2024 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Social and Human Sciences Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
Graduate Methodologies in Science, Technology and Society S1
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Masashi Shirabe / Yakup Bektas / Yoshimi Takuwa / Shunzo Majima / Toma Kawanishi / / Takahito Hatsuyama / Chigusa Kita
- Class Format
- Lecture (HyFlex)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Tue
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- SHS.S461
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 1-2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this seminar-style course, the following fields and their basic research methods are introduced:
1) History of Science, 2) History of Technology, 3) Philosophy of Science, 4) Philosophy of Technology, 5) Science and Engineering Ethics, 6) Science and Technology Studies, and associated fields such as Liberal Arts.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will:
1) have a good knowledge of basic research methods for the History of Science, History of Technology, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Technology, Science and Engineering Ethics, Science and Technology Studies, and associated fields.
2) be able to write an original research paper in one of the above mentioned fields.
3) be able to apply the learned methods into their own research activities.
Keywords
History of Science, History of Technology, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Technology, Science and Engineering Ethics, Science and Technology Studies, research methods
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The course consists of two parts:
1) Instructors conduct lectures introducing each field.
In this semester, there is a special lecture on Philosophy of Science by guest instructor.
2) Students give presentations on the selected literature of each field.
Topic of lectures and literature will be decided in consultation with the interests of students who attend the course guidance in the first class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Course Guidance | Students talking briefly about their research topics and interests. |
| Class 2 | Lecture on a selected topic 1 | Asking questions and making comments. |
| Class 3 | Presentation by students 1 | Asking questions and making comments. |
| Class 4 | Lecture on a selected topic 2 | Asking questions and making comments. |
| Class 5 | Presentation by students 2 | Asking questions and making comments. |
| Class 6 | Lecture on a selected topic 3 | Asking questions and making comments. |
| Class 7 | Presentation by students 3 | Asking questions and making comments. |
| Class 8 | Lecture on a selected topic 4 | Asking questions and making comments. |
| Class 9 | Presentation by students 4 | Asking questions and making comments. |
| Class 10 | Lecture on a selected topic 5 | Asking questions and making comments. |
| Class 11 | Presentation by students 5 | Asking questions and making comments. |
| Class 12 | Lecture on a selected topic 6 | Asking questions and making comments. |
| Class 13 | Presentation by students 6 | Asking questions and making comments. |
| Class 14 | Mini-presentations by students describing their plan for their report | Talking about the plan of your final report and giving advice to other students. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Assigned readings will be decided ahead of each class.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Participation in classes (presentations and comments) 50 %, Final report 50 %
Related courses
- SHS.S462 ： Graduate Methodologies in Science, Technology and Society F1
- SHS.S441 ： Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society S1A
- SHS.S442 ： Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society S1B
- SHS.S443 ： Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society F1A
- SHS.S444 ： Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society F1B
Prerequisites
Lectures and presentations are available in both Japanese and English (but special lectures by guest instructors are in Japanese).
It is preferable to have intermediate-level capacity for reading English and elementary-level capacity for listening to Japanese.
Non-degree students are only accepted if they are considering future enrollment in graduate programs in fields such as the History of Science, History of Technology, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Technology, Science and Engineering Ethics, Science and Technology Studies, and associated fields.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
takuwa.y.aa[at]m.titech.ac.jp
Other
Topic of lectures and literature will be decided in consultation with the interests of students who attend the course guidance in the first class.
Be sure to attend the first class and talk briefly about your research topic and interests.