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History and Philosophy of Science
Informal specialisationYear: 2017
History and Philosophy of Science
Contact information
Coordinator
Email: kcam@unimelb.edu.au
Currently enrolled students:
Future students:
Overview
Honours in History and Philosophy of Science is an advanced and specialised course, involving an addition year of study at fourth year level, requiring a higher standard of performance than a pass degree. It is available to all students who have completed the requirement for the BA, with a major in history and philosophy of science and an average of at least H2A (75%) in second and third-year subjects within the major, or equivalent. Students taking Honours in HPS will be expected to write a 15,000-word thesis, and take four coursework subjects. The two core subjects offered in Honours will provide an overview of important contemporary developments in the fields of history and philosophy of science and the sociology of science and technology. Students can also take a methodological subject of their choice and one elective subject.
The minimum entry requirement for honours is completion of all the requirements for the BA, with a major in history and philosophy of science and an average of at least H2A (75%) in second and third-year subjects within the major, or equivalent.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this Honours specialisation, students will be able to:
- demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of different contemporary perspectives in the history, philosophy and sociology of science; and
- access and appreciate different intellectual traditions and debates in history and philosophy of science and the social studies of science and technology; and
- demonstrate a capacity to apply rigorous methods of inquiry independently and appropriate theories and conceptual frameworks; and
- apply critical and analytical skills and methods to real-world situations, debates and problems in complex changing social and political contexts; and
- communicate effectively both verbally and in writing on complex, intellectually challenging topics to both an academic and a lay audience.
Last updated: 31 January 2025