1. Handbook
  2. Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours)
  3. Specialisation (Formal)
  4. History and Philosophy of Science
  5. Print

History and Philosophy of Science

Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours)Specialisation (formal)Year: 2020

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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 core subject offered in Honours will provide an overview of important contemporary developments in history and philosophy of science. Students can also take a methodological subject of their choice and two elective subjects.

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: 18 December 2020

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
  • Compulsory subject HPSC40016 Historical Epistemology (12.5 points); and
  • Three subjects (37.5 points) from the History and Philosophy of Science elective list.

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
  • Compulsory subject HPSC40016 Historical Epistemology (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
  • Compulsory subject HPSC40016 Historical Epistemology (12.5 points); and
  • Two subjects from the History and Philosophy of Science elective list

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 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 25

History & Philosophy of Science: Compulsory Honours Subject

Code Name Study period Credit Points
HPSC40016 The Dynamics of Scientific Change
Semester 1 (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
HIST40030 History for Historians
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
HIST40041 History Research Workshop Not available in 2020 12.5
SOTH40001 Relationships in Modernity
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
PHIL40020 Reading and Writing Philosophy
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
PHIL40018 Topics in Contemporary Epistemology
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Links

http://shaps.unimelb.edu.au/students/honours

Last updated: 18 December 2020