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 administered by CSTV are open to students in all 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%.
- STV 100 Society, Technology and Values: Introduction
- STV 202 Design and Society
- STV 205 Cybernetics and Society
- STV 208 Artificial Intelligence and Society: Impact, Ethics, and Equity
- STV 210 The Computing Society [cross-listed with HIST 212]
Requirement B: STV Focus Courses
Completion of one of the following courses with a minimum grade of 70%.
- STV 201 Society, Technology and Values: Special Topics
- STV 302 Information Technology and Society
- STV 304 Technology in Canadian Society
- STV 305 Technology, Society and the Modern City
- STV 306 Biotechnology and Society
- STV 401 Society, Technology & Values: Advanced Topics
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 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 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 department 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 CSTV, and must receive a minimum grade of 70%.
Further Information
Contact the Centre for Society, Technology and Values.