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Science, Technology, and Society Requirements

Colby is nationally recognized as a leader in the interdisciplinary field of science, technology, and society (STS). Collaborating with professors, students investigate the social, political, cultural, and ethical dimensions of science, technology, and medicine, while assessing related public policy issues. The program offers rigorous core courses; a variety of electives across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities; opportunities for independent research; and the option of a senior thesis for majors. STS students develop the critical thinking, research, and communication skills that prepare them to become better informed, thoughtful, and justice-minded leaders in our high-tech society.

Students planning to major or minor in STS should take ST112 (Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society) as soon as possible. 

Faculty

Chair, Tanya Sheehan, Ellerton M. and Edith K. Jetté Professor of Art

Core Faculty: Assistant Professor of Science, Technology, and Society Ashton Wesner; Lecturer of Science, Technology, and Society Thom Klepach

Affiliated Faculty: Assistant Professor of Philosophy Ben Baker; Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Justin Becknell; Associate Professor of English Aaron Hanlon; Faculty Librarian Kara Kugelmeyer; Assistant Professor of Anthropology Farah Qureshi; Associate Professor of Mathematics Evan Randles; Ellerton M. and Edith K. Jetté Professor of Art Tanya Sheehan

Requirements

Requirements for the Major in Science, Technology, and Society

The STS major requires a total of 10 courses:

  • One introductory course (ST112: Introduction to STS)
  • One methods course (ST236: Concepts and Methods in STS or any of AM293: Methods in American Studies; SO271: Intro. to Sociological Research Methods; SC212: Intro. to Statistics and Data Science; or AY313: Researching Cultural Diversity)
  • One 200-level or higher course in natural or computer science beyond the all-College N requirement; may be an N but need not be; may be a lab but need not be
  • Two ST- or ST-approved courses focused on Technoscience Ethics and Justice (TEJ)
  • Three additional ST- or ST-approved courses as electives
  • One additional 300-level or above elective
  • One STS senior seminar (ST485: Senior Seminar: Advanced Topics in STS)

The following rules also apply:

  • All courses not listed or cross-listed ST- in the catalogue must be from the approved courses list to count for STS credit (see the STS Department website for the current list).
  • Courses taken abroad require the approval of the STS chair. No more than two courses for a semester abroad or four courses for a year abroad may be counted toward the major.
  • No more than two 100-level courses beyond ST112 may be counted toward the major.
  • Students with at least a 3.5 GPA in the major and at least a 3.25 GPA overall may submit an application to undertake an honors thesis.

Requirements for the Minor in Science, Technology, and Society

The STS minor requires a total of seven courses:

  • One introductory course (ST112: Introduction to STS)
  • Four ST- or ST-approved courses as electives at any level
  • One additional 300-level or above elective
  • One STS senior seminar (ST485: Senior Seminar: Advanced Topics in STS)

The following rules also apply:

  • All courses not listed or cross-listed ST- in the catalogue must be from the approved courses list to count for STS credit (see the STS Department website for the current list).
  • Courses taken abroad require the approval of the STS chair. No more than two courses taken abroad may be counted toward the minor.

Honors in Science, Technology, and Society

The Department of Science, Technology, and Society (STS) provides an opportunity for students of high academic standing and excellent independent research skills to earn honors in the STS major. The Honors Program involves enrolling in four credits (via STS 483, 484), researching and writing an honors thesis, and presenting the thesis project to the Colby community. It is a significant undertaking that requires invitation, application, acceptance, and assessment by the department.

Honors Program Guidelines

STS majors who hold at least a 3.5 GPA in the major and at least a 3.25 major overall at the college will be invited to apply for the Honors Program in the spring of their junior year. If accepted into the program, students undertake preparatory reading and research during the summer and continue researching and writing in the fall of their senior year. They present their research to the Colby community and submit their final projects for assessment in the spring.

The Honors Program requires that students enroll in two courses totaling four credits during their senior year: ST483 in the fall (a CR/NC course) and ST484 (a graded course) in the spring. These courses do not count toward the total number of courses required for the STS major. To graduate with honors in the major, the thesis project must receive a final grade of A- or higher.

The honors thesis typically consists of a 50-page analytical essay based on independent research employing the critical methods and frameworks of STS, and is expected to make an original contribution to the field. Alternatively, a thesis project may take the form of a shorter essay (approximately 20-25 pages) if accompanied by significant community programming, original multimedia work (such as a documentary video), a public installation, or another presentation format appropriate to the topic and methods. Each thesis is reviewed and assessed by the thesis advisor (primary reader) at the college and a secondary reader at or beyond the college. The thesis advisor should have some expertise in the student’s area of research and may be any faculty member with an appointment in STS, a current member of the STS Faculty Advisory Board, the current department chair, or another Colby faculty member approved by the department chair. It is crucial that students receive agreement from a faculty member to serve in the role of thesis advisor before submitting their Honors Program application for approval. While the thesis advisor meets with their advisee at least monthly and is to be consulted on all aspects of the project that require faculty input (e.g., topic, sources, methods, argument), the second reader may be asked to consult on the thesis as needed during the spring semester of senior year. This secondary reader will typically be faculty in any department at Colby, but when appropriate can be a practitioner in non-academic fields, or a community member/leader with applicable experience/expertise.  

An application to the Honors Program will include the name of the project’s faculty advisor; a project title; a project description of approximately 500 words; the student’s reflection on their educational preparedness for the proposed project; a preliminary bibliography; and a detailed work plan. The review committee for each application will consist of the department chair and the project’s proposed thesis advisor.

Contact

For more information, please contact the department chair, Professor Tanya Sheehan, [email protected].