Catalog of Science, Technology and Society Courses
The following are regularly taught courses which count toward
the STS major. Other special topics courses may also count toward
the major. An annual list of courses available for STS credit is
published in the Butler schedule of classes, or on this
website.
Special STS Courses:
ST200. Introduction to Science & Technology
Studies
An introductory survey of the variety of humanistic and social
scientific approaches to the study of science and technology.
Topics include the social, political, cultural and economic
structure of science and technology, scientific objectivity,
scientific communication and rhetoric, science education.
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ST310. Social Studies of Science and
Technology
This course investigates questions about the production and
cultural meanings of scientific knowledge and technological change.
We compare the production of scientific truths to other modes of
truth production and consider the ways in which science influences
and is influenced by Western culture. (U-G) (3)
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ST320. Philosophy of Science.
An analysis of some philosophical questions about the natural
sciences, including the problem of distinguishing science from
pseudoscience, the nature of scientific explanation, the structure
and confirmation of scientific theories, the relationship between
theories in different scientific domains, scientific revolutions,
and the relationship between science and reality. (U-G) (3)
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ST330. Science, Technology and Rhetoric.
This course investigates the rhetoric of science and technology
in order to gain insight into (1) how scientists persuade others to
accept their findings as knowledge, and (2) how the language of
scientific and technological innovation shapes the ways that we
think about the world. (U-G) (3)
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ST390. Topics in Science, Technology and
Society.
An investigation of a topic in the study of science, technology
and society. (U-G) (3)
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ST401, 402, 403. Independent Study in Science,
Technology and Society.
Offers the qualified student of Science, Technology and Society
the opportunity to pursue a topic of individual interest. Open only
to juniors and seniors with the permission of the instructor and of
the director of the STS program. (U-G) (1,2,3)
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ST 405, 406. Internship in Science, Technology and
Society.
Offers the qualified student of Science, Technology and Society
the opportunity to participate in a supervised work experience in a
position that will enhance their understanding of STS issues. Open
only to juniors and seniors with the permission of the director of
the STS program. (U) (3,6)
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ST499. Honors Thesis. (U) (3)
Disciplinary STS Courses:
STS students take courses from various academic departments to
complete their major:
History: The History of Science; The
History of Technology
English: Literature and Medicine; Science
Fiction and Utopian/Dystopian Novels; Writing about
Health; Writing about the Environment; AIDS and
Society
Philosophy: Religion and
Science; Philosophy of Biology; Religion and Science
Fiction; Biomedical Ethics
Psychology: Human Sexuality
Sociology: Medical Sociology; Mental
Health and Society
Political Science: Environmental
Justice; The Earth Charter; Eco-tourism
Biology: Urban Ecology; Conservation
Biology; Environmental Science; Environmental Policy and
Practicum
Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry
Economics: Environmental and Natural Resource
Economics
Pharmacy: Public Health and Social
Inequities; Ethics and Health Care; Medical Spanish