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Rensselaer Catalog 2024-2025
Science, Technology, and Society B.S.
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The Science, Technology, and Society bachelor’s program of study is designed for intellectually curious, socially conscious, and self-motivated students who seek a well-rounded education.
Science, Technology, and Society (STSO) is a multidisciplinary social science and humanities degree devoted to critical inquiry about the mutual shaping of science, technology, and society. In the program, students investigate developments in areas such as biology and medicine, information technology, and engineering, while examining how people live, think, and solve problems in different regions of the world. The program prepares graduates for careers in public policy, management, and the nonprofit research and advocacy sector as well as graduate study in a range of fields, including law and medicine.
Majors complete a sequence of eight courses (32 credits), including a careers course and a research project. They also pursue a 16-credit Complementary Area of Study (CAS).
The program is designed to facilitate dual majors with programs such as sustainability studies, physics, engineering, economics, or a wide array of other choices. The program has a pre-med track for students headed for medical school, and that program can also be combined as a dual major in areas such as biology or biomedical engineering. The STS program also has a pre-law track for students headed for law school, with dual major options in management or information technology among others. Speak to an adviser in HASS Student Services for details about the curriculum for specific dual majors.
Outcomes of the Undergraduate Curriculum
Students who complete the Science, Technology, and Society B.S. will be able to:
- think critically about contemporary social problems, recognizing the matrix of factors (economic, technical, biophysical, cultural, etc.) that shape problems and constrain solutions.
- research, write, and communicate effectively about complex social issues.
- identify applications of social science and humanities knowledge to careers in industry, law, medicine, and public policy.
- develop a research project that can launch graduate and professional studies.
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Fall
- Science Core Elective Credit Hours: 4 6
- HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4 5
Spring
- Science Core Elective Credit Hours: 4 6
- HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4 5
- Intermediate STS course Credit Hours: 4 2
Third Year
Please note: The third year of the program varies depending upon which semester the student chooses to take away following The Arch Summer Semester classes. Please note the following differences in curriculum:
- If students are going to be away during the Fall semester of their junior year, they should take the listed courses for each term and any courses under the Fall Away Track for year three of their program.
- If students are going to be away during the Spring semester of their junior year, they should take the listed courses for each term and any courses under the Spring Away Track for year three of their program.
The Arch Summer Semester*
*For more information on the ARCH process, please click here: The Arch
- Advanced STS Course Credit Hours: 4 3
- Advanced STS Course Credit Hours: 4 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 4 7
Fall OR Spring
- CAS Course Credit Hours: 4 8
- HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4 5
- HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4 5
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 4 7
Fall
- STSO 4980 - Research Design Credit Hours: 4
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 4 7
- CAS Course Credit Hours: 4 8
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 4 7
Spring
- CAS Course Credit Hours: 4 8
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 4 7
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 4 7
Footnotes
- STSO 1100 may be substituted with ITWS 1220 .
- Intermediate STS course options include STSO 2300 and other STSO courses at the 2000 level.
- Advanced STS Courses include other STSO courses at the 4000 level.
- STSO 4980 is a prerequisite for STSO 4990 .
- STSO majors expand their cultural horizons and learn to analyze the social world with 24 credit hours in arts, philosophy, literature, sociology, economics, psychology, history, and/or communication. Follow Institute guidelines for the HASS Core. For dual majors, the HASS Core is automatically satisfied by the STSO program requirements.
- All Rensselaer students must complete a 24-credit Science Core. This includes at least 2 mathematics courses (8 credits), such as MATH 1010 , MATH 1020 , MATH 1500 , MATH 1520 , MATH 1620 , or others. Dual majors should follow the math and science requirements of the other major.
- STSO majors can go further in their studies of science policy, the politics of technology, bioethics, sustainability and the law, or other specialty areas in STS—or complete a minor—with their 28 credit hours of free electives.
- The 16-credit Complementary Area of Study (CAS) provides STS majors a depth of understanding of an external field that will inform their STS research and coursework. The CAS courses should come from a single department (not STS). At least 8 credits must be at the 4000 level.
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