History and Philosophy of Science  (Certificate)


Since ancient times, prevailing philosophical views and notions of science have always been interconnected, shifting with new waves of philosophical thought and scientific discoveries. Explore how these historical changes and this complex interaction have impacted and affected human society and cultural production.



Program Description

The undergraduate certificate program in the history and philosophy of science is designed to give students an understanding of the traditional philosophical issues surrounding science and the historical development of concrete scientific theories and ideas.

Philosophical questions about how nature is understood through science and how scientific claims gain authority are enriched when they are considered in a historical context. Such philosophical and historical study also often includes the examination of contemporary sciences and their place within the larger society, including the study of bioethics, policy and law.

This certificate is a valuable addition for students in the sciences or humanities. It crosses disciplines to help students engage in unfamiliar and familiar paths of inquiry in new and interesting ways.

The program is offered by the School of Life Sciences.



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At a Glance: program details

  • Location: Tempe campus
  • Additional Program Fee: No
  • Second Language Requirement: No


Program Requirements

Requests to declare this certificate are reviewed by the academic advisor in the academic unit offering the certificate. Students may be contacted to discuss the certificate prior to the addition of the certificate to the student record.

A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded prior to the award of an undergraduate degree. A student already holding an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.

Enrollment Requirements

All courses counting toward the certificate must be approved by an undergraduate advisor in the School of Life Sciences and passed with a grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) or higher. The certificate requires 18 credit hours from the HPS and PHI prefixes.

Required Course:
PHI 314 Philosophy of Science, HU (3)

Electives:
Of the remaining 15 hours to be completed, at least nine credit hours must be taken in HPS courses.

At least 12 credit hours must be upper-division.

Depending upon a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses maybe needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.







Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

  • 480/727-6277