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Science and Society

The goal of the Science and Society concentration is to provide students with a broad background in science and technology with an understanding of how scientific advancements affect society today. As we begin the 21st century, many industries are technology based, and we are becoming more aware of the ethical and cultural issues that arise out of these technologies.

This concentration would therefore be appropriate for those interested in working in any technical or scientifically related field. In addition, this concentration would be applicable to students interested in marketing or advertising within such industries, in that an appreciation of how a specific technology may affect society, and therefore potential customers, would be helpful when promoting a particular company, product, or service. Students interested in careers that will require adept problem-solving skills and risk taking, such as managers and entrepreneurs, also will benefit from the Science and Society concentration. All science courses build upon the scientific method approach to problem solving, the ability to understand and interpret data, and the notion of how curiosity and creativity shape scientific research and inquiry.

Curiosity drives the imagination, creativity bears possible solutions, and the ability to manage information and solve problems produces results. The successful integration of these skills is what inspires and builds scientists; likewise, these same qualities can be invaluable for any individual who strives to be a successful risk taker in the business world.

Sponsored by: Math and Science Division

Faculty Contact: Shari Laprise

Faculty contacts serve as advisers to those students who have an interest in the given concentration. You should feel free to contact these faculty with questions.

Required Courses

Courses from which Students Must Choose a Minimum Distribution

Four courses are required, of which: at least two must come from the science courses, at least one from outside science, and the fourth from either of the two listings: Choose at least two of these science courses:

  • SCN 3610 Meteorology
  • SCN 3620 Natural Disasters
  • SCN 3615 Ecology of Animal Behavior
  • SCN 3625 Ethical Issues in Research and Technology
  • SCN 3630 Economic Botany
  • SCN 3642 The Art and Science of Reproductive Technologies
  • SCN 3693 Sports Physiology and Doping 

Two of the following 2-credit winter session courses can be taken in place of one 4-credit science course from the list above:

  • SCN 3690 Crime Science
  • SCN 3694 Electronic Games, Business, and Society
  • SCN 3697 Global Warming, Business and Society

And, choose at least one of these nonscience courses:

  • ECN 3635 Technological Entrepreneurship and the Market Economy
  • PHL 3609 Nature, Technology and Values
  • LAW 3601 Public International Law
  • EPS 3525 Social Enterprise Management
  • AMS 3672 Working in America: Labor in the 20th Century (Inactive)
  • AHSE 1110 (Olin) History of Technology: Politics, Environment, and Culture
  • AHSE 1130 (Olin) The Stuff of History
  • HIS 3604 Sexuality and Power in Modern Society

Courses Suggested But Not Required

  • SCN 2410 Environmental Technology (intermediate course devoted to environmental technologies)
  • SCN 2420 Biotechnology (intermediate course devoted to biotechnologies)
  • SCN 2430 Electronic Technology (intermediate course devoted to electronic and computer technologies)
  • ECN 3631 Scams and Frauds (including “voodoo” technologies)
  • PHL 3603 Modern Philosophy (an excellent introduction to the foundations of scientific ethics)
  • ANT 3671 Material Culture (lots of references to science and technology development)
  • ANT 3673 Anthropology of Food (technology of agriculture)
  • MIS 3690 Web Technologies (applications of electronic science to computer systems)
  • MIS 3693 Building Internet Applications for Mobile Devices (applications of electronic science to computer systems)
  • MIS 3995 Advanced Web Technologies (technological applications of electronic science to computer systems)
  • HSS 2407 Physical Anthropology (intermediate course that includes the impact of science)
  • HSS 2422 Research Methods (intermediate course that utilizes the scientific method)