Stevens Institute of Technology
College of Arts & Letters
Program in Science & Technology Studies

FALL 2013
Tuesday, 10:00-10:50 am (Peirce 218); and Thursday, 10:00-11:45 am (Lieb 120)

Link to Schedule, Reading List, and Assignments

Course Description:  

This course examines the politics and morality of science and technology. It uses an interdisciplinary perspective, known as Science and Technology Studies (STS), that includes anthropology, history, philosophy, and sociology. It begins by exploring the history of the field, which arose from scientists' concerns about nuclear arms, atomic energy, and environmental degradation.  It will introduce basic concepts such as social construction and technological determinism.  Topics will include social studies of scientific community, the pursuits of objectivity, how politics and values are built into technologies, and perceptions of technological and environmental risk.  The course emphasizes conceptual tools that students can apply in their own encounters with science and technology.

Course and Program Objectives and Outcomes

Writing and Communications Center:

The College of Arts & Letters maintains the Writing & Communications Center at Stevens in Morton 210. Their office hours are Monday-Friday, 11 am - 5 pm. You can stop in or make an appointment to get help with your papers, presentations, and all other work you do at Stevens. I have never had a student visit the WCC and come back with a lower grade on their assignment.

Honor Board Policies:

You should by now be familiar with The Honor System at the Stevens Institute of Technology. It is your responsibility to uphold the ideals set forth in the Honor System Constitution. Specific student responsibilities include:

• Maintaining honesty and fair play in all aspects of academic life at Stevens;
• Writing and signing the pledge, in full, on all submitted academic work;
• Reporting any suspected violations to an Honor Board member or to the Dean of Student Development;
• Cooperating with the Honor Board during investigations and hearings.

If you ever have questions about how to interpret the Honor System in relation to your work in this class, please get in touch with me.

Students with disabilities:

If you require special accommodations due to a disability, or if you need individual arrangements should the building be evacuated, you must inform the office of Student Counseling and Disability Services, Dr. Jodi Streich, Director, in the Howe Center, 7th floor (x5177), and complete the Faculty Contact Form. Once you have done so, you should ask to meet with me so that we can work out any special arrangements that may be necessary.

Grades and Course Policies:  

Attendance is mandatory. Any absences must be accounted for by notifying me before the start of class. Otherwise I will need verification from an outside authority (i.e., doctor, coach, another professor) explaining why it was necessary for you to miss class. Cell phones should either be turned off or silenced. Computer use should be related to what we are doing in class. You should stay awake at all times. Any students in violation of these simple rules will be marked as absent for that particular class.

Grades will be based on the following criteria:

• class participation, including attendance, activity in discussions, and one in-class oral report (30%)
• 3 essay assignments (30%)
• Book review project (20%)
• final exam (20%)

Percentages are approximate. I will determine final weights at the end of the course. I reserve the right to give pop quizzes.

Link to Schedule, Reading List, and Assignments