The Bachelor of Science in Science, Technology and Society (STS) program offers a liberal education for our technological age. The STS major explores the foundations and impact of science and technology by examining the values, language, history, politics, and economics of modern technological society. The major prepares the student to integrate science and technology with the humanities and social sciences. Through its multidisciplinary approach, the STS major explores the interrelated worlds of the scientist, artist, engineer, politician, and citizen. Furthermore, the global, multicultural, and environmental perspective of STS develops ethical awareness and public responsibility.

STS graduates are in demand in many areas. They find employment in fields such as law, medicine, technical communications, government, corporate planning, business management, public policy and administration, urban development, transportation, technology assessment, and environmental planning. In addition, the STS degree provides excellent preparation for graduate study in any of these fields, as well as in liberal arts disciplines such as history, law and political science.

The STS major at NJIT is enriched by a number of special features and opportunities, including access to an electronic music studio that supports classes in music and technology. Opportunities exist for internships, which enable students to develop and apply their knowledge and skills in corporate and government settings.  STS students who are also members of the Albert Dorman Honors College may participate in accelerated and other pre-professional programs allied with Seton Hall University's law school or UMDNJ's programs in Medicine, Physical Therapy (DPT) or the Physician's Assistant program, whose NJIT component can be completed in three or four years.  Students can also elect to participate in NJIT's Cooperative Education program or one of many combined B.S./M.S. programs. STS students have full access to a wide array of Rutgers courses in addition to those at NJIT. Qualified STS students also have access to courses offered at the graduate level.

With the cooperation of the Albert Dorman Honors College, ADHC students can elect to enroll in an STS double major or take a minor in STS, consisting of two electives, STS 307 (Fundamentals of Research in STS), and STS 490 and 491 (Senior Project and Thesis).  During their senior year, ADHC students will prepare for and compose a senior thesis that places an STS contextual wrapper around the senior project work done for their primary majors.

Areas of Specialization:

Technology, Public Policy, and Globalization Media, Aesthetics, and Culture
Environmental Studies
Ethics and Philosophy of Technology
Science Education

The STS major consists of three main components: core courses, major option courses, and the senior seminar.

Core courses, which introduce students to the fundamental connections between civilization, technology, and the global environment, focus on historical and cultural foundations, basic ideas and values, dominant institutions, environmental viewpoints, policy formation, and sustainable development.

Sampling of Courses in STS:

• Technology, Society and Culture
• Writing about STS
• Fundamentals of Research in STS
• Technology and Human Values
• Technology and Policy in Contemporary America
• Philosophy of Science
• Global Evolution of Scientific Thought
• Technology and Society in European and World History
• Technology in American History
• Women in Technological Culture
• Music and Technology
  
  

Electives and GUR Requirements

Major Option: 18 credits. Students choose appropriate electives in consultation with an advisor (usually the Director of the STS Program). Courses may be selected from different disciplines but must comprise a coherent program of study within an option.

Basic Social Sciences GUR: Three credits of the basic social sciences requirement must be taken in economics; acceptable courses are SS 201, Econ 265, or Econ 266 . The remaining 3 credits may be satisfied by HSS 202, STS 257, or STS 258. Students also may take approved introductory courses in basic social sciences at Rutgers-Newark to fulfill this requirement.

Lit/Hist/Phil/STS GUR: Students must take one 300-level course from any of the following fields: literature; history; philosophy; or science, technology, and society (STS); or an approved 300-level course at Rutgers-Newark.

Open Elective in Humanities and Social Science GUR: Students must take one 300-level course from any of the following fields: English (Eng); history (Hist); literature (Lit); philosophy (Phil); science, technology, and society (STS); social science (SS); or theater (Thtr). Students also may satisfy this requirement with Architectural History IV (Arch 382) or by taking an approved 300-level course at Rutgers-Newark.

Cultural History GUR: Take HUM 102, HUM 211 or HUM 212 or HIST 213, or an approved 200-level history course at Rutgers-Newark.

Capstone Seminar in Humanities and Social Science GUR: All students, except those enrolled in the honors college, take one of the following: HSS 403, HSS 404, HSS 405, HSS 406, HSS 407, HSS 408, HSS 409. Students enrolled in the honors college take one either HSS 408H or HSS 491H-499H.

Physical Education GUR: Students who register as full-time undergraduates for two or more consecutive semesters must take two PE courses, one of which must be a 100-level fitness core course. Students are urged to complete the requirement as soon as possible.

Free Electives: Students select appropriate electives in consultation with an advisor.

Refer to the General University Requirement section of this catalog for further information on electives.

Co-op

Co-op courses replace electives with the approval of an advisor. In science, technology and society, STS 311 and STS 411 are taken for degree credit.