In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of courses to be delivered remotely for students commencing their studies in Semester 1, 2021.
This course will be available to study remotely for students commencing in Semester 1, 2021. Please note that some units of study that are not essential to completing the degree may not be available to be studied remotely.
Note: The University intends to offer as many units of study as possible in a remote as well as face-to-face learning method of delivery in Semester 1, 2021 and subject to ongoing border closures and public health orders impacting attendance on campus, in Semester 2, 2021. However, some units of study and courses require students to study in-person at the relevant University of Sydney campus/es and host locations for placements and will not be available remotely.
About this course
What is science? Why do we trust it to give us the truth about reality? How does it shape our society? Through socio-historical and philosophical techniques, the Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) will enable you to critically examine the fields of science, technology and medicine and deepen your understanding of their social, political, cultural, and conceptual ramifications.
Sitting at the intersection of arts and science, the Graduate Certificate in Science (HPS) is a fascinating course that offers a balanced introduction to the study of history, philosophy and social studies in science and medicine.
Completed part-time over one year, the Graduate Certificate will inform you about what makes science different from other forms of knowledge. You will be introduced to the most important attempts to define the nature of science, the methods behind those interpretations, and how this has come into play in specific episodes in the history of science.
Our selection of courses will give you the option to either focus on the philosophy of biomedical sciences, bioethics, or the history of medicine. Or you might like to work on the history and philosophy of the physical sciences, mathematics, or early modern science. As part of your studies you will reflect on the place of science in modern society as well as the ethical implications of science.
Upon completion of this course you will have acquired a combination of basic research skills and the ability to identify and examine the conceptual and social dimensions of science, technology and medicine using a variety of scholarly techniques.