Science, Technology & Society Bachelor's Degree

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Explore the social forces shaping the creation of knowledge and examine how breakthroughs in science and technology affect society.

Students pursuing the B.S. in STS will be at the forefront of developing solutions to the most pressing issues of the 21st century, such as global climate change, sustainable economic growth, the alleviation of poverty and disease, and the uses of artificial intelligence. The curriculum includes several core courses, in which students analyze science and technology in broad historical, social, and political contexts; foundational courses in science, mathematics, and engineering; and finally a wide field of advanced topics that allow students to explore case studies and create their own research projects that combine the theoretical and the practical.

As part of their degree, STS majors often pursue coursework in one of the science or engineering disciplines at Stevens. Such a combination is ideal for leaders who wish to combine a world-class scientific education with a sensitivity to the humanistic implications of their work.

STS students have the critical thinking and communication skills that prepare them for fields at the intersections of science, technology, and society such as medicine, law, public policy, journalism, public health, business, information science and academia.

Careers in Science, Technology & Society

Here are some examples of where recent Science, Technology & Society majors started their careers:

Medical Scribe, Scribe America

Editorial Content Analyst, Thomas Publishing

Graduate Student in Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University

Medical Student, St. George Medical School

Graduate Student in Applied Psychology, Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences

Citelum North America

Graduate Student in Climate and Society Program, Columbia University

Research Assistant, Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensics Research (DFR) Lab

Chatting with Professors

John Horgan, science journalist and director of the Center for Science Writings, recently sat down with members of the Science, Technology and Society faculty to learn more about their work, both in and out of the classroom.

How Can Historians Help?

Samantha Muka discusses why she became a historian of marine biology, how climate advocacy affects her work, and what role historians can play in a crisis.

Watch the Interview

What's Medical Anthropology?

"We all thought that we'd be better at responding, and we weren't," said Theresa MacPhail in a recent conversation about the global response to the COVID-19.

Watch the Interview

History of Computers

"I do hope I can give [students] a kind of utility in understanding trends and processes," said Bradley Fidler about the politics and economics of computing.

Watch the Interview

Forging Partnerships

"We actually have to form collaborations. We have to form partnerships with those other disciplines," said Amber Benezra, a sociocultural anthropologist.

Watch the Interview

Capstones by the Class of 2020

Parent’s Perceptions of The MMR Vaccine

"Older participants were less likely to be vaccine-hesitant. ... Those who were vaccine-hesitant and responded with additional comments cited personal experiences as the reasoning for their beliefs."

Olivia Shanahan

Learn More about Shanahan's Research

Which Witch is Which: Online Communities of Witchcraft

"Despite movies and television shows still depicting witches as evil and deceitful, real-life witches are very open, accepting and respectful about their practice."

Emily Tyler

Learn More about Tyler's Research

From Week TV to Peak TV: How Streaming Changed the Way We Talk About Television

"My hypothesis is that with the rise of streaming culture and binging, people get through television faster but lose the discussions that help them make connections through media."

Amanda Hartel

Learn More about Hartel's Research

Recent Headlines

Congressional Briefing

The National History Center's congressional briefing, which hosted Theresa MacPhail, provided historical context for legislation related to pandemic.

Watch the Briefing

Nuclear Sites & Netflix

"I was excited about not only the show but the ability to visit the Trinity site," said Alex Wellerstein, after filming an appearance on Netflix's Connected.

See the Show

Advocating for Aquariums

Samantha Muka discussed why these financial crises of aquariums during the COVID-19 pandemic may prove detrimental to marine conservation.

Read the Article

Introducing Dr. Amber Benezra

A sociocultural anthropologist, Dr. Amber Benezra joins the College as a tenure stream assistant professor in science and technology studies.

Meet Dr. Amber Benezra

Rolling Stone on COVID-19

“Flu is a constant concern for global health, and we are actually much more prepared for a flu pandemic," Theresa MacPhail told Rolling Stone.

Read the Article

75 Years of Nuclear Bombs

July 16, 2020 was the 75th anniversary of the first nuclear bomb test, and Alex Wellerstein spoke with The New York Times on the occasion.

Read the Article

Televised in Seoul

Airing in South Korea, Arirang News invited Theresa MacPhail to shed light on a highly-discussed strain of swine flu & how it relates to other viral outbreaks.

Watch the Segment

The Atlantic

In her article, “Bursting the Aquarium Bubble,” assistant professor Samantha Muka warned against lauding newly built aquariums as environmental successes.

Read The Atlantic's Article

Bill Nye The Science Guy

In a podcast titled, "Loose Nukes? You Betcha," assistant professor Alex Wellerstein discussed nuclear communications in the modern era with Bill Nye.

Hear the podcast

The Bomb & You

“You have to have fun and keep it interesting when you talk about nuclear warfare,” said assistant professor Alex Wellerstein during his TEDx Talk at Stevens…

See Stevens' TEDx Talks

Teaching During Pandemic

Theresa MacPhail recently jumped into a discussion, hosted by historian Scott Knowles, on the challenges of teaching and learning about COVID-19.

Enjoy the Discussion

Faculty Spotlight

What Students & Alumni are Saying

A Closer Look at Science and Tech

The STS program at Stevens offers a unique opportunity to study topics ranging from political science to biology and eugenics. You are studying science and technology under a liberal arts lens.

Tori Glascock '18, Science, Technology & Society

A Well-Rounded Education

My STS minor has expanded my experience at Stevens and provided a welcomed contrast to my mathematics major classes. Ever since I took Medical Anthropology, I knew I wanted to focus my minor in STS.

Veronica Pidduck '17, Fulbright Scholar

Learn more about available minors in CAL

A Change in Perspective

My ‘Introduction to Science and Technology Studies’ class exposed me to the world of STS and changed the way I view almost everything. The realm of STS fascinated me and I was hooked instantly.

Frankie Guarini '16, Federation of American Scientists