Sponsored by:  Math and Science Division

Faculty Contact: Shari Laprise
*Faculty contacts serve as "advisors" to those students who have an interest in the given concentration. 
You should feel free to contact these faculty with questions.

The goal of the Science and Society concentration is to provide students with a broad background in science and technology with an understanding of how scientific advancements affect society today. As we begin the 21st century, many industries are technology based, and we are becoming more aware of the ethical and cultural issues that arise out of these technologies. This concentration would therefore be appropriate for those interested in working in any technical or scientifically related field. In addition, this concentration would be applicable to students interested in marketing or advertising within such industries, in that an appreciation of how a specific technology may affect society, and therefore potential customers, would be helpful when promoting a particular company, product, or service.

Students interested in careers that will require adept problem solving skills and risk taking, such as managers and entrepreneurs, will also benefit from the Science and Society concentration. All science courses build upon the scientific method approach to problem solving, the ability to understand and interpret data, and the notion of how curiosity and creativity shape scientific research and inquiry. Curiosity drives the imagination, creativity bears possible solutions, and the ability to manage information and solve problems produces results. The successful integration of these skills is what inspires and builds scientists; likewise, these same qualities can be invaluable for any individual who strives to be a successful risk taker in the business world.

Required Courses: 
 
Courses from which Students Must Choose a Minimum Distribution
Four courses are required, of which:
at least two must come from the science courses,
at least one from outside science,
and the fourth from either of the two listings:

Choose at least 2 of these science courses:
  SCN 3610  Meteorology
  SCN 3620  Natural Disasters
  SCN 3615  Ecology of Animal Behavior
  SCN 3625  Ethical Issues in Research and Technology
  SCN 3630  Economic Botany
  SCN 3642  The Art and Science of Reproductive Technologies
  SCN 3674  Arctic Economics: Environment and Seasonality (course will only be offered in Spring 2010)
  SCN 3693  Sports Science
** 2 of the following 2-credit winter session courses can be taken in place of one 4-credit science course from the list above:
  SCN 3690 Crime Science 
  SCN 3694 Electronic Games, Business, and Society 
  SCN 3697 Global Warming, Business and Society
  

  And
 
Choose at least 1 of these non-science courses:
  ECN  3635  Technological Entrepreneurship and the Market Economy
  PHL  3609  Nature, Technology and Values
  LAW 3601  Public International Law
  EPS 3525  Social Enterprise Management
  AMS 3672  Working in America:  Labor in the 20th Century (Inactive)
  AHSE 1110  (Olin) History of Technology:  Politics, Environment, and Culture
  AHSE 1130  (Olin)  The Stuff of History
  HIS 3604  Sexuality and Power in Modern Society

Courses suggested but not required:

SCN 2410  Environmental Technology (intermediate course devoted to environmental technologies)