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Graduate Program in Science
and Technology Studies
Center for the Study of Science
in Society
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0227
Program Link:
http://www.cis.vt.edu/sts/
http://www.nvgc.vt.edu/sts/
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Valerie Hardcastle, Director
Phone: (540) 231-7615
Fax: (540)231-7013
sts@vt.edu
Barbara Allen, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Graduate Program in STS
Northern Virginia Center
7054 Haycock Drive
Falls Church, VA 22043
(703) 538-8380
ballen@vt.edu
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Background
The Graduate Program in Science and Technology Studies (STS) at Virginia
Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) was founded
in 1986 to provide opportunities for students to pursue the M.S. and Ph.D.
degrees. Both degree programs explore interdisciplinary approaches to the
study of science, technology, and society.
STS graduates emerge with an ability to identify and examine the conceptual
and social dimensions of science and technology simultaneously and in historical
perspective. Achieving this capability at the master's level enhances a
range of undergraduate backgrounds, preparing graduates for intensive research
training at the Ph.D. level or qualifying them for positions in government
and industry that require managing technical and nontechnical problems
simultaneously. Completing the Ph.D. degree further enables students to
advance knowledge development in some area of science and technology studies,
preparing graduates for careers with a significant research component.
With proper planning, such could include academic positions in an increasingly
diverse range of interdisciplinary programs as well as disciplinary programs
in history, philosophy, or social studies of science and technology. Such
might also include more senior positions in government or industry, depending
upon the graduate's unique configuration of background experience and Ph.D.
research.
Individual courses in STS may also interest graduate students and qualifying
seniors in the sciences, engineering, education, architecture, business,
and other fields of study. In each case, completing STS courses can improve
students' abilities to position themselves and analyze their fields in
conceptual, social, and historical terms.
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)
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).
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.
Degree Requirements
M.S. - Students complete core sequences 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.
Student
Information
Enrollment in August 1997 includes 33 M.S. and Ph.D. students at the Blacksburg
campus and 30 M.S. students enrolled at the Northern Virginia Center. The
backgrounds of these students are quite varied, including degrees in anthropology,
biology, computer science, engineering, history, history and philosophy
of science, justic studies, mathematics, philosophy, physics, science policy,
sociology, and other fields. Previous or current employment includes positions
in the executive and legislative branches of the federal government, government
contractors, several industries, law firms, and various firms engaged in
scientific and technological research. Approximately one-half of these
students have recent B.S. or B.A. degrees and one-half have extensive work
experience. Three-quarters are U.S. citizens, with other students traveling
from Argentina, Britain, China, Colombia, Greece, India, Korea, and Taiwan.
Faculty
Information
The STS Teaching Faculty includes 26 faculty from the four participating
units and the Departments of Political Science and Teaching and Learning
(see organizational chart). An additional 13 faculty members participate
by serving on graduate committees. 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.
Positions
for Graduates
Through May 1997, 43 students have completed M.S. degrees and 20 have completed
Ph.D. degrees. 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..
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