Science Honours
History and Philosophy of Science
An Honours course in History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) is available to students of sufficient merit who have satisfied the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science with a major in HPS or another relevant area.
Students who have obtained the TSP Certificate in HPS are also eligible for the Honours program.
The Honours course consists of 48 points of Honours level units of study, which needs to include:
- HPSC4201 HPS Research Project 1
- HPSC4202 HPS Research Project 2
- HPSC4203 HPS Research Project 3 and
- HPSC4204 HPS Research Project 4
- In their final semester all students also need to enrol in the zero credit point non-assessable unit HPSC4999.
Applying for admission to Honours
Students intending to proceed to Honours or to enrol in the Graduate Diploma in Science (HPS) are strongly advised to contact the department towards the end of the previous academic year to discuss their thesis topic and supervision.
Note: Honours level (4000) Units of Study are 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.
A number of our Honours-level courses are also open to students in the medical humanities and liberal studies.
Honours Coordinator:
Dr Professor Peter Godfrey-Smith
T +61 2 9351 7782
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General Honours Advice:
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| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
History and Philosophy of Science Honours |
|||
| All students must enrol in HPSC4999. Honours students must complete 48 credit points from the following units of study: | |||
| HPSC4101 Philosophy of Science |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| HPSC4102 History of Science |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| HPSC4103 Sociology of Science |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| HPSC4104 Recent Topics in HPS |
6 | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
|
| HPSC4105 HPS Research Methods |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| HPSC4108 Core topics: History and Philosophy of Sci |
6 | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
|
| HPSC4201 HPS Research Project 1 |
6 | A (HPSC2100 or HPSC2900) and (HPSC2101 or HPSC2901) N HPSC4106 or HPSC4107 |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| HPSC4202 HPS Research Project 2 |
6 | A (HPSC2100 or HPSC2900) and (HPSC2101 or HPSC2901) N HPSC4106 or HPSC4107 |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| HPSC4203 HPS Research Project 3 |
6 | A (HPSC2100 or HPSC2900) and (HPSC2101 or HPSC2901) C HPSC4202 N HPSC4106 or HPSC4107 |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| HPSC4204 HPS Research Project 4 |
6 | A (HPSC2100 or HPSC2900) and (HPSC2101 or HPSC2901) N HPSC4106 or HPSC4107 |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| HPSC4999 History and Philosophy of Science Honours |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
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History and Philosophy of Science Honours
All students must enrol in HPSC4999. Honours students must complete 48 credit points from the following units of study:
HPSC4101 Philosophy of Science
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Dean Rickles Session: Semester 1 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week, individual consultation. Assessment: 5000 wd essay (50%) Seminar presentation (50%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
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: Taught by HPS staff and guest lecturers. Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week. Assessment: 10xquestions (50%) and 1x5000 wd essay (50%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
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: Dr Daniela Helbig Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week, individual consultation. Assessment: 5000wd essay (50%) Seminar presentation (50%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This seminar discusses a range of approaches to the social theory of modern science. We will read key texts on questions such as: what makes science part of Western modernity? What is the role of science in the social transformations of the industrial era? In what sense, if at all, can science be said to offer privileged access to reality? What is the relationship between scientific knowledge and social reality?
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. Assessment: 5000wd essay (50%) Seminar presentation (50%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
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 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week, individual consultation. Assessment: 5 x 1000 wd essays (100%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Adopting a seminar style, this unit provides students with an advanced knowledge of the skills necessary 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 and Philosophy of Sci
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: HPS staff Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour seminar per week. Assessment: 10xquestions (50%) and 1x5000 wd essay (50%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
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. Prohibitions: HPSC4106 or HPSC4107 Assumed knowledge: (HPSC2100 or HPSC2900) and (HPSC2101 or HPSC2901) Assessment: HPSC4201, HPSC4202, HPSC4203 and HPSC4204 are jointly assessed by a research thesis of up to 15,000 words. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Research into a topic in history, philosophy or sociology of science under the supervision of one or more members of the HPS staff.
HPSC4202 HPS Research Project 2
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: HPS staff Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Weekly individual supervision, fortnightly 90-minute research seminars. Prohibitions: HPSC4106 or HPSC4107 Assumed knowledge: (HPSC2100 or HPSC2900) and (HPSC2101 or HPSC2901) Assessment: HPSC4201, HPSC4202, HPSC4203 and HPSC4204 are jointly assessed by a research thesis of up to 15,000 words. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Research into a topic in history, philosophy or sociology of science under the supervision of one or more members of the HPS staff.
HPSC4203 HPS Research Project 3
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: HPS staff Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Weekly individual supervision, fortnightly 90-minute research seminars. Corequisites: HPSC4202 Prohibitions: HPSC4106 or HPSC4107 Assumed knowledge: (HPSC2100 or HPSC2900) and (HPSC2101 or HPSC2901) Assessment: HPSC4201, HPSC4202, HPSC4203 and HPSC4204 are jointly assessed by a research thesis of up to 15,000 words. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Research into a topic in history, philosophy or sociology of science under the supervision of one or more members of the HPS staff.
HPSC4204 HPS Research Project 4
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: HPS staff Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Weekly individual supervision, fortnightly 90-minute research seminars. Prohibitions: HPSC4106 or HPSC4107 Assumed knowledge: (HPSC2100 or HPSC2900) and (HPSC2101 or HPSC2901) Assessment: HPSC4201, HPSC4202, HPSC4203 and HPSC4204 are jointly assessed by a research thesis of up to 15,000 words. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Research into a topic in history, philosophy or sociology of science under the supervision of one or more members of the HPS staff.
HPSC4999 History and Philosophy of Science Honours
Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: As negotiated Assessment: Non-assessable Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
All students in History and Philosophy of Science Honours must enrol in this non-assessable unit of study in their final semester.