The graduate certificate in Science and Technology Studies (STS) provides a foundation for USC doctoral students who wish to gain expertise in the interdisciplinary field of STS and apply it in their research. STS provides tools for critical analysis of the forms of political, epistemological and cultural authority that underpin scientific knowledge and technological systems.
The graduate certificate is open to PhD students in any USC program. It requires doctoral students to take one core course, SOCI 653 Seminar in Science and Technology Studies, as well as three elective seminars focusing on special topics in the field. In addition, students may take electives approved for their particular program of research by the Program faculty. One of these courses may be a research workshop course geared toward doctoral prospectus development. Directed research may not be counted toward the award of the certificate.
In addition to the completion of these course requirements, students must demonstrate a focus on STS as a meaningful component of their doctoral dissertation. This will include working with faculty with expertise in STS on the doctoral committee (as a primary adviser or minor member). Faculty will be responsible for judging the adequacy of the STS component in the student’s dissertation.
Completion of the certificate requires a minimum of 16 units.
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