http://www.umich.edu/~umsts/events.htm

STS Undergraduate Minor

The Minor in Science, Technology & Society (STS) focuses on social science approaches to science, technology, and medicine, including history, sociology, anthropology, and policy studies. Scientific, technical, and medical analysis of social problems is also within its scope. It is sponsored by the Residential College, but is open to all UM undergraduates.

The minor helps students learn about such issues as:

  • How science, technology, and medicine shape modern societies
  • How social and political forces, choices, and values affect science, technology, and medicine
  • How the social dynamics of science, technology, and medicine differ among world societies
  • How issues of gender, race, and class appear in science, technology, and medicine

STS minors learn multiple methods for studying and solving boundary-spanning problems, including not only traditional discipline-based approaches, but also interdisciplinary and experimental ones.

Prerequisites: none. The minor is open to all University of Michigan undergraduates.

Requirements: a minimum of 5 courses, for at least 18 credits

Students must also take one cognate (a lab-based course in natural science, computer science, or engineering). Each students must choose a focus track in consultation with an STS Program advisor.

Special Opportunities: Periodically programs offered around campus engage STS topics. For Summer 2010 see: Comparative Healthcare in Japan.

Requirements Details

Core Course: Science, Technology, Medicine, and Society (Residential College SocSci 275/History 285)

Offered each Winter semester. Introduces students to major STS theories, methods, concepts, and approaches and to the kinds of issues covered by the minor. STS minors should take the core course no later than their junior year.

Declaration and Advising:

Students must meet with the STS Program advisor to plan their program of study. Students may not declare the STS minor later than the third week of the first semester of their senior year. For more information, contact the STS Program advisor by email: sts.minor.advisor@umich.edu.

Electives (minimum of 3 courses for at least 11 credits), chosen from the STS Course List

  • Only one elective at the 100 level is permitted (up to 4 credits)
  • Two electives must be at the 300 level or above
  • Two electives must be drawn from one of the focus tracks
  • Students may count any research seminar as an elective

Research seminar (minimum 3 credits), chosen from specifically designated courses on the STS Course List

Normally expected in the student's junior or senior year. The research seminar must correspond with the student's chosen focus track. Must be specifically approved as a research seminar.

Cognate

Any natural science, computer science, or engineering course that has a laboratory section. This course may also be used to fulfill the student's LSA natural science distribution requirement, but only if the course is approved for the natural science distribution. To search for these courses, click here and select "natural science" in the Distribution Requirements box.

Focus Track

Students must choose from one of three focus tracks:

  • Science and Society
  • Technology and Society
  • Medicine and Society

At least two of the student's three electives must be drawn from a single focus track. The course list shows which classes count for each track. In addition, students are strongly encouraged to take at least one upper-level course in a science, engineering, or medical discipline.

Overlap with Concentrations and Other Minors

Students may not use more than one course to meet the requirements of both a concentration plan and an academic minor. However, one course may overlap and count for both. No course may be counted simultaneously toward both STS and any other minor. See the important information about minors on the LS&A academic minors page.