No matter where one looks, there is growing interest in the human context of science and technology. Courses in Society, Technology and Values (STV) are designed to help students come to grips with many of the major questions we face in a sophisticated technological society.
STV courses have traditionally attracted students from all faculties. They do not require a scientific or technical background. Engineering students should note that the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) now requires that all Engineering undergraduates receive some instruction in the Impact of Technology on Society. Courses offered by the Centre for Society, Technology and Values (CSTV) are specifically designed to meet this requirement.
The Option and courses, which are administered by the University of Waterloo Centre for Society, Technology and Values, are open to students in all University of Waterloo faculties. Students whose schedules do not permit taking the entire Option are invited to take individual courses.
Requirements
To complete the STV option, students must meet requirements A, B, C, and D.
Requirement A: STV introductory courses
Completion of two of the following courses with a minimum two-course average of 70%.
Requirement B: STV courses with prerequisites
Completion of one of the following courses with a minimum grade of 70%.
- STV 201 Society, Technology and Values: Special Topics
- STV 203 Biotechnology and Society
- STV 302 Information Technology and Society
- STV 303 Cross-Cultural Change, Technology and Society
- STV 401 Society, Technology and Values: Advanced Topics
- STV 404 Technology in Canadian Society
Requirement C: STV and other related courses
Completion of two additional courses with a minimum two-course average of 70%, either:
- two other STV courses from those listed in Requirements A and B; or
- one other STV course from those listed in Requirements A and B, and one non-technical course that is shown to be relevant to STV subject matter and approach as well as to the research undertaken in Requirement D, and that is approved by the CSTV Option Co-ordinator; or
- two non-technical courses that are shown to be relevant to STV subject matter and approach as well as to the research undertaken in Requirement D, and that are approved by the CSTV Option Co-ordinator.
Requirement D: Research
Students may meet their research requirement in one of the following two ways:
- Completion of STV 400 with a minimum grade of 70%. STV 400 is a supervised reading and research course on a technology-and-society area and topic approved by the CSTV Option Co-ordinator; or
- Students who do a fourth-year thesis or project in their home departments may add a significant technology-society component or components to their thesis or project. The STV component(s) must deal with technology-society aspects of their research topic. The topic must be approved by the CSTV Option Co-ordinator. The project will be graded by the CSTV Option Co-ordinator or other representatives of the Centre for Society, Technology and Values, and must receive a minimum grade of 70%.
Further Information
Prof. Scott Campbell, Centre for Society, Technology and Values, E3 3174, ext. 35635 or Wendy Stocker, CSTV, E3 3171, ext. 36215
Email: cstv@uwaterloo.ca