Science, Technology, and Society

STS Major

The STS Major is broadly interdisciplinary, combining knowledge from the natural sciences, technology, the humanities, and the social sciences. STS’s broader viewpoint equips students to make progress with respect to complex problems of great social relevance by integrating different disciplines’ assumptions, goals, and strategies. What unifies STS is a focus on questions regarding the impact of science and technology on societies, and the impact of societies on science and technology.

The Major prepares students for jobs that require both scientific and technological literacy and an ability to solve problems and communicate from a broad perspective on science and technology that is informed by history, ethics, policy, and culture. Students completing the STS Major receive a Bachelor of Arts Degree.

Student Learning Outcomes for the STS Major

  1. Students employ scientific literacy;
  2. Students are proficient in skills in reasoning (including the explicit substantiation of claims with well informed reasons);
  3. Students are proficient in skills in written and oral presentation (including the development of a well organized and clearly articulated line of reasoning);
  4. Students show developed ability to place changes in science and technology in historical context;
  5. Students show developed ability to place changes in science and technology in social and cultural context;
  6. Students show developed ability to critically evaluate normative considerations relevant to science and technology.
  7. Students are proficient in research skills applied to issues relating to science, technology, and society.

    Mapping of STS SLOs with courses of STS student learning outcomes (SLOs) to STS courses

Program Learning Outcomes for the STS Major

  1. Facility with scientific concepts and scientific methods of reasoning;
  2. Development of critical thinking skills;
  3. Competence in written and oral communication;
  4. Ability to contextualize science and technology in order to identify, analyze, and influence the interrelation between science and society;
  5. Development of research skills.

Alignment matrix for Student Learning Outcomes and Program Learning Outcomes

Major Advising Information

The 2023-2024 Road Map for the STS Major (PDF) provides a detailed model for completing the major in 4 years. This Advising Tips sheet highlights important program information for STS majors to keep in mind, and gives a list of Fall 2023 courses (for more detailed information about Fall 2023 courses, see "Major Curriculum" below).  Please contact Peter Ross, with advising questions about the STS Major.

The 2023-2024 STS Curriculum Sheet provides the curriculum for both the STS Major and the STS Minor.

List of Spring 2024 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Fall 2023 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Summer 2023 Courses for the Major (XLS)

List of Spring 2023 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Fall 2022 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Summer 2022 Courses for the Major (XLS)

List of Spring 2022 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Fall 2021 Courses for the Major
(XLS)
List of Summer 2021 Courses for the Major (XLS)

List of Spring 2021 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Fall 2020 Courses for the Major
(XLS)
List of Summer 2020 Courses for the Major (XLS)

List of Spring 2020 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Fall 2019 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Summer 2019 Courses for the Major (XLS)

List of Spring 2019 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Fall 2018 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Summer 2018 Courses for the Major (XLS)

List of Spring 2018 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Winter 2018 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Fall 2017 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Summer 2017 Courses for the Major (XLS)

List of Spring 2017 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Winter 2017 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Fall 2016 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Summer 2016 Courses for the Major (XLS)

List of Spring 2016 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Winter 2016 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Fall 2015 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Summer 2015 Courses for the Major (XLS)

List of Spring 2015 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Winter 2015 Courses for the Major
(XLS)
List of Fall 2014 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Summer 2014 Courses for the Major (XLS)

List of Spring 2014 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Winter 2014 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Fall 2013 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Summer 2013 Courses for the Major (XLS)

List of Spring 2013 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Winter 2013 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Fall 2012 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Summer 2012 Courses for the Major (XLS)

List of Spring 2012 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Winter 2012 Courses for the Major (XLS)
List of Fall 2011 Courses for the Major (XLS)

For more information about Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society (STS 201), take a look at the Fall 2016 syllabus (RTF).