Science, Technology, and Policy
Introduction
The Science, Technology, and Policy (STP) major combines concepts and methods from the humanities and social sciences to provide a framework through which to analyze the complex interactions between science, technology, and society. The STP is designed to empower students to frame and forecast science and technology in the service of society. It prepares students to understand both the technical and social dimensions of science and technology, giving them a language to frame and apply critical interdisciplinary thinking, research, and communication skills in national and international policy issues of government, private and public sectors including NGOs, in order to become leaders in our increasingly technology-driven society.Download STP Degree Requirements
Curriculum
The STP curriculum utilizes a multifaceted approach which includes research methods, seminars, laboratory work, and internships. Courses on methods will equip students with a set of powerful tools to analyze and understand the data. Seminar courses allow students to experience the interdisciplinary nature of STP by focusing on diverse issues such as global warming, GMO foods, and science fiction films. Laboratory courses take place in state-of-the-art facilities, allowing students to experience the fundamentals of laboratory experiments and to understand the basic logic of science. Internship courses help students to experience theory in action, deepening their understanding of the complex nature of social issues while building their advocacy capabilities.
Careers
The STP major prepares students for success in professions that demand interdisciplinary fluency across technological and social frameworks and enables them to become leaders in public organizations including the government, think tanks, international agencies, universities, NGOs as well as private companies in various areas such as the media, IT, medicine, and bio industries transcending national boundaries, where the understanding of science and technology becomes crucial for success.
Faculty
Since the STP major is an interdisciplinary program, faculty members specialize in various disciplines including science, engineering, social sciences, and humanities in order to provide students with diverse but deeply engaging perspectives on complex issues related to science and technology. The majors of the faculty are as follows: biochemistry and biology, material science & engineering, environmental engineering, information & industrial engineering, theology, sociology, and public policy studies.