Science and Technology Studies M.S.

The Department of Science and Technology offers a Master of Science degree in Science and Technology Studies. Currently, this degree is available only to students admitted to the doctoral program in Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer who have been assigned to the MS+PhD track, as determined by the STS GPD based on the recommendations of the Admissions Committee; and to Co-Terminal Master’s (“Co-Term”) students in Science and Technology Studies.

Outcomes of the Graduate Curriculum

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to engage in the following interlocking practices:

• Conduct scholarly analysis of historical and contemporary cultures of research and innovation.
• Critically analyze the public policies and political-economic institutions that shape, and are shaped by, scientific discovery and technological design.
• Participate in collaborative projects that have the ability to bring about change in the domains of science, medicine, design, and engineering.
• Design and articulate research problems and conduct independent, significant, and original research.
• Communicate effectively to specialized and general audiences.

Graduation Requirements

• Thirty (30) credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree
• No more than 15 credit hours of 4000-4990 courses may count toward the degree or be applied to the Plan of Study.
• Individual course requirements can be waived or substituted by the Graduate Program Director when required courses are not offered or under other exceptional circumstances (without reduction to the total number of credits required for the degree).
• MS+PhD students must successfully complete a written capstone project or submit a substantial piece of writing (e.g. portfolio, literature review, conference paper, of draft manuscript for publication), subject to review and approval by the student’s advisor;
• Co-Terminal students must successfully complete a Master’s Thesis or Master’s Internship.