Dec 21, 2024

2021-2022 SDSM&T Academic Catalog

2021-2022 SDSM&T Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Science, Technology, and Society, BS

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Contact Information

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

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) an Intent to Graduate form 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 Intent to Graduate form 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 STS Curriculum Committee. The Intent to Graduate form and worksheet may be accessed on the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences website.

Deadlines for submitting the Intent to Graduate form and worksheet to the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences office are as follows: 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 Intent to Graduate form and STS worksheet on file in the department office before registering for STS 498 , the senior capstone project.

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

STS Flowchart

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

Freshman Year

First Semester

ENGL 101 Composition I Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 1) ^{1, 3}
BIOL 151 General Biology I Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 6) ^{2, 3}
BIOL 151L General Biology I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1 (Goal 6) ^2,3
Math Elective Credits: 3 (Goal 5) ³
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ^1,3

Total: 13

Second Semester

MATH 281 Introduction to Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3
OR
MATH 381 Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3
Free Elective Credits: 5
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 6 ^{1, 3}
General Education Science Elective Credits: 3 (Goal 6) ³

Total: 17

Sophomore Year

First Semester

ENGL 279 Communication in the STEM Workplace Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 1) ³
STS 201 Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society Credits: (3-0) 3
Free Elective Credits: 7
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ^{1, 3}

Total: 16

Second Semester

ENGL 289 Explorations in STEM Communications Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 2) ³
HUM 200 Connections: Humanities & Technology Credits: (3-0) 3
300/400 Level Humanities or Social Science Elective Credits: 3 ¹
Free Elective Credits: 5

Total: 14

Junior Year

First Semester

HUM 375 Computers in Society Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 311 Principles of Ecology Credits: (3-0) 3
POLS 407 Environmental Law & Policy Credits: (3-0) 3
OR
HIST 409 Environmental History of the US Credits: (3-0) 3
300/400 Level Science or Engineering Elective Credits: 3²
300/400 Level Humanities or Social Science Elective Credits: 3¹

Total: 15

Second Semester

ENGL 300 Environmental Literature & Culture Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 375 Current Bioethical Issues Credits: (3-0) 3
OR
BIOL 383 Bioethics Credits: (3-0) 3
SOC 351 Criminology Credits: (3-0) 3
OR
SOC 411 Licit and Illicit Drugs Credits: (3-0) 3
300/400 Level Science or Engineering Elective Credits: 3²
300/400 Level Humanities or Social Science Elective Credits: 3¹

Total: 15

Senior Year

First Semester

STS 401 Writing and Research in Science, Technology, and Society Credits: (3-0) 3
PSYC 451 Psychology of Abnormal Behavior Credits: (3-0) 3
OR
PSYC 461 Theories of Personality Credits: (3-0) 3
300/400 Level Science or Engineering Elective Credits: 6 ²
300/400 Level Humanities or Social Science Elective Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 15

Second Semester

STS 498 Undergraduate Research/Scholarship 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

¹A 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/.

³Fulfills 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

7 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

Science, Technology, and Society, BS

Contact Information

Science, Technology, and Society Program Admission Policy

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

Total: 15

120 credits required for graduation

Curriculum Notes

Recommended Courses for Science, Technology, and Society Majors

Natural Sciences:

Engineering:

Humanities and Social Sciences:

General Requirements for Graduation