Handbook home
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: 30 January 2024
Structure
100 credit points
Students undertaking pure honours in history and philosophy of science must complete:
- History and Philosophy of Science Thesis (50 points), consisting of subjects HPSC40018 HPS Thesis Part 1 and HPSC40019 HPS Thesis Part 2; and
- HPSC40016 Historical Epistemology (12.5 points); and
- HPSC40017 Sociology of Science and Technology (12.5 points); and
- HPSC40002 Directed Study (12.5 points); and
- One of HPSC90012 Trust, Credibility and Expertise or HPSC90013 Science, Controversy and Public Policy, or a subject from another cognate discipline, typically philosophy, history or sociology, which would serve as a theory, skills or research methods subject for the thesis. The selection of this subject should be made with the permission of the subject coordinator and the HPS honours coordinator
Students undertaking combined honours in history and philosophy of science and another program must complete
- History and Philosophy of Science Thesis (50 points), consisting of subjects HPSC40018 HPS Thesis Part 1 and HPSC40019 HPS Thesis Part 2; and
- One of the compulsory HPS subjects listed above (12.5 points); and
- Three honours subjects in the combining discipline (37.5 points).
or
- Honours thesis in the combining discipline (50 points); and
- One honours subject in the combining discipline (12.5 points); and
- HPSC40016 Historical Epistemology (12.5 points); and
- HPSC40017 Sociology of Science and Technology (12.5 points); and
- HPSC40002 Directed Study (12.5 points).
Total 100 points
Subject Options
History & Philosophy of Science Thesis Subject
Note: the thesis requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment.
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
HPSC40018 | HPS Thesis Part 1 |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
HPSC40019 | HPS Thesis Part 2 | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
25 |
History & Philosophy of Science: Compulsory Honours Subjects
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
HPSC40002 | Directed Study |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
HPSC40016 | Historical Epistemology | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
HPSC40017 | Sociology of Science and Technology | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Elective subjects
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
HPSC90012 | Trust, Communication and Expertise | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
HPSC90013 | Science, Controversy and Public Policy | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Or one subject from another cognate discipline, typically philosophy, history or sociology, which would serve as a theory, skills or research methods subject for the thesis. The selection of this subject should be made with the permission of the subject coordinator and the HPS honours coordinator.
Links
http://shaps.unimelb.edu.au/students/honoursLast updated: 30 January 2024