This course is a survey course designed to give the student a basic understanding of the history of science from the Ancient Greeks to the present through the lens of the discoveries and scientific personalities that shaped its development. Students will examine the connections between science and the humanities and come to appreciate that science is not done in a vacuum, but has consequences for wider society. Through a series of written projects and examinations, the students will learn fundamental facts and theories of science as well as how to study and analyze them using the methodologies and techniques of both history and science. Course is cross-listed with SCI 105 and students cannot earn credit for both.
- Identify key scientific discoveries in the context of the history and culture(s) from which they arose
- Articulate fundamental concepts in science using correct scientific vocabulary
- Analyze the role of science and the scientist within various historical periods and cultural contexts
- Identify and articulate parallels between scientific challenges of the past and modern scientific concerns and issues
- Demonstrate communication skills, both written and oral, by employing primary evidence in support of carefully formed conclusions regarding the historical record
Topics will be presented in a module/unit form and can be selected from the following options:
- Scientific Method and Measurements
- Electricity
- The Atom
- The Identity of a Scientist
- Medicine
- Evolution
- Time/Space
- Color/Light
The following program outcomes should be assessed in this course:
PO4 Students will be able to recognize or articulate personal/interpersonal aspects of, or connections between, diverse cultural, social, or political contexts.
PO5 Students will be able to solve problems by gathering, interpreting, combining and/or applying information from multiple sources.