Certificate in History and Philosophy of Science

The Department of History and Philosophy of Science has created a CERTIFICATE in the following subjects/tracks. This enables students to gain accreditation in History and Philosophy of Science by fulfilling twenty-five (25) interdisciplinary credit hours, thirteen credit hours in HPSC and twelve credit hours in other units, to be determined in consultation with the HPSC Director of Undergraduate Studies.

This program aims to give both undergraduates majoring in the sciences and undergraduates majoring in the humanities a unique opportunity to bridge the ever widening gap between the notorious “two cultures." The program is organized and administered within the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, but it also involves a wide spectrum of other units across the University, such as, for example, the Departments of Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, English, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, Religious Studies, and Sociology, and the Schools of Business, Education, Journalism, and Public and Environmental Affairs. In this way, the program involves several different tracks integrating the sciences and humanities in a variety of ways: (1) Life Sciences, Health, and Disease; (2) Science, Communication, and the Public; (3) Technology, Science Policy, and the Environment; (4) Physics, Computation, and Cognition; (5) Science, Religion, and Magic.

Students must complete 25 credit hours – 24 hours of course work divided into eight 3 credit hour courses, with an extra credit hour given for a capstone research project. Four of the courses, totaling 12 credit hours, will be in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, and the remaining four, also totaling 12 credit hours, will be spread across the other curricular units involved in the program in accordance with the chosen track. Each student’s plan for a particular track must be approved by the Director of the program.

A core course in the history of science, offered every semester under the presently existing course number X102, is required for all students in the program. Three other HPSC courses, one of which must be at least at the 300 level, are also required. Four courses from other relevant units, adapted to the particular track elected by the student, will then complete the program. In non-HPSC courses, we require that at least one be at the 300 level or above. Four courses (including both HPSC and non-HPSC courses) will be at the 300/400 level.

For more information contact hpscdept@indiana.edu, or stop by Goodbody Hall, Room 130, or call (812) 855-3622.