Human Context of Science and Technology (HCST) is an upper-level undergraduate certificate program.
To receive the certificate, don’t forget to declare your intention to pursue the certificate with the registrar. You can find information here: https://registrar.umbc.edu/forms/records-updaterequest-forms/#major. Download the form, fill it out, and submit it as instructed.
Total Credits: 24
The program has a three-part structure:
1. A required introductory course, HCST 100 (three hours)
2. Electives chosen from a list of prescribed courses (twelve hours)
3. Natural science/engineering/math component (nine hours)
1. HCST 100 (3 credits) (GFR: meets A/H, GDR: meets H)
Students are required to take HCST 100. A grade of “C” or better is required.
2. Electives (12 hours)
Students are required to take four electives, at least one of which must be HCST 499. Only two courses from within one discipline (including cross-listed courses) may be counted toward the required four courses. Substitutions to this list can be approved by the director of the certificate program. This course list will be subject to periodic revision. For all courses, a grade of “C” or better is required.
Electives List:
ANCS 375 – Ancient Medicine (3.00)
AMST 388 / ENGL 388 – American Environments: Landscape and Culture (3.00)
ANTH 312 – Medical Anthropology (3.00)
ANTH 318 – Anthropology of Science and Technology (3.00)
ANTH 416 / SOCY 416 – Cyberspace Culture (3.00)
CMSC 304 – Social and Ethical Issues in Information Technology (3.00)
CMSC 352 / GWST 352 / IS 352 – Women, Gender, and Information Technology (3.00)
CMSC 404 / HIST 404 / IS 404 – History of Computers and Computing (3.00)
ENGL 317 – Literature and the Sciences (3.00)
ENGL 383 – Science Writing (3.00)
ENGL 388 / AMST 388 – American Environments: Landscape and Culture (3.00)
ENGL 419 – Seminar in Literature and the Sciences (3.00)
GES 326 – American Conservation Thought (3.00)
GES 432 – Seminar in Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (3.00)
GWST 352 / IS 352 / CMSC 352 – Women, Gender, and Information Technology (3.00)
GWST 378 – Women, Gender and Science (3.00)
GWST 381 – Reproductive Justice in the US (3.00)
PUBL 350 – Public Health Ethics (3.00)
PUBL 358 / PHIL 358 – Bioethics (3.00)
HCST 400 – Independent Study in the Human Context of Science and Technology (3.00)
HCST 499 – Advanced Topics in the Human Context of Science and Technology (3.00)
HIST 350 – History of Medicine (3.00)
HIST 369 – Darwinism: The Evolutionary Perspective (3.00)
HIST 387 – Medicine and Health Care in China (3.00)
HIST 404 / CMSC 404 / IS 404 – History of Computers and Computing (3.00)
HIST 445 – History of Science to 1700 (3.00)
HIST 446 – History of Science Since 1700 (3.00)
HIST 450 / SOCY 457 – Social History of American Medicine (3.00)
HIST 492 – Colloquium in the History of Science (3.00)
IS 352 / CMSC 352 / GWST 352 – Women, Gender, and Information Technology (3.00)
IS 404 / HIST 404 / CMSC 404 – History of Computers and Computing (3.00)
MATH 432 – History of Mathematics (3.00)
PHIL 354 – Ethics, Animals, and the Environment (3.00)
PHIL 358 / PUBL 358 – Bioethics (3.00)
PHIL 372 – Philosophy of Science (3.00)
PHIL 394 – Philosophy of Biology (3.00)
PHIL 395 – Philosophy of Physics (3.00)
PHIL 472 – Advanced Topics in the Philosophy of Science (3.00)
PHIL 477 – Minds, Machines, and Logic (3.00)
PHIL478 – Philosophy and Evolution (3.00)
PHYS 333 – Applied Physics in Archaeology and Art (3.00)
POLI 452 – Politics of Health (3.00)
SOCY 351 – Sociology of Health, Illness, and Medicine (3.00)
SOCY 352 – Issues in Health Care (3.00)
SOCY 361 – Science and Society (3.00)
SOCY 416 / ANTH 416 – Cyberspace Culture (3.00)
SOCY 457 / HIST 450 – Social History of American Medicine (3.00)
3. Natural Science/Technology/Math component (9 hours)
In addition to studying critical literature about science and technology, students must become acquainted with science, technology, and/or math by completing 9 credits of Science, Mathematics, or Engineering courses. This includes courses with Science (S) or Math (M) GEP designation or any courses taught in the College of Engineering and Information Technology or
College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences. With the approval of the Director, students may include science or technology based courses taught in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences to cover the Natural Science/Technology/Math component. Courses used to cover the Natural Science/Technology/Math component may not also be used to cover the Electives component of the HCST Certificate requirements. For all courses, a grade of “C” or better is required.