History and Philosophy of Science PhD
Program director
Dr. Beckett Sterner
Email: beckett.sterner@asu.edu
Program description
The history and philosophy of science is an interdisciplinary field that traces its origin to foundational works such as Thomas Kuhn's "Structure of Scientific Revolutions." The field is based on the idea that the best way to understand science is to study how it changes over time, along with careful analysis of its concepts and fundamental principles.
The PhD program in history and philosophy of science combines training in the core areas of history and philosophy of science with an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies of the sciences, including:
computational history and philosophy of science
foundations of evolutionary theory
general philosophy of science and epistemology
history and philosophy of applied ethics and science policy
history of 19th and 20th century biology
The program is especially appropriate for students with an undergraduate or master' degree in philosophy, history or the sciences, and for those who seek to broaden their disciplinary studies. Science students who have not taken relevant undergraduate humanistic core courses can make these up during their first years in the program.
Degree requirements
The current degree requirements are below. Remember you are required to fulfill the requirements from the academic year you were admitted. Please refer to the handbook from your year of admission as needed.
84 credit hours, an oral and written exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (6 credit hours)
HPS 615 Biology and Society Lab (3) - This course is a 1 credit course that must be taken at least 3 times
HPS 620 Research Prospectus Writing (3)
Electives and Research (66 credit hours)
Research
HPS 792 Research (12 minimum credit hours required)
Restricted electives (30 credit hours - Students must choose courses to fulfill the credit hour requirements in each category outlined below):
History of science (6 credit hours):
BIO 591 Embryo Project
BIO 591 Embryo Project Editing
BIO 598 Big Data in Context: Ethics, Policy, History and Philosophy
HPS 598 Advanced History of Science
Philosophy of science (6 credit hours):
BIO 598 Advanced Philosophy of Science
BIO/HPS/PHI 598 Philosophy of Biology and Medicine Advanced
History of philosophy (3 credit hours):
HPS 591 Carnap and Quine
PHI 581 Studies in Ancient Greek Philosophy
Value theory (3 credit hours)
BIO 516 Foundations of Bioethics
BIO 527 Environmental Ethics and Policy Goals
BIO 598 Advanced Bioethics
BIO 598 Big Data in Context: Ethics, Policy, History and Philosophy
BIO 610 Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in Life Sciences
BIO 611 Current Topics in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in Life Sciences
PHI 521 Bioethics
PHI 591 Human Well-Being and Sustainability
POP 633 Population Health Ethics
Advanced logic or other advanced methods (3 credit hours)
BIO 532 Recent Papers in Discipline-Based Education Research
BIO 591 ESSA Reading and Reflection
BIO 591 Innovations of Conservation Lab
BIO 591 Papers in Inclusive Teaching in College
BIO 598 Biology Education Research
BIO 598 STS Reading Group
BIO 791 Science Education Research Seminar
HSD 601 HSD I: Human Dimensions of Science and Technology
PHI 570 Higher Order Modal Logic
Other approved courses in philosophy, history, or life sciences (9 credit hours)
These courses provide expertise in your individual research area. Any courses offered under one of the prefixes BIO, ELS, EVO, HPS, MCB, MIC, and PLB, or any courses taught by biology and society graduate faculty members fulfill the requirement.
The student works with their advisor to determine additional elective courses to take or research hours to fill the remaining credits needed in this category.
Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)
HPS 799 Dissertation (12)
*Taken after advancing to candidacy
*Note: It is very important you do exactly 12 dissertation credit hours. You may begin completing dissertation credits after advancing to candidacy. These 12 can be divided and taken over multiple semesters, but they must sum 12 credits exactly (no more, no less) to avoid issues when graduating. If you need to enroll in dissertation or equivalent hours after meeting your 12 total, please take HPS 792 Research hours instead, which has no maximum limit.
Comprehensive exams
Please communicate with your faculty advisor and refer to your academic year's SOLS handbook for specific details about what is required for your comprehensive exams and prospectus defense. The History and Philosophy of Science PhD program requires you complete this by the end of your 6th semester. You must pass your oral and written exams as well as your prospectus defense in order to advance to candidacy.
To schedule your exams:
Confirm your iPOS is approved and your faculty committee section is up to date.
Please fill out this form to both schedule and initiate your electronic pass/fail form. This will be sent to your committee members and Program Director.
After your exams:
Once your pass/fail form has been completed, the SOLS Graduate Office will input your results in your iPOS. If you passed each component, you will advance to candidacy and receive a formal candidacy letter from ASU.
If you advance to candidacy by the deadlines detailed here, you will receive a post-candidacy pay increase the following semester (and each subsequent semester).