STV Minor

Science and technology play a powerful role in structuring our world, in everything from our physical environment to our culture. A multifaceted understanding of this role is key both for those who aspire to shape our world and for those who want to be successful in it.

The Science, Technology, and Values program offers students the opportunity to acquire an interdisciplinary understanding of science and technology in modern societies, providing them with analytical and conceptual tools they need to confront the complex questions that arise at the intersection of science and society. 

Studying STV prepares students to pursue a variety of academic and career goals. Students focused on the natural sciences and engineering get to explore the history as well as the social, political, and ethical dimensions of their chosen fields, while students majoring in business, the humanities, and the social sciences have the opportunity to critically examine the products and impacts of science and technology, and evaluate the efficacy of social and political responses to those impacts.

This ability to see the big picture and navigate it strategically is invaluable in fields such as law, the health professions, public service, the sciences, education, business, international development, industrial or academic research, and journalism. Undergraduate training in STV provides a strong foundation for graduate studies in medicine, business and law as well as a variety of STEM fields.

 

"As a biology major, I never really got the chance to critically analyze and discuss literature related to my field. In graduate school, most of what I do is read and write critical reviews of cutting-edge research. Thanks to the STV minor, I have the skills to build an argument and defend it, and to be creative and ask questions that go beyond what’s written on the page. Additionally, the STV classes were always interesting and gave me a new perspective on the things I was learning in science classes. I believe that every student interested in joining the healthcare industry should take at least one STV course! It will change the way you look at science!" --Andrea LeBron, Class of 2021

"I love this minor! All of the classes I’ve taken thus far have been my favorites!!  I really feel like this gives me a better perspective of all that’s happening in the world and will make me an asset to the future teams I end up on. I talked about it in all of my interviews, which helped me land an internship with Ernst and Young in their Technology Advisory Program (hopefully on healthcare cases)." --Elizabeth Olmanson, Class of 2021

"As a biology major interested in pursuing a career in scientific research, the STV minor has provided me with an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the effects science has on society outside of the lab.  I've really enjoyed the chance to learn about a lot of different areas of science through philosophical and sociological lenses, and it's been a really good way to balance out the technical aspects of my science major. "--Christina Del Greco, Class of 2019

To enroll, or to discuss an interest in the program, please email Anna Geltzer at ageltzer@nd.edu. Fall 2022 office hours: Wednesday & Thursday 10:00-11:00AM, or by appointment. (219E O'Shaugnessy Hall)