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Go to: Program Requirements
Secretary: Elizabeth Bitoy, SS 207, 702-8391
The HiPSS program is designed to make possible the study of a wide range of
social, historical, and conceptual issues relating to science. Students
completing the program follow a number of different careers. Some pursue
graduate study the history and philosophy of science or in some field of
science. Others find the program valuable preparation for the study of
medicine, law, public policy, or science journalism. More generally, the goal
of the program is to teach students to reasonably interpret and evaluate
science and science policy. Some students choose to construct a degree program
combining the requirements for the HiPSS concentration with those for a
concentration in the physical or biological sciences. Others, having met the
HiPSS program requirements, use electives to broaden their liberal
education.
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HiPSS Sponsor. The Morris Fishbein Center for the History of Science and
Medicine sponsors the HiPSS program. Further information can be obtained in the
center's office (SS 207).
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Elements of the Curriculum. The curriculum of the program contains five
principal elements:
1. The Foundation. All HiPSS concentrators are required to complete a
Common Core biological sciences sequence; a Common Core physical sciences
sequence (Physics 121-122-123 or equivalent, Chemistry 111-112-113 or
121-122-123, or equivalent); a mathematics sequence (Mathematics 131-132-133 or
higher-level math sequence), two quarters of which can be used to fulfill the
College mathematical sciences requirement; and the three-quarter sequence
surveying the growth of science in Western civilization--Science, Culture, and
Society in Western Civilization (History 173-174-175)--which fulfills the
Common Core civilizational studies requirement.
2. Advanced Science. In addition to the science courses normally taken
as part of the Common Core, students are expected to take three courses in
science or mathematics beyond the introductory level. They select these
advanced courses according to their special aims, their area of concentration,
and the subject of the bachelor's thesis.
3. Areas of Concentration. All students in the program determine a
particular major area of concentration in the history, philosophy, ethics,
and/or social contexts of science and medicine. In consultation with the
program director and student adviser, they select five courses to constitute
this concentration area. For example, some students may be particularly
interested in the epistemological issues related to the growth of science;
others may be especially concerned with the intellectual and social
interactions between changing scientific knowledge and institutions, on the one
hand, and evolving social institutions, on the other; a third group may wish to
emphasize the moral and political problems attending the employment of
technology generated by advances in science.
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4. Tutorials. Each student takes two tutorial courses, usually early in
his or her program. These tutorials are small courses (from three to ten
students) that emphasize discussion and writing. Courses for the coming year
will be listed in the HiPSS office.
5. Bachelor's Thesis and Senior Seminar. Each student completes the
program with a bachelor's thesis. In consultation with the director, students
sign up for a reading and research course with an appropriate faculty member.
This research course should lead to a thesis integrating the students' academic
studies and bringing them to bear on a significant question related to some
historical, conceptual, ethical, or social aspect of science. During the senior
year, students also enroll in a designated one-quarter seminar that deals with
general aspects of history, philosophy, and social studies of science.
Students meeting the above HiPSS requirements have additional electives.
Summary of Requirements
General Hist 173-174-175
Education Common Core biological sciences sequence
Phys 121-122-123 or equivalent, or Chem 111-
112-113 or equivalent
Math 131-132 or equivalent
Concentration 1 Math 133 or equivalent
3 science or math courses beyond the introductory level
5 courses in major area of concentration
2 HiPSS 190-196 (tutorial courses)
1 HiPSS 197 (senior seminar)
1 HiPSS 199 (bachelor's thesis)
- bachelor's thesis
13 (total)
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Honors. Students who meet the
following criteria will be considered for
graduation with special honors: (1) overall grade point average of 3.3, (2)
completion of a bachelor's thesis of A quality, and (3) a majority vote
by the faculty in favor of honors.
Admission. To be admitted, students should have completed at least two of
the four foundation course sequences listed above and should have maintained a
3.2 average in previous course work. Admission will be completed when students
have taken the remaining foundation courses and have formulated a plan of
study; this is normally done prior to the third year. Application for admission
should be made to the director of the program, who will advise students about
the requirements, arrange a preliminary plan of study, and discuss scheduling
conflicts and special cases. Thereafter, a student will choose, in consultation
with the director, a permanent adviser from the staff.
Advisers. The faculty for the HiPSS program is drawn from many parts of the
University. The following have direct responsibility for admitting students,
formulating curriculum, and advising:
JEAN COMAROFF, Professor, Department of Anthropology, Committee on Human
Nutrition & Nutritional Biology, Morris Fishbein Center for the History of
Science & Medicine, and the College; Cochairman, Committee on African &
African-American Studies
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ARNOLD I. DAVIDSON, Professor, Department of Philosophy, Committees on the
Conceptual Foundations of Science and General Studies in the Humanities, and
the College
DANIEL GARBER, Lawrence Kimpton Distinguished Service Professor, Department of
Philosophy, Committee on the Conceptual Foundations of Science, and the
College; Chairman, Committee on the Conceptual Foundations of Science;
Associate Provost of the University
IAN MUELLER, Professor, Department of Philosophy, Committee on the Conceptual
Foundations of Science, and the College
ROBERT J. RICHARDS, Professor, Departments of History, Philosophy, and
Psychology and the College; Director, Program in History, Philosophy, &
Social Studies of Science & Medicine
HOWARD STEIN, Professor, Department of Philosophy and Committee on the
Conceptual Foundations of Science; Director, Morris Fishbein Center for the
History of Science and Medicine
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Go to: Summary of Requirements
Go to: Faculty
History, Philosophy, and
Director: Robert J. Richards, SS 205, 702-8391
Social Studies of Science
and Medicine (HiPSS)
Program of Study
The Bachelor of Arts program in the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of
Science and Medicine (HiPSS) is designed for College students interested in
studying science in terms of its historical development, conceptual structure,
and social role. Students in the program must do sufficient work in one or more
sciences to acquire a sound foundation for studying the nature of science.
After securing this basis, they are expected to gain an understanding of how
science arose and how the content of scientific thought has changed and is
changing, because of both its own internal dynamic and its interaction with the
larger society in which it is embedded.
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Program Requirements
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