:format(webp))
Undergraduate Programs
Explore the programs offered by this organization.
:format(webp))
The Program in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) provides a dynamic intellectual space where ideas transcend the divisions between fields. As a highly interdisciplinary program, STS offers a liberal arts education for the twenty-first century, helping students understand the complex, reciprocal interactions among scientific advancement, technological innovation, and the social world.
Drawing on affiliated faculty from over a dozen departments—including Anthropology, Communication, Computer Science, Education, Electrical Engineering, History, Law, Management Science and Engineering, Political Science, and Sociology—the program teaches students to integrate diverse disciplinary frameworks. Graduates emerge uniquely equipped to succeed in professions demanding fluency in both technical and social paradigms, pursuing successful careers in business, engineering, law, public service, medicine, and academia.
One of the unique majors at Stanford to offer both a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, STS teaches students to develop depth in multiple fields while fostering a broad understanding of the technical and social dimensions of science:
B.A. and B.S. Pathways: Students are encouraged to pursue mastery in at least one field from the humanities or social sciences and one from the sciences or engineering.
Specialized Concentrations: Students select coursework in one of seven specialized thematic areas:
Catastrophic Risks and Solutions
Communication and Media
Innovation and Organization
Life Sciences and Health
Politics and Policy
Social Dynamics of Data and Information
Self-Designed Concentration
Senior Capstones and Honors: All undergraduate majors complete a rigorous capstone project, either by enrolling in a dedicated senior capstone course (STS 200) or by researching and writing an STS honors thesis.
Graduate Certificate in STS: A specialized graduate certificate program open to current Stanford doctoral students, enabling them to engage intellectually with the field and signal academic competence in STS.
STS research focuses on exploring, analyzing, and resolving the complex challenges at the interface of human societies and technical systems:
Interdisciplinary Frameworks: Utilizing qualitative and quantitative tools from the humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, and engineering to analyze real-world scientific developments.
Affiliated Laboratory Research: Providing students with opportunities to conduct hands-on research within affiliated faculty labs and research centers.
Project-Based Learning: Hosting innovative, project-oriented courses that encourage students to apply theoretical socio-technical concepts to contemporary societal problems.
:format(webp))