This plan is only available to students commencing from 2009 onwards

The Minor in History and Philosophy Science (HPS) promotes excellence in research, teaching and interdisciplinary study of science and technology. HPS applies the knowledge and techniques of the humanities and social sciences to investigate the history, philosophy, politics and broader socio-cultural dimensions of science, technology and biomedicine. As the primary intellectual domain bridging the natural sciences and humanities the HPS Minor aims to provide a rigorous grounding in HPS for both science and arts undergraduates. The HPS Minor seeks to provide academic content equal to the world’s best and impart a broad skills base in addition to the attributes articulated in UNSW’s Graduate Attribute Policy. The salience of HPS has grown with globalisation, the spread of contemporary socio-technical networks and environmental and risk concerns, all of which are reflected in the curriculum at appropriately developed levels.

Aims of the HPS Minor:
1. To make the benefits of an education in HPS available to students across the University;
2. Provide a major informed by current HPS/STS research comparable in depth and quality to the best available in the world;
3. To ensure that HPS monitors and develops its work through dialogue with students and related disciplines and fields, and with other stakeholders inside and outside the University.

A student who wishes to gain a Minor in HPS must complete 36 units of credit including 12 uoc at Level 1, at least 12 uoc at Level 2 and at least 12 uoc at Level 3.

Level 2 involves Foundation courses, two of which must be taken for the major covering: the Scientific Revolution; the Social History of Medicine; the Philosophy & Sociology of Science; Darwin and Technology and Culture. There are also electives covering: the History of Drugs; Computers, Brains and Minds, and Scientific and Technological Controversy.

Level 3 courses cover: Advanced Topics in the History of Science and in the History & Sociology of Medicine; the Philosophy of Science; Technology and Innovation; Environment & Social Process; Environmental History; a HPS research seminar; and a Capstone course examining methods, ethics and professional standards.