Santa Clara University

Integrated Education - STS Minor



Center for Science, Technology and Society

STS Minor

The Center for Science, Technology, and Society offers an interdisciplinary minor - Science, Technology, and Society - that provides students with the following:

· Practical skills in computing, communications and networking, or data storage/retrieval
· Sensitivity to the ethical issues relating to the uses of information technology
· Understanding of the impact of information technology on social communities
· Knowledge of the way information technology can be used in imaginative ways
· Application of information technology in ways that contribute to the common good

The STS minor complements students with a variety of major courses of study, for example:

  • Anthropology/Sociology-Students could use the STS minor to grasp the role of information technology in organizational theory and workplace dynamics.
  • Art-Students interested in World Wide Web and multimedia design could benefit from a broader knowledge of the influences and impacts of information technology.
  • Biology-Biology majors might explore the consequences of information technology for scientific measurement and knowledge, as well as its impacts in biotechnology.
  • Business-Majors in business-related fields could examine the design and deployment of information technology for enhancing productivity and the quality of working life.
  • Computer Engineering-Engineering students could explore the social and ethical impact of information systems, as well as the business aspects
  • Communication or English-Students in these majors could develop skills in computer-mediated communication, writing and designing documents for the professional workplace, and the impact of technology on writing and literature.
  • Political Science-Students in this major may study industrial policy or the regulation of information technology (privacy, access, intellectual property, etc.)
  • Psychology-Students may study systems design, user experience with information technology, and the effects of technology on mental health.
  • Philosophy-Students of philosophy may study the ethics of technology and the impact that technology has had on human destiny.

Requirements for the Minor

  1. No more than three courses may be taken from the same department.
  2. A minimum of four upper division courses are required.
  3. At least one upper division course each from Sections I and II are required.

Section I: Programming, Design, and Applications (select 4 courses)

Lower Division: ART 34, 36; CENG 5*; COEN 1*, 8, 9, 20, 44; ELEN 10*; MATH 10*, 61; OMIS 30, 31

Upper Division: ART 134, 136, 137, 138, 140, 195; CHEM 120*; COEN 146, 148, 174, 176, 177, 178, 179; MATH 163, 164, 168, 178; MKTG 175; OMIS 105, 107, 111, 113, 137

Section II: Human and Social Impacts and Influences of Information Technology (select 3 courses)

Lower Division: ART 70*, COMM 12*, ENGR 10, 19*; LBST 75*, MATH 3*, OMIS 34, SOCI 49*

Upper Division: COMM 160, 162, 181, 183; MGMT 161; PHIL 117; SOCI 149*, 151; ECON 185, 187; POLI 101, 130


ART 34:

Basic Computer Imaging

ART 36:

Basic Graphic Design  *Prerequisite: Art 34 or equivalent

ART 70:

Art in the Computer Age

ART 134:

Computer Imaging

ART 136:

Graphic Design  *Prerequisite: Art 34 or equivalent

ART 137:

Constructing Web Sites  *Prerequisite: Art 34 or Art 36 or equivalent

ART 138:

Advanced Graphic Design *Prerequisite: ARTS 34 or 134, ARTS 36 or 136, and ARTS 137.

ART 140:

Designing Multimedia/Interactive Projects *Prerequisite: ARTS 34 or 134, ARTS 36 or 136, and ARTS 137.

ART 195:

Web Design Workshop

CENG 5:

Introduction to Development Impact Assessment

CHEM 120:

Computer Applications in Chemistry *Prerequisite: CHEM 10 & 37

COMM 12:

Technology and Communication

COMM 160:

Silicon Valley Communication Technologies *Prerequisite: Core technology class or permission of instructor

COMM 162:

Communication Technology and Policy

COMM 181:

Global Media Industries  *Prerequisites: Comm 1 or Comm 2 or by instructor permission

COMM 183:

International Telecommunication

COEN 1:

Understanding Digital Technologies  *Prerequisite: High School Algebra

COEN 11:

Introduction to Computing

COEN 12:

Abstract Data Types and Structure *Prerequisite: COEN 11

COEN 20:

Computer Organization and Embedded Systems Programming  *Prerequisite: COEN 9

COEN 44:

Applied Programming  *Co-requisites: Math 21 and CENG 41

COEN 146:

Computer Networks  *Prerequisites : COEN 120, AMTH 108, and COEN 9 or Math 61

COEN 148:

Computer Graphics Systems  *Prerequisites: Math 53 and COEN 70 or Math 61

COEN 174:

Software Engineering  *Prerequisites: COEN 9, COEN 70 or permission of instructor

COEN 176:

Software Tools Design *Prerequisites: COEN 70 or Math 61 and previous use of UNIX workstations

COEN 177:

Operating Systems  *Prerequisites: COEN 20 and either COEN 70 or Math 61

COEN 178:

Introduction to Database Systems  * Prerequisite: COEN 70 or Math 61

COEN 179:

Theory of Algorithms *Prerequisites: COEN 19 or Math 52, and COEN 9 or Math 61

ECON 185:

Economics of Technological Change

ECON 187:

Telecommunications and the Internet

ELEN 10:

From the Telegraph to the Internet

ENGR 10:

Technology and Society

ENGR 19:

Technological Ethics

LBST 75:

Technology and Learning

MGMT 161:

Organizational Structure and Design *Prerequisite: MGMT 160

MATH 3:

Introduction to Computing and Applications

MATH 10:

Introduction to Computer Science  *Prerequisite: Math 11

MATH 61:

Data Structures  *Prerequisite: Math 10

MATH 163:

Theory of Algorithms  *Prerequisites: Math 51 or 52 and 61 or equivalent

MATH 164:

Computer Simulation   *Prerequisites: Math 122 and ability to program in some scientific language

MATH 168:

Computer Graphics  *Prerequisites: Ability to program in some scientific language.  Math 53 recommended but not required.

MATH 178:

Cryptography

MKTG 175:

Electronic Commerce (Enrollment limited to Marketing majors only) *Prerequisite: MKTG 181

OMIS 30:

Structured Programming

OMIS 31:

Business Applications Programming

OMIS 34:

Management Information Systems

OMIS 105:

Database Management  *Prerequisites: OMIS 30, 31, or 34

OMIS 107:

Systems Programming  *Prerequisites: OMIS 30 or equivalent

OMIS 111:

Computer Communication Systems *Prerequisites: OMIS 30, 31, or 34

OMIS 113:

Decision Support Systems *Prerequisites: OMIS 30 or 31

OMIS 137:

Object-Oriented Programming  *Prerequisites: OMIS 30 or equivalent

PHIL 117:

Science, Technology, and Ethics

POLI 101:

Technology, Nature, and Political Philosophy

POLI 130:

Global Environmental Change

SOCI 49:

Computers, the Internet, and Society

SOCI 149:

Business, Technology, and Society

SOCI 151:

Law and Society  *Prerequisites: Sociology 1, Anthro 3, or instructor permission

Section III: All minors must attend at least four STS symposia/colloquia and write brief critical summaries for a mentoring discussion and Pass/No Pass evaluation by their minor advisors.*May also be used to satisfy University Core Requirements
Established 1851