Study

History & Philosophy of Science at Sydney

The staff in the HPS Unit have consistently received high praise from students for their commitment to teaching. Many students enjoy the change of pace offered by HPS courses as compared to other fields of study. In particular the tutorial discussions, which are common in the Faculty of Arts, are highly appreciated.

The lecturers of the HPS Unit at the University of Sydney are at the forefront of the international HPS community and are actively engaged in research, which is reflected in their teaching. In addition to its undergraduate program, the HPS Unit has a lively and popular postgraduate program.

Career Opportunities

HPS is a valuable field of study for any career requiring a broad and critical appreciation of science and its position in society. It is particularly relevant for careers in science administration, science policy, science education, science communication, science journalism, exhibition design and museum work. Many careers in government and business require a broad and critical appreciation of science and its place in the modern world. History and philosophy of science provides an ideal training for positions of this kind.

Students majoring in one of the sciences or medicine benefit from taking courses in HPS because it provides a deeper understanding of the nature of scientific research and its social and ethical implications. It allows students to take a step back and reflect on the nature of science and its place in society.

History & Philosophy of Science

History and philosophy of science (HPS) investigates the nature of science, how science has developed, and how it has come to occupy such an central position in today’s society. HPS is an exciting area of study in which students are stimulated to think critically and creatively about developments within science and their impact on society. It places science in its historical and social contexts and examines how science differs from other forms of knowledge.

www.usyd.edu.au/hps

How do you study history and philosophy of science?

You can major in history and philosophy of science in the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science and Technology, and Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Arts degrees in the Faculty of Science, or in the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree in the Faculty of Arts. Units of study may also be taken individually, as long as prerequisites are fulfilled.

What will you study?

FIRST YEAR
Our first year course on Bioethics investigates the ethical issues associated with recent developments in science such as stem cell research, cloning, genetically modified food, organ transplantation, and animal experimentation.

SECOND YEAR
In the second year, students can become acquainted with the major issues in the history and philosophy of science by examining the Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries (which has become famous through the work of Galileo, Kepler, Copernicus and Newton) and by analysing the nature of scientific knowledge and what makes scientific accounts of the world ‘special’.

THIRD YEAR
Courses in the third year cover a wide range of more specific subjects and include ‘Science and Ethics: Dilemmas, Debates and Decisions in Science’, ‘The Scientific Revolution, ‘History and Philosophy of Psychology and Psychiatry’, ‘Science in Society’, ‘History of the Biomedical Sciences’, and ‘The Philosophy of Biology’.

FOURTH YEAR
Students wishing to study HPS at an advanced level have the opportunity to take an Honours year, involving advanced coursework and an original thesis project based on research conducted under the direction of a supervisor.

Further Studies

There are excellent opportunities for postgraduate study in HPS both at the University of Sydney and at other institutions in Australia and overseas. Several students who have studied with us have won places, many of them with scholarships, for postgraduate study at prestigious international universities.

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The University of Sydney - Faculty of Science

Career Opportunities

History & Philosophy of Science

How do you study history and philosophy of science?

What will you study?

Further Studies

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