| Class Schedules Index | Course Catalogs Index | Class Search Page |
| Science, Technology, and Society | |
| STS 1500 | Science, Technology, and Contemporary Issues (3) |
| This course introduces students to contemporary issues involving science, technology, and engineering as well as the core ideas of STS. Emphasis is on three ideas: a) engineering is a social endeavor; b) technology shapes and is shaped by society; and c) technologies are sociotechnical systems. The course also teaches writing and public speaking, skills needed in engineering. Course was offered Fall 2023, Summer 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Summer 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Summer 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Summer 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Summer 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Spring 2014, Fall 2013, Spring 2013, Fall 2012, Summer 2012, Spring 2012, Fall 2011, Summer 2011, Spring 2011, Fall 2010 | |
| STS 1501 | Special Topics in Engineering & Society (1) |
| Student led special topic courses which vary by semester. | |
| STS 2050 | Introduction to Sustainable Energy Systems (3) |
| This course investigates a major source of human impact upon the Earth - energy consumption to fuel human activity. The course a) provides a cross-disciplinary perspective on the challenge of human-centered energy use, b) explains the historical origins of today's energy systems, c) describes current energy systems, d) examines the components of sustainable energy systems, and e) considers keys to their deployment. Course was offered Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021 | |
| STS 2070 | Technology and Disability (3) |
| From Wheelchairs, to Prozac, to Closed Captions, to depictions in Media, disabled people interface with technology in many ways. These ways are not always beneficial to disabled people, and they are often left out of the conversations about how to design, build and implement these technologies. In this course, students will investigate these relationships, learning from disabled people themselves about their experiences with technology. Prerequisite: STS 1500 or ENGR 1020 Course was offered Summer 2021, Spring 2021, Summer 2020, Spring 2020, Summer 2019, Summer 2018, Summer 2017, Summer 2016, Summer 2015, Summer 2014, Summer 2013, Summer 2012, Fall 2011, Summer 2011, Fall 2010, Summer 2010, Fall 2009 | |
| STS 2101 | Social Foundations Engineering (3) |
| Offered Fall 2025 | STS 2101 examines the relationships of engineering, technology, and society, with a specific focus on the multiple forms of expertise required for socially responsible engineering practice and career advancement, including (1) sociotechnical systems thinking, (2) ethical awareness, and (3) the ability to communicate and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders in both formal and informal settings. Course was offered Fall 2024 |
| STS 2500 | Science and Technology in Social and Global Context (3) |
| This course invites students to explore the implications of STS core concepts within a specific topical or disciplinary area. The course explores the social and global context of engineering, science and technology. Although writing and speaking skills are emphasized, more attention is given to course content and the students' analytical abilities. Course was offered Summer 2025, January 2025, Fall 2024, Summer 2024, January 2024, Summer 2023, Spring 2023, January 2023, Fall 2022, Summer 2022, Spring 2022, Janiuary 2022, Fall 2021, Summer 2021, Spring 2021, January 2021, Fall 2020, Summer 2020, Spring 2020, January 2020, Fall 2019, Summer 2019, Spring 2019, January 2019, Fall 2018, Summer 2018, Spring 2018, January 2018, Fall 2017, Summer 2017, Spring 2017, January 2017, Fall 2016, Summer 2016, Spring 2016, January 2016, Fall 2015, Summer 2015, Spring 2015, January 2015, Fall 2014, Summer 2014, Spring 2014, January 2014, Fall 2013, Summer 2013, Spring 2013, January 2013, Fall 2012, Summer 2012, Spring 2012, January 2012, Fall 2011, Summer 2011, Spring 2011, January 2011, Fall 2010, Spring 2010, January 2010, Fall 2009 | |
| STS 2600 | Engineering Ethics (3) |
| Offered Fall 2025 | The mission of UVA - SEAS is "to make the world a better place by creating and disseminating knowledge and by preparing engineering leaders to solve global challenges." In alignment with that mission, this course seeks to equip undergraduates with knowledge, understanding, and practice to prepare them for ethical leadership now, as students, and for their future as engineering leaders. Prerequisite 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year Engineering student |
| STS 2620 | Science and Technology Public Policy (3) |
| Examines the development of public policies aimed at promoting and regulating science and technology. Topics include historical evolution of the federal government's involvement in science policy; the players, organizations, and agencies who make science policy; the reasons the government funds the research it does; how science and technology is regulated by the government. Course was offered Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2013, Spring 2012, Spring 2011 | |
| STS 2760 | Technology and Policy: Where Intent Meets Process (3) |
| Offered Fall 2025 | In this course, we will explore four case studies illustrative of the potential disharmony between intent and process. In each case, the action is a public policy initiative with scientific or technological dimensions, where good intentions either led to unwelcome collateral consequences, or the process of implementation failed to fulfill the intent of the policy. Course was offered Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016, Spring 2016 |
| STS 2781 | Making the Machine Age: Technology in American Society, 1890-1990 (3) |
| Social history of American technology in the twentieth century. Primarily concerned with the interplay between society and technology. Historical perspectives on the causes of technological change and the ways in which technologies extend or upset centers of social power and influence. | |
| STS 2870 | Scientific and Technological Thinking (3) |
| Explores the ways scientists and inventors think, using concepts, theories, and methods borrowed from several disciplines, but focusing especially on psychology. Topics include experimental simulations of scientific reasoning, a cognitive framework for understanding creativity, and modeling discovery on a computer. Students read and discuss articles and conduct a short research project. | |
| STS 2993 | Independent Study: Technology and Society (1 - 3) |
| Special tutorial with a topic declared in advance. Limited to undergraduate SEAS students with third- or fourth-year standing. Not to substitute for STS 4500, 4600. The topic, work plan, and conditions are arranged by contract between instructor and student and approved by the department chair, with a copy to be filed in the department office. Admittance at the discretion of the professor. Course was offered Spring 2025, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Spring 2014, Fall 2013, Spring 2013, Fall 2012, Spring 2011, Fall 2010 | |
| STS 3020 | Science and Technology Policy for Interns (3) |
| This Socratic course prepares undergrads for internships in science, engineering and technology (SET) in Washington, DC. A core objective is to increase knowledge, oral and written skills for assessing SET and their impacts on public policy. Engineering students accepted into the SEAS Policy Internship Program in Science and Technology must take the course. Students from Batten School, the College and other schools are also welcome to enroll. Course was offered Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2013, Spring 2012, Spring 2011, Spring 2010 | |
| STS 3046 | Sustainability Models and Human Needs (3) |
| What is a globally sustainable standard of living? How should governments balance the desire to create national income and provide for the human needs of their citizens, against the desire to conserve natural resources and the environment for future generations? This course takes a systematic approach to answering these questions by evaluating sustainability in the context of human needs. Course was offered Summer 2021 | |
| STS 3210 | The Global Context of Clean Energy Materials (3) |
| Clean energy (CE) systems require far more minerals than their fossil fuel-based counterparts, minerals sourced, refined, and disposed of globally. The course examines which minerals are needed for the CE transition and why. It considers social, economic, and environmental sustainability challenges from use of these materials and highlights the sociotechnical reality of sustainability, i.e., Success depends upon social and technical advance. 3rd year standing or instructor permission Course was offered Spring 2023, Spring 2022 | |
| STS 3300 | STS Research Methods (3) |
| Development of knowledge and skills needed to conduct qualitative research. Grounded in science and technology studies (STS), feminism, anthropology, and ethnic studies, students will engage questions of authority, representation, critical consciousness, and power. Lays the intellectual groundwork for students to use research methods as tools for catalyzing reflexivity in scientific and technological disciplines. Prerequisite: STS 2101 or receive permission from the instructor. Course was offered Spring 2025 | |
| STS 3500 | Advanced Topics in Technology and Society (1 - 4) |
| Offered Fall 2025 | Specific topics vary. Advanced level examination of the relationships among science, technology and society. Course was offered Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2017, January 2017, Spring 2016, Summer 2015, Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Summer 2014, Spring 2013, Spring 2011 |
| STS 4500 | STS and Engineering Practice (3) |
| Offered Fall 2025 | This course engages students with the idea that success in posing and solving engineering problems requires attention to the social dimensions of professional endeavors and practice. STS theories and methods are applied to student thesis projects. Students produce a prospectus for the undregraduate thesis project. Students must be in residence to take this course. Students are not permitted to take STS 4500 and STS 4600 simultaneously. Prereq: STS 2600 and STS 2000 or STS 3000 level (or writing requirement equivalent) course. 4th Year Engineering or by instructor permission for early graduation. Course was offered Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Summer 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Summer 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Summer 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Summer 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Summer 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Summer 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Summer 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Summer 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016, Summer 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Summer 2015, Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Summer 2014, Spring 2014, Fall 2013, Summer 2013, Spring 2013, Fall 2012, Summer 2012, Spring 2012, Fall 2011, Summer 2011, Spring 2011, Fall 2010 |
| STS 4600 | The Engineer, Ethics, and Professional Responsibility (3) |
| Offered Fall 2025 | This course focuses on ethical issues in engineering. The key theme is that ethics is central to engineering practice. The professional responsibilities of engineers are examined. Students produce an STS Research paper linked to their technical thesis project and complete all of the requirements for the undergraduate thesis. Students must be in residence to take this course. Students are not permitted to take STS 4500 and STS 4600 simultaneously. Prerequisites: STS 4500. Course was offered Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Summer 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Summer 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Summer 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Summer 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Summer 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Summer 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Summer 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Summer 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016, Summer 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Summer 2015, Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Summer 2014, Spring 2014, Fall 2013, Summer 2013, Spring 2013, Fall 2012, Summer 2012, Spring 2012, Fall 2011, Summer 2011, Spring 2011, Fall 2010 |
| STS 5500 | Topics in Technology and Society (1 - 3) |
| A first-level graduate/advanced undergraduate course relates technology or engineering to the broader culture. The specific subject will differ from time to time. Course was offered Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2014, Fall 2013, Spring 2010 | |
| STS 5600 | Responsible Conduct of Research (1) |
| Responsible conduct of research is defined as "the practice of scientific investigation with integrity. It involves the awareness and application of established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of all activities related to scientific research." (NIH) This course will follow the NIS recommended format of substantial face-to-face discussions, with case studies being used as the primary focus of these conversations. Course was offered Spring 2018 | |
| STS 5993 | Independent Study: Technology and Society (1 - 12) |
| Detailed study of graduate course material on an independent basis under the guidance of a faculty member. | |
| STS 6592 | Special Topics in Engineering and Sociotechnical Systems (3) |
| The purpose of these courses is to address and discuss the sociotechnical systems of engineering, and how engineering impacts diversity, equity, and inclusion. Course was offered Fall 2022 | |