STS Minor

Not counted toward the STS minor, but useful for gaining basic skills and learning about resources across the university. Highlighted courses are being offered in the current term.

Past and Current Course Offerings

The Minor in Science, Technology & Society (STS) focuses on social science approaches to science, technology, and medicine, including history, sociology, anthropology, and policy studies. Scientific, technical, and medical analysis of social problems is also within its scope. It is sponsored by the Residential College, but is open to all U-M undergraduates.

The minor helps students learn about such issues as:

  • How science, technology, and medicine shape modern societies
  • How social and political forces, choices, and values affect science, technology, and medicine
  • How the social dynamics of science, technology, and medicine differ among world societies
  • How issues of gender, race, and class appear in science, technology, and medicine

STS minors learn multiple methods for studying and solving boundary-spanning problems, including not only traditional discipline-based approaches, but also interdisciplinary and experimental ones.

Prerequisites

None, the minor is open to all University of Michigan undergraduates.

Requirements

A minimum of 5 courses, for at least 18 credits from the STS Course List

  • Meet with an STS minor advisor
  • Core course (RC SocSci 275/History 285)
  • 3 electives chosen from the STS Course List
  • 1 research seminar chosen from the STS Course List

Students must also take one cognate (a lab-based course in natural science, computer science, or engineering). Each student must choose a focus track in consultation with an STS Program advisor. 

For further information, email umsts@umich.edu or sts.minor.advisor@umich.edu (Catherine Badgley, Museum of Paleontology and Residential College).