History of Science, Medicine, and Technology

专业详情

The department offers a variety of courses that deal with the history of the conceptual and technical development of the sciences, as well as the cultural and social impact of science and technology on civilization. These courses are open to all undergraduates in the Schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering. A few of the courses require some background in an appropriate science, but most are accessible to those with no specialized knowledge who want to understand the part science has played in shaping modern culture. Students who have concerns about their technical competence for a given course should consult the professor involved.

Offered in cooperation with the Institute of the History of Medicine, this major allows students to combine substantive work in science with study of the social and historical context of modern science, medicine, and technology. The aim of the program is to produce graduates who are scientifically literate and technically competent, and who at the same time understand science and medicine not as static, autonomous enterprises but rather as modes of thought that have developed in specific social contexts.

The major is appropriate for any student planning a career in medicine or other areas of the health care industry. It is also flexible enough to serve as a basis for a variety of careers where an informed knowledge of science and technology and their impact on society is important. Such careers include broad areas of business and industry, journalism, teaching, museum work, and specialized areas of law and public policy.