Science, Technology, Health, and Society
Science, Technology, Health, and Society (STHS) explores how science, technology, and medicine shape human societies – and how these societies, through their values, politics, and cultures, shape science, technology, and medicine in return. The program examines questions like: Why do experts disagree? How do emerging technologies like AI and gene therapy impact society, and can we govern or mitigate them? How are science and technology tied to society, politics, and culture? The courses that make up the minor draw on a wide range of natural & social science, as well as arts & humanities, disciplines and complement many majors already offered throughout the university.
Program Overview
Science, Technology, Health, and Society (STHS) is an interdisciplinary program that promotes civic engagement and critical thinking across disciplines that often are seen as distinct in our specialized university system: the natural sciences and social sciences and humanities. The program addresses issues of ethics and policy, helping bridge disciplines that do not ordinarily meet in the undergraduate curriculum such as law and science, history and medicine, anthropology or philosophy and technology, and much more besides. The skills learnt are key to many of the modern problems you might face in your post-university life, as the dilemmas and decisions we make in government, industry, policy, businesses, and indeed our daily lives, require this cross-disciplinary approach to the many technologies, scientific fields, or medical choices that make up our modern economy. Thus, the 15-credit hour minor is a great fit for those pursuing majors in practically any field, no matter whether it is in the arts & humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences.
Why Science, Technology, Health, and Society?
The program reflects the increasingly complex problems that modern technologies, scientific breakthroughs, and medical practices, pose to societies and governments in the USA and beyond. Engineers, scientists, and doctors are increasingly called to think critically about the ethical or political implications of their research and practice; those working in the humanities or social sciences have no choice but to face the social, cultural, economic, historical, philosophical, legal and more besides forces that shape technologies, but also are shaped by them. As such, the minor teaches students key issues in the field, which shape much industrial, government, and academic policy today; and help them developed a toolkit of engaging and thinking/arguing critically about the same.
Small specialized classes that are driven by debate and research, combined with personal mentorship and the ability to draw on a wide range of existing courses throughout different divisions of the university, allows students to finish the minor with a strong and proven record of addressing cutting-edge issues such as AI, the climate crisis, health inequalities and outcomes, which are applicable to a wide variety of post-graduate jobs and fields.
These are transferable skills that enrich both humanities and science graduates. In our world today, such narrow specialization does not prepare many to engage in informed policy decision making, industrial or health policy, research, or any other business or academic practice you may think of. STHS is the bridge that allows those skills to be developed. The program is currently planning on creating internship programs relative to STHS issues in the Knoxville area, to give students a practical application of these skills.
Careers
The job market where STHS skills and training would be beneficial is expanding rapidly, as more businesses, government, and academic sectors, are re-tooling to face the challenges posed by rapid technological and scientific progress. Very broadly speaking, the minor prepares students for careers requiring scientific and technological literacy, and a broad perspective on science and technology. The ability to write and argue from that perspective is applicable to jobs in scientific and technological law, medical fields, public policy, journalism, civil society and non-profit organizations, academic research, government work, and a wide range of businesses.
Featured Courses
STHS 200
Introduction to Science, Technology, Health, and Society
Introduction to the interdisciplinary field of science and technology studies with an emphasis on the social, historical, and cultural dimensions of science, technology, health, and medicine.
STHS 350
Data and Society
Critically examines the impact of data collection, analysis and interpretation on social structures and relationships. Explore the ethical, legal, and socio-political dimensions of data in modern life.
PHIL 345
Bioethics
An exploration of ethical issues in medicine, the life sciences, biomedical technology, public health, and/or the environment, such as abortion, euthanasia, human experimentation, informed consent, fairness in health care delivery, and the doctor-patient relationship.
GEOG 421
Maps, Society, Power
Exploration of maps as historical and contemporary technologies of social power and resistance; wider political lives and place-making power of maps; ethical and social justice implications of cartography and geospatial analysis.
ANTH 303
Human Biology and Society
Issues and controversies of human biology and an exploration of the biological mechanisms and social pressures that have influenced human adaptation and variation.
Complementary Minors
