Dr. Shannon Conley-Phillips, Coordinator
Phone: (540) 568-2601
Email: conleysn@jmu.edu
Science, technology and society (STS) is an internationally recognized field of cross disciplinary study that integrates philosophical, social scientific and humanistic studies to better understand the natural and human-built world. The minor offers students the opportunity to critically examine science, technology and medicine as methods for reasoning about and acting upon the natural world as expressions of human cultures, past and present.
Students learn to scrutinize the ideas, reasoning, values, practices and artifacts embedded in the world they inhabit today. They explore how choices made within various historical, social, economic and political contexts sometimes influence the development of science, technology and medicine. They also see how the adoption and diffusion of ideas, artifacts and techniques can then influence individuals, society, politics and culture. Courses in this minor draw students together from diverse majors across the campus and encourage open inquiry into the role of science and technology in society.
The minor in STS is open to all undergraduate students at JMU. Courses taken to complete the STS minor can also be used to satisfy the student’s major and General Education requirements.
The STS minor requires 18 credit hours with at least one course each from the history, sociology and ISAT courses listed.
