22. History and Philosophy of Science coursework degrees
Note: See Chapter 17 for other Postgraduate degrees related to the History and Philosophy of Science offered in the area of Bioethics
This chapter sets out the requirements for the postgraduate degree offered in the Faculty of Science in the area of History and Philosophy of Science. A comprehensive guide to the requirements and units of study of the coursework degrees is listed.
The information in this chapter is in summary form and is subordinate to the provisions of the relevant degree Resolutions, collected variously in this chapter, or in the University of Sydney Calendar. The Calendar is available for sale at the Student Centre, for viewing at the faculty office or the Library, or online at
www.usyd.edu.au/publications/calendar.
Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science)
Degree Code: LG012
Course overview
The Graduate Certificate in Science (HPS) provides an introduction to the historical, philosophical, and sociological analysis of science. Candidates will be introduced to the main accounts of the nature of science and the methodologies underlying those interpretations.
Course outcomes
Upon completion of the graduate certificate candidates will understand the nature of the discipline of History and Philosophy of Science and will have acquired either basic research skills in history of science or basic skills in the sociological study of science or the basic skills of philosophical argument or some combination of the above, depending on their choice of options.
Students who wish to write a thesis in addition to completing the requirements for the Grad Certificate in Science (HPS) can undertake a Graduate Diploma in Science.
Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science)
This course of study comprises postgraduate coursework and a research thesis. It is equivalent to the Honours degree in HPS. See chapter 16 for the specific requirements and resolutions of this degree.
History and Philosophy of Science postgraduate coursework degree table
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
Students must complete 24 credit points from the following: |
|||
| NB: HPSC4108 is compulsory for and available only to those students who have not completed a major in HPS or equivalent | |||
| HPSC4101 Philosophy of Science |
6 | P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 |
| HPSC4102 History of Science |
6 | P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| HPSC4103 Sociology of Science |
6 | P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 2 |
| HPSC4104 Recent Topics in HPS |
6 | P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| HPSC4105 HPS Research Methods |
6 | P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| HPSC4108 Core topics: History & Philosophy of Sci |
6 | P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission N Not available to students who have completed a major in History and Philosophy of Science or an equivalent program of study at another institution. Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
History and Philosophy of Science unit of study descriptions 2010
HPSC4101 Philosophy of Science
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Dean Rickles Session: Semester 1 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week, individual consultation. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Assessment: Written assignment, seminar participation.
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
In this course we explore a range of issues from within the philosophy of physics. We focus on the interpretation of the theories physics provides, examining how these theories might describe our world. The course will assume some basic mathematical literacy, but most technical matters will be introduced in class.
Textbooks
Course reader.
HPSC4102 History of Science
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Ofer Gal Taught by HPS staff and guest lecturers. Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Assessment: Essays, seminar participation.
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit explores major episodes in the history of science from the 18th century until the present as well as introducing students to historiographic methods. Special attention is paid to developing practical skills in the history and philosophy of science.
Textbooks
Course reader
HPSC4103 Sociology of Science
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Hans Pols Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week, individual consultation. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Assessment: Essays, fieldwork report, seminar participation mark.
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit explores recent approaches in the social studies of scientific knowledge. Students evaluate various sociological approaches by conducting their own research on topics relevant to their own major thesis.
The unit starts with an overview of the development of history and philosophy of science since 1945, to put the emergence of the sociology of science into perspective, before moving on to a selection of readings from the field. Topics will include: the strong program critique of traditional philosophy of science, the sociology of technology, the impact of feminism on the study of science, and the actor-network approach developed by Bruno Latour and Michel Callon.
The unit starts with an overview of the development of history and philosophy of science since 1945, to put the emergence of the sociology of science into perspective, before moving on to a selection of readings from the field. Topics will include: the strong program critique of traditional philosophy of science, the sociology of technology, the impact of feminism on the study of science, and the actor-network approach developed by Bruno Latour and Michel Callon.
Textbooks
Course reader
HPSC4104 Recent Topics in HPS
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: HPS Staff Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week, individual consultation. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Assessment: Essays, seminar participation.
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
An examination of one area of the contemporary literature in the history and philosophy of science. Special attention will be paid to development of research skills in the history and philosophy of science.
Textbooks
Course reader
HPSC4105 HPS Research Methods
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Hans Pols Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week, individual consultation. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Assessment: Literature review, archival research project, seminar participation mark, short essays.
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Adopting a seminar style, this unit provides students with an advanced knowledge of the skills necessarily to conduct their own original research in the sociology, history and philosophy of science. Participants will be given a weekly set of core readings, and specialists both from within the Unit and from outside will present their views on the topic in question. This presentation will form the basis for a discussion involving the students, the academic members of the Unit, and invited speakers.
Topics will include: the use of case studies in the philosophy of science, how to conduct oral history projects, institutional history, and sociological methodology.
Topics will include: the use of case studies in the philosophy of science, how to conduct oral history projects, institutional history, and sociological methodology.
Textbooks
Course reader
HPSC4108 Core topics: History & Philosophy of Sci
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: HPS staff. Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission Prohibitions: Not available to students who have completed a major in History and Philosophy of Science or an equivalent program of study at another institution. Assessment: Essays, seminar presentations, seminar participation mark.
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
An intensive reading course, supported by discussion seminars, into core topics in HPS.
Resolutions
Resolutions
Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science)
1.1
The Dean of the Faculty of Science may admit to candidature for the Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) an applicant who is:
1.1.1
the holder of the degree of Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Medical Science or Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Liberal Studies, or any other award of Bachelor of the University of Sydney; or
1.1.2
a graduate of another university or other appropriate institution who has qualifications equivalent to those specified in subsection 1.1.1.
2.1
The units of study for the Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) are listed in the table in the table of units of study in this chapter of the Faculty of Science handbook.
2.2
Credit point value, assumed knowledge, corequisites, prerequisites and any special conditions are included in the description of units of study.
3.1
A candidate shall complete course work to the value of 24 credit points selected from the following table associated with these resolutions, and including HPSC4108 (if they have not completed a major in History and Philosophy of Science, or equivalent program of study, at another institution).
4.1
The units of study for the Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) are listed in the table of units of study in this chapter of the Faculty of Science Handbook.
4.2
A candidate for the course shall proceed by completing units of study as prescribed by the Faculty.
4.3
A unit of study shall consist of such lectures, seminars, tutorial instruction, essays, exercises, practical work, or project work as may be prescribed.
6.1
Cross-institutional study shall not be available to students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) except where the University of Sydney has a formal Cooperation Agreement with another University.
7.1
Admission to the Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), may be limited by a quota.
7.3
In considering an application for admission to candidature the Dean shall take account of the quota and will select, in preference, applicants who are most meritorious in terms of subsection 1 above.
8.1
A student who does not enrol in any semester without first obtaining written permission from the Dean to suspend candidature will be deemed to have discontinued enrolment in the course.
8.2
Students who have discontinued from the course will be required to apply for admission to the course and be subject to admission requirements pertaining at that time.
10.1
A student who plans to re-enrol after a period of suspension must advise the Faculty of Science Office in writing of their intention by no later than the end of October for First Semester of the following year or the end of May for Second Semester of the same year.
11.1
The Dean may call upon any candidate to show cause why that candidature should not be terminated by reason of unsatisfactory progress towards completion of the Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science).
12.1
A candidate shall proceed as a full time student for a period of one semester or as a part time student for up to three semesters.
13.1
A candidate may be tested by written and oral examinations, assignments, exercises and practical work or any combination of these.
13.2
On completion of the requirements for the course, the Faculty shall determine the results of the candidature.
14.1
Credit is not available in the Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), except for postgraduate units of study which have been taken through the University of Sydney Unit for History and Philosophy of Science within the previous three years, and for which no award has been conferred.