social and Ethical Issues in Information Technology (3.00)
PHIL 358-Bioethics (3.00)
HAPP 358-Bioethics (3.00)
PHIL 372-Philosophy of Science (3.00)
PHIL 394-Philosophy of Biology (3.00)
PHIL 395-Philosophy of Physics (3.00)
PHIL 454-Animals and the Environment: Moral Theory and its Application (3.00)
PHIL 472-Advanced Topics in the Philosophy of Science (3.00)
PHYS 333-Applied Physics in Archaeology and Art (3.00)
POLI 452-Politics of Health (3.00)
SOCY 351-Medical Sociology (3.00)
SOCY 352-Issues in Health Care (3.00)
SOCY 361-Science and Society (3.00)
SOCY 416-Cyberspace Culture (3.00)
ANTH 416-Cyberspace Culture (3.00)
SOCY 457-Social History of American Medicine (3.00)
HIST 450-Social History of American Medicine (3.00)
GWST 352-Women, Gender, and Information Technology (3.00)
GWST 378-Women, Gender and Science (3.00)

III.) Natural science/technology component (9 hours minimum)

In addition to studying critical literature about science and technology, students must become acquainted in some detail with current conceptions and practice in a chosen area of science or technology as presented by that area’s current practitioners. The following options are available:

Biology Option:

BIOL 100-Concepts of Biology (4.00)
BIOL 100L-Concepts of Experimental Biology (2.00)
BIOL 302-Molecular and General Genetics (4.00)

Chemistry Option:

Select one of the sequences:

CHEM 123-Introduction to General Organic and Biochemistry I (4.00)
CHEM 124-Introduction to General Organic and Biochemistry II (3.00)
CHEM 124L-General Organic and Biochemistry Lab (2.00)
CHEM 101-Principles of Chemistry I (4.00)
CHEM 102-Principles of Chemistry II (4.00)
CHEM 102L-Introductory Chemistry Lab I (2.00)

Computer Science Option:

Select one from the following:

either any 200-level MATH course
any 300-level STAT course

Physics Option:

Select one of the sequences:

PHYS 111-Basic Physics I (4.00)
PHYS 112-Basic Physics II (4.00)
any other course in the physical sciences
PHYS 121-Introductory Physics I (4.00)
PHYS 122-Introductory Physics II (4.00)
PHYS 122L-Introductory Physics Laboratory (3.00)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Option:

ENES 101-Introduction to Engineering (3.00)
CHEM 101-Principles of Chemistry I (4.00)
CHEM 102-Principles of Chemistry II (4.00)
CHEM 102L-Introductory Chemistry Lab I (2.00)
ENCH 215-Chemical Engineering Analysis (3.00)

Mechanical Engineering Option:

ENES 101-Introduction to Engineering (3.00)
ENME 204-Introduction to Engineering Design with CAD (3.00)
ENME 220-Mechanics of Materials (3.00)

General Engineering Option:

ENES 101-Introduction to Engineering (3.00)

AND

At least two more three-credit courses in an engineering field, selected from the courses listed under the engineering options. In exceptional cases, courses other than the ones listed may be accepted on the recommendation of the advisor, provided they are at a similar or higher level.