History and Philosophy of Science

Honours in History and Philosophy of Science is an advanced and specialised course, involving an addition year of study at fourth year level, requiring a higher standard of performance than a pass degree. It is available to all students who have completed the requirement for the BA, with a major in history and philosophy of science and an average of at least H2A (75%) in second and third-year subjects within the major, or equivalent. Students taking Honours in HPS will be expected to write a 15,000-word thesis, and take four coursework subjects. The two core subjects offered in Honours will provide an overview of important contemporary developments in the fields of history and philosophy of science and the sociology of science and technology. Students can also take a methodological subject of their choice and one elective subject.

The minimum entry requirement for honours is completion of all the requirements for the BA, with a major in history and philosophy of science and an average of at least H2A (75%) in second and third-year subjects within the major, or equivalent.

On successful completion of this Honours specialisation, students will be able to:

• demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of different contemporary perspectives in the history, philosophy and sociology of science; and
• access and appreciate different intellectual traditions and debates in history and philosophy of science and the social studies of science and technology; and
• demonstrate a capacity to apply rigorous methods of inquiry independently and appropriate theories and conceptual frameworks; and
• apply critical and analytical skills and methods to real-world situations, debates and problems in complex changing social and political contexts; and
• communicate effectively both verbally and in writing on complex, intellectually challenging topics to both an academic and a lay audience.

Students undertaking pure honours in history and philosophy of science must complete:

• HPSC40015 History and Philosophy of Science Thesis (50 points); and
• HPSC40016 Contemporary Approaches in HPS (12.5 points); and
• HPSC40017 Sociology of Science and Technology (12.5 points); and
• HPSC40002 Directed Study (12.5 points); and
• One subject from another cognate discipline, typically philosophy, history or sociology, which would serve as a theory, skills or research methods subject for the thesis. The selection of this subject should be made with the permission of the subject coordinator and the HPS honours coordinator

Students undertaking combined honours in history and philosophy of science and another program must complete

• HPSC40015 History and Philosophy of Science Thesis (50 points); and

• One of the compulsory HPS subjects listed above (12.5 points); and

• Three honours subjects in the combining discipline (37.5 points).

or

• Honours thesis in the combining discipline (50 points); and
• One honours subject in the combining discipline (12.5 points); and
• HPSC40016 Contemporary Approaches in HPS (12.5 points); and
• HPSC40017 Sociology of Science and Technology (12.5 points); and
• HPSC40002 Directed Study (12.5 points).

Total 100 points

History & Philosophy of Science Thesis Subject

Note: the thesis requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment.

History & Philosophy of Science: Compulsory Honours Subjects

Elective subjects

One subject from another cognate discipline, typically philosophy, history or sociology, which would serve as a theory, skills or research methods subject for the thesis. The selection of this subject should be made with the permission of the subject coordinator and the HPS honours coordinator.