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HomeHistory and Philosophy of Science is offered by UCL’s Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS), which also delivers programmes in science policy and science communication. As a community, we use history and philosophy to help people to understand how science acts as a force in modern society and around the world and what underpins its successes and failures, as well as its boundaries and concentrations.
Our teaching has received 100% overall satisfaction in UK National Student Surveys in three recent years. UCL remains the first (and only) British university to offer History and Philosophy of Science as a single-subject Honours undergraduate degree. We have an international teaching staff and tutors at all stages of academic careers. (Some trained first as scientists; others as social scientists.) We are career conscious and we prepare students for flexible futures. We also have an active community of students studying for PhDs, Master’s and other undergraduate degrees.
Our programme welcomes students from all backgrounds, ranging across all the humanities and sciences. Incoming students can expect to find a truly interdisciplinary community ready to engage, challenge and inspire. Those pursuing a science degree at home will find complementary modules to help them become better scientists.
Modules typically involve approximately 20 hours of lecture or seminar time per term, averaging 2-3 hours per week. Assignments are diverse across the programme as a whole: film- and podcast-making sit side-by-side with posters, blogs, events and a wide variety of academic writing. Traditional examinations are rare and students studying only in the Fall Term are offered alternatives to examination.
Please note that this guide lists a range of popular modules offered as a representative sample. It is not exhaustive and, since the guide is published ahead of time, module options may have changed, been deleted or replaced. If you have very specific study needs or require confirmation of module availability for 2024/25, you are strongly advised to get in touch with the relevant Affiliate contact, listed on this subject page, before making an application.
If you have a particular interest or academic requirement, then please contact the admissions tutor. Affiliate students tend to take modules predominately at Level 3.
Module code | Title | Availability | US Credits | ECTS Credits | UCL Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HPSC0012 | Policy Issues in the Life Sciences | Spring Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0013 | Science in Popular Culture | Fall Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0014 | Philosophy of Science 2 | Fall Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0017 | Science and Ethics | Spring Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0022 | Science and Religion | Fall Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0036 | Engaging the Public with Science | Spring Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0037 | Thinking about Technology | Fall Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0139 | History of Science 2 | Spring Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
Module code | Title | Availability | US Credits | ECTS Credits | UCL Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HPSC0002 | Disease in History | Spring Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0023 | Evolution in Science and Culture | Fall Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0034 | Special Topics in Science and Society | Spring Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0039 | Science, Warfare and Peace | Fall Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0044 | Science and the Publishing Industry | Spring Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0061 | Governing Emerging Technologies | Fall Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0065 | Philosophy of Information | Fall Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0067 | Science in the Ancient World | Spring Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0107 | Science Journalism | Spring Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0109 | Philosophy of Medicine | Fall Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0110 | Medicine, History and Society | Fall Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
HPSC0111 | Science, Art and Philosophy | Spring Term | 4 | 7.5 | 15 |
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