Guide to Graduate Education in Science, Engineering and Public Policy
Guide to Graduate Education in Science, Engineering and Public Policy
http://www.aaas.org//spp/sepp/sepvtech.shtml
Viginia Tech(Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
Science and Technology Studies Graduate Program
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Science and Technology Studies Graduate Program
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- Background
- Graduate Degrees Offered
- Admissions Requirements
- Degree Requirements
- Faculty Information
- Positions for Graduates
- Financial Information
- Other Information
Background
Science and Technology Studies explores the relationship between science, technology, and society using a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches. Research in STS analyzes how society affects the development and implementation of scientific, technological, and medical knowledges and practices and how scientific, technological, and medical pursuits affect society. The research and scholarly interests of STS faculty cross a wide range of disciplinary boundaries: some rely on fieldwork, others are immersed in historical or governmental archival research, while others develop social and conceptual analyses to answer theoretical or ethical questions.
Graduate students in STS come from a wide range of backgrounds including the natural and physical sciences, engineering, numerous professional disciplines, liberal arts and humanities, history, anthropology, sociology, political science, and philosophy. Graduates emerge with an ability to identify and examine the conceptual, social, cultural, historical, and policy dimensions of science and technology.
Courses leading to an M.S. or a Ph.D. in STS are available at two sites, Virginia Tech's main campus in Blacksburg and the National Capitol Region (NCR) in the greater D.C. metro area.
The STS Program is run cooperatively by the Center for the Study of Science in Society (CSSS), which is a member unit of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Departments of History, Philosophy, and Sociology. It is administered by the Director of STS, who is also the Director of CSSS. Courses leading to the M.S. degree are available at two sites, Virginia Tech's main campus in Blacksburg and the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church, which is in the Washington, DC area. Students seeking the Ph.D. degree must establish residency at the Blacksburg campus.
Graduate Degrees Offered
M.S. - Science and Technology Studies (two years)
Ph.D. - Science and Technology Studies (usually three years after master's for those with a master's from the STS program at Virginia Tech, four years after master's for those from other programs)
Graduate Certification- Science and Technology Studies
Admissions Requirements
The Graduate Committee advises the STS director on admissions by reviewing applications and making recommendations both for admission to the M.S. or Ph.D. degree program and for graduate assistantship support. While an incoming student may ideally have prior preparation in some area of science or engineering and some area of science and technology studies (e.g., interdisciplinary humanistic or social science studies of science and technology; disciplinary studies in history, philosophy, sociology, or anthropology of science and technology), we consider the qualifications and career objectives of all applicants individually regardless of academic background. We typically base an admissions decision on a candidate's prior academic work, professional experience, statement of interests, writing sample, recommendations from instructors and/ or appripriate colleagues or supervisors, scores on GRE examinations, and other supplementary material as appropriate. International students whose degree programs were not conducted in English must also take the TOEFL, if at all possible, including the TWE (Test of Writing English).
To apply to the graduate program, students must submit both the Virginia Tech Graduate School Application and the STS Supplemental Application as well as all of the following materials to the Graduate Secretary in 133 Lane Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061:
- Official transcripts
- Official GRE Scores*
- Official TOEFL Scores (if applicable)
- Supplemental Information Form
- Letter of Interest (250-500 words) and curriculum vitae
- Writing Sample (See supplemental information form for a description of desired writing samples.)
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Any additional information that would be useful in evaluation of your application
Under Virginia Tech's Commonwealth Campus program, individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university may take up to six graduate courses (subject to availability and restrictions) without being admitted to a degree program. In the first semester as a Commonwealth Campus student, a maximum of one course is permitted. Students who simply wish to take certain specific graduate courses may register for courses under the Commonwealth Campus program, as may students who are considering or are actively pursuing admission as degree candidates. We encourage Commonwealth Campus students to apply for admission as degree candidates as soon as they know that they will seek the degree. Individuals seeking admission as degree candidates should expect to take the GRE as soon as possible. Individuals interested in taking STS courses in Blacksburg as Commonwealth Campus students should contact the Assistant to the Director by email or through the telephone number given.
Certificate:
Graduate students accepted in any other graduate program at Virginia Tech would be admitted to the STS graduate certificate program on the basis of their acceptance to their home department. Recommendations for admission to the certificate program for non-degree-seeking students would be made by the STS Graduate Admissions Committee, based on transcripts, a writing sample, a statement of purpose, and the minimal requirements specified in the Graduate Catalogue. (These admissions criteria differ from our regular degree admissions in that they require neither the GRE nor letters of recommendation.)
Degree Requirements
M.S.
Students complete core sequences ( 6 classes, total 18 credits) surveying approaches to the history, philosophy and social studies of science and technology, plus two additional courses in a field of their choice. Students may elect to write a thesis or to complete two additional advanced courses in the STS currriculum. Non-thesis students must take a comprehensive examination; thesis students must defend the thesis.
PhD.
Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program are expected to complete the courses in the M.S. program or their equivalents. They will also complete at least two courses in each of two major STS fields and three additional courses in the student's selected area of concentration. One foreign language, a comprehensive preliminary exam, and a defense of the dissertation are required.
Certificate- Five different versions of graduate certificates are offered, paralleling the five different PhD tracks in STS. All certificates require successful completion of twelve hours from the courses listed below, with grades of B+ or better. Only in extraordinary circumstances would substitutions for core courses be allowed. Any elective course substitution would require the approval of both the Director of the Graduate Program in STS and the Head of the department tied to the certificate track. All of the courses listed below are currently offered at this university. No new courses will be created; no additional resources are required for this program. All courses are for 3 credit hours.
To become a graduate student in the STS program, it is recommended that you first take some courses as a Commonwealth Campus (CC) student. Up to 12 credits taken as a CC student can be counted toward your degree, if you are admitted. This simple application can be found through the main website at www.nvgc.vt.edu. Please apply on line and be sure and get your photocopies of transcripts and proof of residency to the registrar's assistants in Falls Church. If you have problems with registration please contact Graduate Student Services Office at GSSO_NCR@vt.edu or you can call the main GSSO phone number (703-538-TECH).
The Northern Virginia STS program is designed for people who work in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Courses are offered at night and sometimes on the Internet. Blacksburg faculty also work with Northern Virginia students by serving on thesis and dissertation committees. Options in History, Philosophy, and Social/Policy Studies of Science and Technology (Certificate, M.S., Ph.D.)
Faculty Information
A partial list of topics of interest to the faculty includes: 19th and 20th century evolutionary biology; anthropology of technology; bioethics; conceptual change in science; environmental policy and resource use; experimental inference; Hebraic scholarhip in 17th century England; history of management and public policy; history of medicine and public health; history of science and public policy; legitimation of scientific knowledge; medieval cosmology, the relationship between scientific and theological change; social epistemology; technological controversies; philosophy of statistics; theories of heredity; universities and the scientific revolution.
Janet Abbate (STS)
Barbara Allen (STS)
Linda Arnold (HIST)
Mark Barrow (HIST)
James Bohland (UAP)
Daniel Breslau (STS)
John Browder (UAP)
Shannon Brown (STS)
Richard Burian (PHIL, STS)
James Collier (ENG)
Eileen Crist (STS)
Gary Downey (STS)
Ellsworth (Skip) Fuhrman (SOC, STS)
James Garrison (TL)
Bruce Goldstein (UAP)
Matthew Goodrum (STS)
Saul Halfon (STS) Valerie Hardcastle (PHIL, STS)
Bernice Hausman (ENG, WS)
Richard Hirsh (HIST)
Karen Hult (PSCI)
Kathleen Jones (HIST)
Ann LaBerge (STS) Timothy Luke (GIA, PSCI)
Deborah Mayo (ECON, PHIL)
Laura Perini (PHIL)
Joseph Pitt (PHIL)
Duncan Porter (BIO) Anita Puckett (IDST)
Frank Quinn (MATH) Barbara Reeves (IDST, HIST, and STS)
Richard Rich (GIA)
John Ryan (SOC)
Liching Sung (COMM)
Doris Zallen (STS)
Lee Zwanziger (STS)
Positions for Graduates
We have been enormously successful in placing our graduates. A high proportion of our M.S. graduates have gained admission to Ph.D. programs or found appropriate and satisfying employment. Nearly all of our Ph.D. graduates have gone on to tenure-track faculty positions, postdoctoral fellowships, or appropriate professional positions in nonacademic settings.
Financial Information
Tuition and fees for the 1994-95 academic year were $4557 (in-state) and $6726 (out-of-state). About 50 percent of the students in the program have assistantships (either 85 percent or full); these cover (85 percent or full) tuition. Full assistantships provide a stipend ranging from $965 to $1060 per month for nine months (plus tuition).Other Information
The Center has a small but very useful working library covering STS topics. Virginia Tech library facilities are excellent and provide strong support for the program's needs. Students have good access to computer facilities through the Center.
