2007-08 - Pitzer College

268 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Science, Technology and Society
Science, Technology, and Society (STS) is an interdisciplinary field that studies: (1) the
conditions under which the production, distribution, and utilization of scientific
knowledge and technological systems occur, and (2) the consequences of these activities
upon different groups of people. The disciplines out of which STS emerged were the
history and philosophy of science and technology, science and technology policy studies,
and sociology, and these origins shape the primary modes of analysis in STS. More
recently, anthropology, literary studies, and cultural history have all left their mark in
fundamental ways on STS. The intercollegiate program brings together courses taught in
a variety of departments. It is divided into three principal areas: History of Science and
Technology; Philosophy of Science and Technology; and Political, Cultural, and Social
Perspectives on Science and Technology. The latter covers such topics as national science
policy, how science and technology affect people, and how computers affect society, as
well as more specific subjects such as the Internet, pollution, and genetic engineering.
Students majoring in STS are well prepared to pursue graduate study in related field and
also have a solid foundation for work as science journalists, policy researchers and
advisers, science educators, and advocates of change around issues such as gender and
science, renewable energy, and the social effects of the information revolution. In
addition, STS is an excellent academic background for students intending to pursue
careers in medicine, law, business, and education. Professor Richard Worthington
(Pomona), Coordinator.
Pitzer advisers: J. Grabiner, T. Ilgen, B. Keeley, D. Segal, S. Snowiss, A. Wachtel; A.
Zanella (Jt. Science).
Requirements for the Major
A. Core Courses in the three broad areas of STS:
1. History of Science and Technology (two of the following): STS 80 (Science and
Technology in the Ancient and Medieval Worlds); STS 81 (Science and Technology
in the Early Modern World); STS 82 (Science and Technology in the Modern
World).
2. Philosophy of Science and Technology: (Normally be met by taking Phil 103.)
3. Political, Cultural, and Social Perspectives on Science and Technology (one course).
This requirement will normally be met by STS 1 (Introduction to Science,
Technology, and Society); or STS 25 (Technology and People); or Politics 190
(Pomona); or HMC Anthropology 111 (Introduction to the Anthropology of Science
and Technology).
B. All STS majors must take at least five (5) courses in sciences and mathematics, of which
at least one must be a mathematics course at the level of first-semester calculus or higher
(this requirement may be fulfilled by taking an advanced course in statistics or principles
of computing). Three (3) of the remaining four (4) courses in the natural sciences (which
may include physiological psychology) must be taken in one discipline, and at least one
must have a laboratory requirement. No more than two (2) Joint Science courses listed as
“Natural Science” may be used in fulfillment of this requirement. In exceptional cases,
sufficiently advanced mathematics courses may be substituted with the adviser’s
approval for any but the laboratory science course.
C. All STS majors must take at least five (5) additional STS courses. Three (3) of these
must be chosen, after consultation with their advisers, within one of the three areas of
STS, as defined in (A), and so that these courses provide depth of knowledge in a welldefined
field. Two others may be in any area of STS and may include a senior thesis if
elected by the student.
D. The final required course is the integrative seminar (STS 190), which is given in the fall
of each year (all students must have completed the core courses before taking the seminar).
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Minor: The minor in Science, Technology and Society will normally consist of seven
courses, except for students majoring in science, mathematics, or computer science, for
whom it will consist of six letter-graded courses:
For all students:
1. STS 1 (Introduction to Science, Technology and Society).
2. Two (2) courses from STS 80, 81, 82 (History of Science).
3. Philosophy 103 (Philosophy of Science and Technology).
4. One course from:
STS 25 (Technology and People)
POST 184 PZ (Science, Technology and Politics)
Anth 111 HMC (Introduction to Anthropology of Science & Technology)
POLI 136 PO (Politics of Environmental Action)
5a. For students not majoring in science, mathematics, or computer science: A one-year
sequence of science courses in which the first is prerequisite to the second. (In
mathematics, the courses must be at the level of calculus or above.) For example:
Biology 43-44; Chemistry 14-15; Chemistry 29 plus a course that is a prerequisite;
Math 30-31; Physics 30-31 or 33-34. AP credit will not be accepted for the minor.
5b. For students majoring in science, mathematics, or computer science who will
already have the science background mentioned in 5a: One more course in Science,
Technology, and Society chosen by the student from the courses listed in the STS
section of the Pitzer catalogue.
Honors: Students who complete a thesis of honors quality will be recommended to the
College for Honors if they will graduate with a GPA of at least 3.5 within the major,
and an overall GPA of at least 3.5. The thesis adviser and the Pitzer STS adviser
will determine whether the thesis is of honors quality. If the thesis adviser is also
the Pitzer adviser, then a second STS faculty reader will help determine whether
the thesis is worthy of honors.
Core Courses
1. Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society. General introduction to the
interactions among science, technology, and society. Examines different concepts of
rationality and the values that underlie scientific and technological endeavors. Evaluates
the role of value conflict in technology controversies, such as the social impact of the