Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 SDSM&T Academic Catalog 
    
2020-2021 SDSM&T Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Science, Technology, and Society, BS


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Contact Information

Dr. Allison B. Gilmore
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Classroom Building 317
(605) 394-2481
E-mail: Allison.Gilmore@sdsmt.edu

STS Flowchart  

Science, Technology, and Society Program Admission Policy

Students may declare an STS major at any point in their undergraduate course of study. At least one year prior to the intended graduation date, the student must file a plan of study with the STS curriculum committee. The plan of study must be approved by the curriculum committee before a student will be approved for graduation. This plan of study consists of (1) a Letter of Intent stating the career goals to which the STS degree coursework is to be applied and (2) an STS worksheet showing the courses already taken and the courses to be completed prior to graduation. The Letter of Intent and worksheet must be reviewed and approved by the student’s STS advisor, and signed and submitted in both electronic and paper form to the curriculum committee. The Letter of Intent form and worksheet may be accessed on the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences website.

Deadline for submitting the Letter of Intent and worksheet to the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences office: For May graduates - April 30 of the preceding year; for August graduates - July 30 of preceding year; for December graduates - November 30 of preceding year. Students must have an approved Letter of Intent and STS worksheet on file in the department office before registering for IS 498 , the senior capstone project.

For more information, including a breakdown of graduation requirements, please view the Humanities and Social Sciences Departments  page.

Science, Technology, and Society (STS): General Curriculum


Freshman Year


First Semester


Total: 13

Second Semester


Total: 17

Sophomore Year


First Semester


Total: 16

Second Semester


Total: 14

Junior Year


First Semester


Total: 15

Second Semester


Total: 15

Senior Year


First Semester


Total: 15

Second Semester


  • Credits: (0-3) 3
  • 300/400 Level Science or Engineering Elective Credits: 3 2
  • 300/400 Level Humanities or Social Science Elective Credits: 6 1
  • Free Elective Credits: 3
Total: 15

120 credits required for graduation


Curriculum Notes


1 A minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of university-approved Humanities and Social Sciences is required.  This minimum includes six (6) hours of general education coursework in Humanities, six (6) hours of general education coursework in Social Sciences, nine (9) hours of upper division Humanities, and nine (9) hours of upper division Social Sciences.

2 The STS degree requires 28 semester hours of natural sciences and engineering.  A minimum of 7 lower-division general education credits in science. A minimum of 15 upper-division credits in science and engineering is required. Students pursuing the Science, Technology, and Society degree are encouraged to select a minor in a science field (e.g., atmospheric science, biology, computer science, environmental science, geology, geospatial technology, mathematics, physics). A total of 34 hours in math, computer sciences, natural sciences and engineering is required. Students should consult with their advisors to determine the most appropriate science courses and sequence for their minors and for their career paths. The worksheet for the STS degree is available from the STS website: https://www.sdsmt.edu/sts/.

Fulfills General Education requirement. Students should consult the “General Education Requirements ” section of this catalog for a complete listing of all general education requirements.

Recommended Courses for Science, Technology, and Society Majors


General Requirements for Graduation


STS  students are responsible to check with their advisors for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog.

I. IS Core Courses (IS 201, HUM 200, IS 401, IS 498)                      12 credits

II. English sequence (ENGL 101, ENGL 279, ENGL 289)                   9 credits

III. Math                                                                                          min 6 credits

IV.  Natural Sciences and Engineering                                               28 credits

8 credits minimum 100-200 level general education

15 credits minimum 300-400 level Natural Sciences or Engineering

6 credits of other required courses

V. Humanities and Social Sciences                                                     45 credits

6 credits Humanities general education

6 credits Social Sciences general education

9 credits minimum Humanities upper division                               

9 credits minimum Social Science upper division

15 credits of other required courses

VI. Free Electives                                                                                20 credits                                                                                        

120 Credits required for graduation

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