About the Master in Science and Technology Studies

The programme

Science and technology have a prominent place in contemporary culture. Science is emblematic of objective and reliable knowledge. Technology offers us the means to command problems. This has a number of consequences: our society is being rationalized with the use of scientific knowledge to solve social problems and technological innovations play an important role in many present-day social-economical developments. For a good insight in our Western culture it is imperative to take the role of science and technology into account. Science and Technology Studies focus on the critical analysis of their social and cultural role.

Contemporary issues concerning science and technology come into play here, e.g. the emergence of a ‘knowledge society’, where economic and social reality is inextricably connected to the research and innovation system. But normative dilemmas and newly emerging risks that techno-scientific developments put before us are also subject to investigation. Think of genetic modification of foodstuffs or of animals for the production of pharmaceutical products, or the possibility of cloning human beings. The important role of scientific expertise in policymaking, legislation or controlling efforts is also considered. Think about the links between scientists’ efforts to understand changing climates and environmental policy.

In Science and Technology Studies philosophical, sociological, anthropological and historical insights play an important role in the analysis of these issues. It turns out that what counts as rational and objective can differ to great lengths in different historical periods, cultures or social groups. How then to decide on complex issues now?
In STS you will learn to analyze the role of science and technology. What makes for good observations and what questions do you ask to write a clarifying piece on the relationships between science, technology and modern western culture? At Science and Technology Studies you will learn to think contemplatively and critically about the complex reciprocal relations between science, technology and society.

This enables you to enhance the mutual communication between scientists on the one hand, and different societal groups (policymakers, patient organizations, environmental organizations, industry, the media to name a few) on the other, whilst taking into account their respective interests, norms and values. You will learn to investigate the role of science and technology empirically using social-scientific methods, and you will learn how to present your results for different publics.

Final attainment level

Upon completion of the programme the student is expected to:

• have mastered the intellectual and practical skills and the knowledge with regard to the development of science and technology in their social, cultural and scientific contexts, that are necessary to analyze complex issues concerning the interaction between science, technology and culture in contemporary society;
• be capable of helping to devise solutions to those issues in cooperation with professionals of different training, against the background of the social and political situations in which they occur.

For this, the graduate of Science and Technology Studies is expected to have the following knowledge, skills and attitude:

Knowledge

• of classical and contemporary views and insights with regard to the development of science and technology in their social, cultural and scientific contexts, with the aim to gain insight in complex issues of science, technology and society;
• of several disciplinary points of view with regard to the development of science and technology in their social, cultural and scientific contexts;
• of at least one specific societal field in which scientific and technological expertise is used (health care, environment, technological innovation) as well as insight in the academic disciplines involved in these societal fields;
• of the organization and development of the general policy toward science and technology in Europe and the U.S.;
• of and insight in the methods and principles of the scientific worldview and of the scientific method.

Skills

• to translate social and cultural problems and questions to Science and Technology research and vice versa;
• needed to analyze and evaluate the generation of knowledge claims in their societal and cultural contexts;
• that enable the graduate to critically evaluate the social and cultural implications of scientific and technological innovations;
• to analyze and formulate issues in research policy, science policy and technology policy in a clear manner, and to analyze research proposals and policy notes;
• to present problems and issues in science and technology orally and in writing for different audiences, such as scientists, policy makers and social groups;
• to cooperate in a professional environment with representatives of different disciplines, and to take part in social and scientific discussions of an interdisciplinary nature;
• to get acquainted with relevant professional fields or parts of science and technology research that the student has not gotten acquainted with during this education.

Attitude

• the graduate knows his/her strong and weak points, recognizes his/her preferences and has a good view of his/her possibilities for further development;
• the graduate is capable to get acquainted with the content and organization of scientific and technological specializations that he/she is not trained in. When doing so, the graduate is aware of the relative limitedness of his/her contribution.

Who can study Science and Technology Studies?

The Master's degree programme in Science and Technology Studies looks for students with a Dutch Bachelor's degree or equivalent diploma in a field relevant to the programme, including sociology, political science, philosophy, or one of the natural or life sciences. Admission, however, is not necessarily limited to this type of applicant.

Students who took a 30 ECTS minor in Science and Technology Studies as part of their Bachelor’s degree in a different field of study can complete the master programme in one year.

Students with a Dutch ‘HBO’ bachelor’s degree or equivalent diploma can also enrol in the master’s degree programme. For them the programme takes a total of two years to complete.

Foreign students can enrol when they have a bachelor’s degree of a level comparable to Dutch academic bachelor degrees. They need to complete an introductory minor in STS before admission to the master.

The Master of Science degree in Science and Technology Studies is only awarded after 1) successful completion of the course curriculum, 2) conducting a research project and 3) the writing of a MSc thesis. The actual number of course credits a student must obtain will be determined by the Board of Admissions and will be based on the student's previous qualifications. Fulfilling all requirements will take between one and two years.