Course syllabus for Humanistic and social scientific perspectives on natural science and technology

Course syllabus adopted 2026-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameHumanvetenskapliga perspektiv på naturvetenskap och teknik
  • CodeCLS041
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPLOL
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyTechnology and Learning
  • ThemeMTS 7.5 c
  • DepartmentCOMMUNICATION AND LEARNING IN SCIENCE
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 40125
  • Maximum participants35
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0126 Oral examination 7.5 c
Grading: TH		7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements

Course specific prerequisites

The course Learning in natural science and technology (CLS060).

Aim

The students should through various humanistic and social scientific perspectives 1) broaden and deepen their understanding of natural science or technology in general and in relation to their profssional practice,  and 2) develop their ability to discuss and assess the purpose and characteristics of natural science or technology, its relation to humans and society, its potential possibilities and limitations as well as ethical and societal aspects.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • reflect on their subject from different humanistic and social scientific perspectives and in relation to their professional/pedagogical practice 
  • discuss ethical aspects of research and/or development work 
  • critically evaluate the interaction between technology, science, people and society, for example in terms of opportunities, limitations and responsibilities

Content

The course covers natural science and technology through a series of humanistic and social scientific perspectives such as historical, philosophical, and social theoretical.

Organisation

The course consists of a series of weekly themes covered through a teacher introduction, individual reading and writing, and mandatory group seminars.

Literature

Selection of chapters from the following books:
  • Basalla, George, The Evolution of Technology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988).
  • Berner, Boel, Perpetuum Mobile? Teknikens utmaningar och historiens gång (Lund, Arkiv, 1999). Finns i Legimus.
  • Collins, Harry & Trevor Pinch, The Golem: What You Should Know About Science (2a uppl., Cambridge University Press, 2012). Finns i Legimus.
  • Haraway, D. J., Modest_Witness@Second_Millennium.FemaleMan©_Meets_OncoMouse: feminism and technoscience (Routledge, 1997).
  • Lövheim, D., Naturvetarna, ingenjörerna och valfrihetens samhälle: Rekrytering till teknik och naturvetenskap under svensk efterkrigstid (Nordic Academic Press, Kriterium, 2016).
  • Merritt Roe Smith & Leo Marx, eds., Does Technology Drive History? The Dilemma of Technological Determinism (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1994).
  • Nye, David E., Technology Matters: Questions to Live With (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2006). Finns i Legimus.
  • Wiebe E. Bijker, Thomas P. Hughes & Trevor Pinch, eds., The Social Construction of Technological Systems: New Directions in the Sociology and History of Technology (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1987).
Furthermore, texts in the form of journal articles, reports, blogs and the like are used.

Examination including compulsory elements

The course uses continuous examination through weekly preparatory submissions and mandatory seminars. In case of absence from mandatory components, written supplementary examinations are used.

The course concludes with an oral examination, which forms the basis for a course grade. If the oral examination is failed, supplementary examination is done in connection with the regular exam week.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.

Humanistic and social scientific perspectives on natural science and technology | Chalmers