Science, Technology and Society (STS)
Interdisciplinary introduction to the reciprocal relationships between scientific/technological research and contemporary understanding of gender. Special emphasis on social factors influencing scientists and engineers in their professions.
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives, GEP U.S. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, GEP U.S. Diversity
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Introduction to the field of Science, Technology, and Society (STS), including most important STS scholars, major schools of thought, and important theoretical and empirical issues in STS.
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
The interaction between technology and the arts with an emphasis on developments in Western art of the twentieth century. Historical and emerging issues include: sound and film recordings, the addition of sound to films, the impact of films and television on theater, the impact of radio, computer applications to music, the visual arts, and literature.
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
An inquiry into the scientific achievement and cultural impact of three different, but interrelated, models (or paradigms) of understanding the world and man's place in it; the Ancient-Medieval model of Aristotle, Ptolemy and Aquinas; the 17th century model of Newtonian physics; and the emerging, but fragmentary, 20th century model based upon the new physics of Einstein, Planck and Heisenberg.
Requisite: Sophomore Standing or Above
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Interdisciplinary evaluation of recent and potential influences of current scientific and technological developments on US and non-US societies. Emerging social, ethical, and intellectual issues include: The adequacy of contemporary scientific frameworks; the relations among science, technology, and society; the social consequences of scientific and technological applications, and human prospects and possibilities.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
GEP Global Knowledge, GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Multidisciplinary examination of traditional western notion of progress, focusing on ethical issues raised by concept of progress, and connections between science, technology and society. Places relationships such as engineering and social responsibility within the context of present day redefinitions of the notion of progress.
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
This course examines cultural perspectives on science and cultural practices within scientific communities as illuminated through examination of fields of inquiry generally considered outside of mainstream science. We will ask questions that include: How does and should science draw and enforce its boundaries? How is evidence considered within and across diverse scientific disciplines and in social spheres, and how do these realms influence one another? Students will engage with scientifically-framed arguments from so-called "skeptics," "believers," and others, as well as consider issues in and aspects of science including reproducibility, experimental design, statistical analysis, media representations, instrumentation, measurement, citizen science, and history and philosophy of science. By "thinking and doing" within these fields, students will develop an embodied sense of how to conduct scientific inquiry and situate scientific thinking within society and life.
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
This course seeks to both analyze and disrupt dominant narratives of science, technology, and science fiction by exploring the possibilities of alternative futures as imagined by and with feminist communities and feminist thinkers. By examining critical technology studies, theories of feminist technoscience, and speculative and science fiction across media, we will work to interrogate how technologies have been used to create, sustain, or challenge systems of power and oppression and to imagine new possibilities.
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Spring only
Comparison of historical and current practices with respect to bicycling in various cities, with special emphasis on comparisons between practices in the United States and Europe. Use of the bicycle to introduce STS concepts of technological systems, the language of technology, and risk. Examination of bicycle policies and practices in Raleigh and North Carolina State University.
GEP Global Knowledge, GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Spring only
Interdisciplinary examination of the human, organizational and technical factors contributing to the causes and impacts of recent technological accidents such as the Bhopal chemical leak, the space shuttle Challenger explosion, the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Evaluation of risk assessment, risk perception and risk communication strategies. Consideration of options for living with complex technological systems.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Examination of the dynamics of population size and food needs, production, distribution and utilization. Consequences of inadequate nutrition and food choices, efforts to increase the compatibility of effective food production systems and alternate crops and cropping systems examined.
GEP Global Knowledge, GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Interdisciplinary examination and appraisal of emerging ethical and social issues resulting from recent advances in the biological and medical sciences. Abortion, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, compromised infants, aids, reproductive technologies, and health care. Focus on factual details and value questions, fact-value questions, fact-value interplay, and questions of impact assessment and policy formulation.
GEP Humanities, GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
An interdisciplinary examination of contemporary wars and international conflict, arms, races, nuclear strategy and defense policy, arms control, theories and strategies of peace.
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Capstone course for the Science, Technology, and Society (STS) major. Review of the principal theoretical and empirical issues of the field. Research project focused on each student's STS specialty.
Prerequisite: STS 214, STS or STB Majors
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Interdisciplinary study of the role of technology in American culture that examines the social, ideological, economic, and institutional contexts of technological change in nineteenth and/or twentieth-century America. Explores cultural impacts of transformative technological innovations, such as electricity, trains, telephones, radios, cars, airplanes, and computers, as reflected in popular cultural products like magazine/newspaper articles, advertising, literature, music, museum exhibits, and/or film.
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Spring only
With artificial intelligence systems becoming more integrated into today's society, it is important for citizens to develop the ability to critically engage with the fundamental challenges and concerns introduced by such AI tools. In this course, you will learn how to identify biases and discrimination embedded in AI systems and how to use interdisciplinary research to encourage public engagement, inform public discourses about the social impacts of AI, and help create more responsible AI. Topics can include rhetorical theories, data ethics, AI ethics, algorithm systems and risks, AI Model Lifecycle Management, AI in job searches, medicine/healthcare, and finance; and biases and discrimination in automated decision-making systems.
Prerequisite: ENG 101
Typically offered in Fall only
Evolutionary biology and Christianity. Darwin's evolutionary theory; neo-Darwinism; conflicts between evolutionary theory and Christian thought; methodological parallels and differences between science and religion; proposals for divine action in anevolutionary world.
Prerequisite: One course in religious studies, biological sciences, philosophy of science, or history of science. Credit is not allowed for both REL 471 and REL 571.
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives, GEP Humanities
Typically offered in Fall only
Examination of a significant issue, method, or historical episode in the area of science, technology, and society.
Prerequisite: Junior standing.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Independent investigation and discussion of a selected topic in science, technology, and society. Individualized/Independent Study and Research courses require a "Course Agreement for Students Enrolled in Non-Standard Courses" be completed by the student and faculty member prior to registration by the department.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Evolutionary biology and Christianity. Darwin's evolutionary theory; neo-Darwinism; conflicts between evolutionary theory and Christian thought; methodological parallels and differences between science and religion; proposals for divine action in an evolutionary world. Credit is not allowed for both REL 571 and REL 471.
Typically offered in Fall only