History and Philosophy of Science
Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science)
These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Resolutions of the Faculty, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.
Course resolutions
1 Course codes
|
Code |
Course and stream title |
|---|---|
|
LG012 |
Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) |
2 Attendance pattern
3 Admission to candidature
(1)
With approval from the Dean, available places will be offered to qualified applicants according to the following admissions criteria:
(2)
Admission to the Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) requires a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Medical Science or Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Liberal Studies, or any bachelor's degree from the University of Sydney, or equivalent qualification.
4 Requirements for award
(1)
The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in the table for the History and Philosophy of Science postgraduate coursework table.
(2)
To qualify for the award of the Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), a candidate must complete 24 credit points of elective units of study.
(3)
Candidates who did not complete a major in their undergraduate degree in History and Philosophy of Science, or equivalent at another institution, must complete HSPC4105 as part of their course requirements.
5 Transitional provisions
(1)
These resolutions apply to persons who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2011 and persons who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January, 2011 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.
(2)
Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2011 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that requirements are completed by 1 January, 2016, or later date as the faculty may, in special circumstances, approve.
Course overview
The Graduate Certificate in Science (HPS) provides an introduction to the historical, philosophical, and sociological analysis of science. Candidates will be introduced to the main accounts of the nature of science and the methodologies underlying those interpretations.
Course outcomes
Upon completion of the graduate certificate candidates will understand the nature of the discipline of History and Philosophy of Science and will have acquired either basic research skills in history of science or basic skills in the sociological study of science or the basic skills of philosophical argument or some combination of the above, depending on their choice of options.
Students who wish to write a thesis in addition to completing the requirements for the Grad Certificate in Science (HPS) can undertake a Graduate Diploma in Science.
Units study table
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
Students must complete 24 credit points from the following: |
|||
| HPSC4105 is compulsory for all students irrespective of background. | |||
| HPSC4101 Philosophy of Science |
6 | P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 |
| HPSC4102 History of Science |
6 | P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| HPSC4103 Sociology of Science |
6 | P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 2 |
| HPSC4104 Recent Topics in HPS |
6 | P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| HPSC4105 HPS Research Methods |
6 | P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| HPSC4108 Core topics: History & Philosophy of Sci |
6 | P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| HPSC4201 HPS Research Project 1 |
6 | A (HPSC2001 and HPSC2002) or (HPSC2100 and HPSC2101) P Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours and Graduate Diploma or Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science). N HPSC4106, HPSC4107 Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
Unit of study descriptions 2013
HPSC4101 Philosophy of Science
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Dean Rickles Session: Semester 1 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week, individual consultation. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Assessment: 5000 wd essay (50%) Seminar presentation (50%)
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
In this course we explore a range of issues from within the philosophy of physics. We focus on the interpretation of the theories physics provides, examining how these theories might describe our world. The course will assume some basic mathematical literacy, but most technical matters will be introduced in class.
Textbooks
Weekly readings
HPSC4102 History of Science
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: A/Prof Ofer Gal. Taught by HPS staff and guest lecturers. Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Assessment: 10xquestions (50%) and 1x5000 wd essay (50%)
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit explores major episodes in the history of science from the 18th century until the present as well as introducing students to historiographic methods. Special attention is paid to developing practical skills in the history and philosophy of science.
Textbooks
Weekly Readings
HPSC4103 Sociology of Science
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: A/Prof Hans Pols Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week, individual consultation. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Assessment: 5000wd essay (50%) Seminar presentation (50%)
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit explores recent approaches in the social studies of scientific knowledge. Students evaluate various sociological approaches by conducting their own research on topics relevant to their own major thesis. The unit starts with an overview of the development of history and philosophy of science since 1945, to put the emergence of the sociology of science into perspective, before moving on to a selection of readings from the field. Topics will include: the strong program critique of traditional philosophy of science, the sociology of technology, the impact of feminism on the study of science, and the actor-network approach developed by Bruno Latour and Michel Callon.
Textbooks
Weekly Readings
HPSC4104 Recent Topics in HPS
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: HPS Staff Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week, individual consultation. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Assessment: 5000wd essay (50%) Seminar presentation (50%)
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
An examination of one area of the contemporary literature in the history and philosophy of science. Special attention will be paid to development of research skills in the history and philosophy of science.
HPSC4105 HPS Research Methods
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: A/Prof Hans Pols Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week, individual consultation. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. Assessment: 5 x 1000 wd essays (100%)
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Adopting a seminar style, this unit provides students with an advanced knowledge of the skills necessarily to conduct their own original research in the sociology, history and philosophy of science. Participants will be given a weekly set of core readings, and specialists both from within the Unit and from outside will present their views on the topic in question. This presentation will form the basis for a discussion involving the students, the academic members of the Unit, and invited speakers. Topics will include: the use of case studies in the philosophy of science, how to conduct oral history projects, institutional history, and sociological methodology.
HPSC4108 Core topics: History & Philosophy of Sci
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: HPS staff Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission Assessment: 10xquestions (50%) and 1x5000 wd essay (50%)
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
An intensive reading course, supported by discussion seminars, into core topics in HPS.
HPSC4201 HPS Research Project 1
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: HPS staff Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Weekly individual supervision, fortnightly 90-minute research seminars. Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours and Graduate Diploma or Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science). Prohibitions: HPSC4106, HPSC4107 Assumed knowledge: (HPSC2001 and HPSC2002) or (HPSC2100 and HPSC2101) Assessment: HPSC4201, HPSC4202, HPSC4203 and HPSC4204 are jointly assessed by a research thesis of up to 15,000 words.
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Research into a topic in history, philosophy or sociology of science under the supervision of one or more members of the HPS staff.