Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
- What is "STS"?
- What is the intellectual rationale for the STS Program?
- What kind of major is STS?
- Why should a Stanford student consider majoring in STS?
- What can one do with a degree in STS?
See also, the STS brochure (PDF)
3. What kind of major is STS?
The Program offers two major curricula, leading to either a B.A. or a B.S. degree in STS. All STS majors take the STS Core. The eight courses taken to fulfill Core requirements afford a basic but comprehensive understanding of phenomena of science and technology in society. The core can be viewed as having a three-level structure:
1. An entry-level course (STS 101) offering an overview of the STS terrain and exploring fundamental STS concepts, theories, and analytical frameworks .
2. Five courses studying STS phenomena from individual disciplinary perspectives. These five courses fall into three categories: philosophical (ethical and aesthetic), historical, and social scientific (economic, sociological, anthropological, and political) studies of science and technology in society.
3. Two advanced-level courses: a follow-on disciplinary course devoted to philosophical, historical, or social scientific study of science and technology in society, and a Senior Colloquium (STS 200) devoted to (a) interdisciplinary study at a more advanced level of classic and recent seminal STS works, and (b) a senior research paper.
The B.A. major curriculum has two additional components: Technical Literacy and Thematic Concentration. Through completing the first of these two components--by taking a specified computer science course and a four-course sequence in a field of science, engineering, or mathematical sciences--the student obtains basic knowledge of some concepts, principles and methods of science, engineering, or mathematics, usually in a single field in one of these general areas. Through completing the latter, the student acquires more in-depth knowledge of and progressive competence in a particular STS issue, problem, or area of personal interest. Although the concentration package must satisfy certain criteria aimed at fostering progressive competence--each must have a center of gravity in a discipline and contain at least one foundational and at least one advanced course from specified lists (see the STS B.A. Major Curriculum Form for details)--there is considerable latitude in the choice of its subject matter. Currently seven topics are pre-certified as viable for STS Thematic Concentrations: the intersections of science and technology with aesthetics, development, history and philosophy, information and society, public policy, social change, and work and organizations . Alternately, the student may elect to design her or his own concentration topic and course package, subject to Program approval.
The B.S. major curriculum adds to the same STS Core a Technical Depth component, composed 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 option, requiring completion of a minimum of 7 courses amounting to at least 25 units in one area of science, engineering, or mathematical sciences, or the Clustered Depth option, requiring completion of at least 2 sequences, with a minimum of 5 courses and 15 units in each, in different areas of science, engineering, or mathematics. See the STS B.S. Major Curriculum Form for details.
