Science, Technology, and Society, B.A.: 120 units

Offered by: College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, Philosophy Department

Major Required
Major Electives

Unrestricted Electives
General Education Requirements

The curriculum matrix for the degree program may be found here. The curriculum matrix is the alignment of courses (curriculum) with the desired goals and student learning outcomes of the program. It shows what is taught and how these outcomes are achieved through the completion of the degree program.

The Science, Technology, and Society (STS) Major is an interdisciplinary program which integrates knowledge in the natural sciences, and in technology as well as in history, philosophy, sociology, economics, political science, geography, and anthropology. Consequently, courses included in the STS Major curriculum are taught by faculty in seven of the University’s Colleges including the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies.

STS examines the goals and practices of science and technology, including how such goals and practices are affected by economic, cultural, and political events, and conversely, how these events are in turn affected by developments in science and technology.

STS focuses on the following sorts of issues: (1) general issues about the authority of science, such as the questions of what science is, and how it is different from pseudoscience, and the reliability of research science; (2) questions regarding the impact of science and technology on societies; and (3) questions regarding how local, national and global political interests affect scientific inquiry and technological development.

Moreover, these three sorts of questions interrelate in complicated ways. Consider the debate about climate change. This debate obviously raises issues concerning the impact of technology on societies, but it also raises issues about the reliability of the scientific research involved in identifying this impact, the use and interpretation of this research by political leaders and public policy makers, and the affect of public policy in driving possible technological solutions.

Students earn a Bachelor of Arts in Science, Technology, and Society. The STS Major prepares students who seek jobs requiring a broader perspective on science and technology than that provided by a traditional science or technology major; such jobs include those in law or business which are engaged with aspects of science and technology, in science and technology public policy making or analysis, in science and technology public interest advocacy, and in science journalism. In brief, the STS Major prepares students for jobs that require scientific and technological literacy as well as a broad perspective on science and technology and an ability to write and argue from this perspective.

www.cpp.edu/~class/science-technology-society/

Peter Ross, Director

Major Required: 27 units

Major Electives: 18 units

Select one course from the following: 3 units
STA 1200 - Statistics with Applications (3) (B4)
STA 2260 - Probability and Statistics for Computer Scientists and Engineers (3)

History of Science and Technology Electives

Select 1 course from the following: 3 units

Social and Cultural Studies of Science and Technology Electives

Select 2 courses from the following: 6 units

Ethics and Policy of Science and Technology Electives

Select 2 courses from the following: 6 units

Other Requirements: 18-47 units

Qualifying Foundation in Science and Technology Electives: 18-47 units

A Qualifying Foundation in Science and Technology (i.e. a Major or Minor in Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Geological Sciences, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, Mathematics and Statistics, or Physics and Astronomy; a Major in Aerospace Engineering, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering; a Minor in Energy Engineering, or Materials Engineering; a Major or Minor in Computer Information Systems; a Major or Minor in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Human Nutrition and Food Sciences, or Plant Sciences; the Environmental Health Specialist Minor; the Geographical Information Systems Minor; the Physiology Minor; or the Geography Major, with the Environmental Studies or Geospatial Analysis Options).

Unrestricted Electives: 0-30 units

Select a sufficient number of courses so that the total from “Major Required”, “Major Electives”, “GE”, and “Unrestricted Electives” is at least 120 units.

General Education Requirements: 48 units

Students should view their Degree Progress Report (DPR) for information regarding their General Education requirements. Unless specific GE courses are required for their major, please refer to the list of approved courses in the General Education Program in the University Catalog, https://catalog.cpp.edu. When viewing the catalog, students should select the catalog year associated with the GE requirements listed in their Degree Progress Report.

Area A. English Language Communication and Critical Thinking (9 units)

At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. Oral Communication
2. Written Communication
3. Critical Thinking

Area B. Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (12 units)

At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. Physical Sciences
2. Life Sciences
3. Laboratory Activity
4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning
5. Science and Technology Synthesis

Area C. Arts and Humanities (12 units)

At least 3 units from each sub-area and 3 additional units from sub-areas 1 and/or 2
1. Visual and Performing Arts
2. Literature, Modern Languages, Philosophy and Civilization
3. Arts and Humanities Synthesis

Area D. Social Sciences (9 units)

At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. U.S. History and American Ideals
2. U.S. Constitution and California Government
4. Social Science Synthesis

Area E. Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (3 units)

Area F. Ethnic Studies (3 units)

For an alternative and interdisciplinary way to complete some of their GE requirements, students may choose the Interdisciplinary General Education program, see below.

Interdisciplinary General Education: 18 units

An alternate pattern for partial fulfillment of GE Areas A, C, and D available for students is the Interdisciplinary General Education (IGE) program. Students should see an advisor for specific GE coursework required by their major. Please refer to the University Catalog General Education Program section for additional information.

How IGE fulfills General Education Requirements:

GE Area	Courses
A2	IGE 1100 and IGE 1200 Category II students are eligible to enroll in IGE 1100 (Fall) and IGE 1200 (Spring) as a two-course sequence to fulfill GE Area A2. Students who choose this sequence will also satisfy GE Area C2. Category III and IV students need to enroll in English composition courses in the A2 GE course list.
C1	IGE 2350
C2	IGE 1100 , IGE 1200 , IGE 2150 , or IGE 2250
C3	IGE 3100 (cannot double count for both C3 and D4)
D1	IGE 2150 or IGE 2250 Also satisfy American Institutions Part A
D4	IGE 3100 (cannot double count for both C3 and D4)

A single course cannot be double-counted across multiple GE Areas.

revised 07/12/2024

American Institutions: 6 units

Courses that satisfy this requirement may also satisfy GE Areas D1 and D2.

Graduation Writing Test

The Graduation Writing Test (GWT) is suspended until Fall 2023. Students entering Cal Poly Pomona before Fall 2023 are not required to take the Graduation Writing Test.