The history of science is an exciting discipline, which seeks to understand how different ideas, technologies and practices came into being and how they have shaped the world around us. The MA in Science, History & Society will offer students the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics and themes in the history of science, to develop their skills in researching, debating and presenting historical work, and to pursue their own research interests with support from expert staff in the Centre for History & Philosophy of Science at Leeds. Students will also have the option to undertake a placement with a regional organisation that will enable students to link scholarship and research to regional and societal needs, skills, issues and debates, and gives an opportunity to find out how non-academic organisations operate in the region, as well as adding transferrable skills in negotiation and communication.
Through various modules that explore key topics, methodologies, skills and practices, the programme will:
i) provide students with an overview of major themes in science’s history and position in society.
ii) develop their analytical skills in relation to historical research;
iii) introduce them to current debates in history of science and enable them to locate their own position and pursue their own interests in relation to those debates;
iv) allow students to pursue a personal interest in a specialised area of History of Science by taking an appropriate optional module;
v) allow students to extend their understanding of science, by combining its history with selected philosophical approaches by taking optional modules;
vi) allow students to acquire practical skills and work experience by doing a placement with a relevant non-academic organisation;
vii) develop students’ skills in the practice of independent research in a specialised area of History of Science.
(Not recruiting in 2025/26)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates must study and pass 90 credits in year 1.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPSC5151M | Making Histories of Science, Technology and Medicine | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| HPSC5202M | Big Issues in History of Science, Technology and Medicine | 30 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
Candidates are required to study 30 credits from the following optional modules:
Candidates are required to select 30 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIST5231M | Medicine and Warfare in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries | 30 | Not running in 202425 | |
| HIST5844M | Sexuality and Disease in African History | 30 | Not running in 202425 | |
| HIST5875M | Lifecycles: Birth, Death and Illness in the Middle Ages | 30 | Not running in 202425 | |
| HIST5880M | Approaches to the History of Health and Medicine | 30 | Not running in 202425 | |
| HPSC5171M | Topics in the Philosophy of Physics | 30 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| HPSC5450M | Perspectives on Mind, Brain & Society | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| HPSC5601M | History & Theory of Modern Science Communication | 30 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| HPSC5800M | The Origin of Modern Medicine (Birth of the Clinic) | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| HPSC5970M | History and Philosophy of Technology | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL5860M | Philosophy of the Social Sciences | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL5960M | Topics in the Philosophy of Biology | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PRHS5000M | External Placement | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
(Not recruiting in 2025/26)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates must study and pass 90 credits in year 2.
Candidates are required to take one of the following dissertation modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPSC5140M | History and Philosophy of Science: Dissertation | 60 | 1 Oct to 30 Sep (12mth) | PFP |
| HPSC5910M | History and Philosophy of Science: Extended Dissertation | 90 | 1 Oct to 30 Sep (12mth) | PFP |
Candidates may choose to study up to 30 credits from the following list of optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIST5231M | Medicine and Warfare in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries | 30 | Not running in 202425 | |
| HIST5844M | Sexuality and Disease in African History | 30 | Not running in 202425 | |
| HIST5875M | Lifecycles: Birth, Death and Illness in the Middle Ages | 30 | Not running in 202425 | |
| HIST5880M | Approaches to the History of Health and Medicine | 30 | Not running in 202425 | |
| HPSC5171M | Topics in the Philosophy of Physics | 30 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| HPSC5450M | Perspectives on Mind, Brain & Society | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| HPSC5601M | History & Theory of Modern Science Communication | 30 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| HPSC5800M | The Origin of Modern Medicine (Birth of the Clinic) | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| HPSC5970M | History and Philosophy of Technology | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL5860M | Philosophy of the Social Sciences | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL5960M | Topics in the Philosophy of Biology | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PRHS5000M | External Placement | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Last updated: 25/11/2024 16:35:25
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