Undergraduate Program in History and Philosophy of Science
College of Arts and Sciences
Website: https://artsandsciences.fsu.edu
Director: J. Piers Rawling
Florida State University offers a program in the history and philosophy of science, leading to an undergraduate minor or a master's degree. The focus of the program is on the biological sciences, although we welcome applications from potential students interested in other areas of science. We take very seriously the importance of working on topics of relevance to the society in which we live, and we are strongly committed to an interdisciplinary approach, with involved faculty drawn broadly from across the University, especially the humanities and the natural sciences.
As a major university, we are able to offer opportunities for study and research in topics of particular pertinence to our region, such as racial issues, conservation and problems of pollution, and clashes between science and religion. We also have major strengths in other areas, including logic and formal methods, social philosophy, intellectual and cultural history, history of the South, African American history, ancient science and mathematics, as well as evolution and ecology.
FSU has attractive competitive scholarships, and there are opportunities for research and teaching assistantships that include remission of tuition. Strong library facilities exist, and we are building further on these. We are committed to helping our students when they complete their degrees, either to further graduate work or to enter the work force. The master's degree with its multidisciplinary breadth is appropriate for those interested in pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in philosophy, history, religion, or biology. It is also suitable for those undergraduates who would like to combine it with one of the traditional disciplines in our combined bachelor's-master's program. In all cases, we will aim to tailor individual course programs to suit students' needs.
The program hosts an annual conference or workshop supported by the Werkmeister Fund. Those interested in learning more about the degree, or in enrolling, should consult our Website and contact the office of the Director.
Requirements for the Minor
The minor is twelve semester hours and must include one philosophy of science course and one history of science course, or equivalent.
If used to fulfill the HPS minor, none of these courses may also be used to fulfill liberal studies or major degree requirements.
Some of these courses have prerequisites; students should check with the department that offers the course. A grade of "C–" or better must be earned in each course. Listed below are some of the classes that may be used to fulfill the minor. This is by no means an exhaustive list of all possible courses one can take to fulfill the minor requirements. Students should contact Shannon Tucker in the History and Philosophy of Science Program at (850) 644-9121 or by e-mail at srtucker@fsu.edu with questions about any other possible courses that may be used to fulfill minor requirements. Descriptions of the course suggestions listed below may be found in the individual department chapters of this General Bulletin.
AMH 4630 North American Environmental History (3)
AMH 4634 Florida Environmental History (3)
ANT 2511 Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Prehistory (3)
ANT 4553 The Great Apes (3)
ANT 4586 Human Evolution (3)
BSC 1005 General Biology for Non-Majors (3)
BSC 2010 Biological Science I (3)
HIS 3464 History of Science (3)
HIS 3491 Medicine and Society (3)
HIS 4930 Special Topics in History (3)
ISC 3076 Science, Technology, and Society (3)
PCB 3043 General Ecology (3)
PCB 4674 Evolution (3)
PHI 2100 Reasoning & Critical Thinking (3)
PHI 2620 Environmental Ethics (3)
PHI 3130 Introduction to Symbolic Logic (3)
PHI 3400 History and Philosophy of Science (3)
PSB 2000 Intro to Brain and Behavior (3)
PSB 4461 Hormones and Behavior (3)
REL 3145 Gender and Religion (3)
REL 3180 Bioethics (3)
REL 3493 Religion and Science (3)
REL 4359 Special Topics in Asian Religions (3)
Note: Additional prerequisites or corequisites for these courses may be required by the respective department in which they are offered. Please see the course listings found in the academic department sections of the current graduate or undergraduate edition of this General Bulletin.
Definition of Prefixes
HPS—History and Philosophy of Science
Undergraduate Courses
HPS 3320. Screening the Scientific Life: Cinema and the Cultural Image of Science (3). This course examines how cinema has provided a unique framework for wrestling with the implications of the modern scientific enterprise, examining how easily scientific rationality can be harnessed to both moral and immoral ends and what kind of world that science has produced. By probing a variety of genres - including biography, documentary, historical drama, science fiction, political satire, and horror - this course observes the cinematic and cultural desire to make sense of science. A critical element of the course is diversity in the Western culture through the lens of race, class, gender, and ethnicity.
For listings relating to graduate coursework, consult the Graduate Bulletin.