Undergraduate Program at IHPST
Undergraduate Courses
PROGRAM INFORMATION
History and Philosophy of Science and Technology Major (Arts Program)
Enrollment in this program requires the completion of 4 full courses.
(7.5 full courses including at least 2 full courses at the 300+-level, 0.5 of which much be at the 400-level)
First Year:
1. HPS100H1
2. One 100+-level full course in any natural or social science (including MAT and STA courses), excluding courses for non-science students
Higher Years:
3. HPS200H1, HPS210H1, HPS211H1, HPS250H1, either HPS201H1 or HPS202H1
4. One half course from: PHL245H1, HPS246H1, HPS390H1, or HPS391H1
5. One full course 100+-level in History
6. One full course 200+-level in Science, including one half course at the 300+-level (These courses should be in the same area)
7. One half course from: HPS300+-level courses, JHE353H1, JHE355H1, PHL355H1, PHL356H1, PHL357H1,
8. One half course from Special Research Opportunities (HPS481H1, HPS482H1, HPS483H1, HPS484H1, HPS485H1) or Independent Studies course (HPS495Y1)
History and Philosophy of Science and Technology Minor (Arts Program)
Enrollment in this program requires the completion of 4 full courses.
(4 full courses, including at least one full course at the 300+-level)
1. HPS100H1
2. One half course from: HPS200H1, HPS201H1 HPS202H1, HPS210H1, HPS211H1, HPS250H1, SMC230Y1, SMC231Y1
3. An additional 3 full courses from any HPS course, JHE353H1, JHE355H1, PHL356H1, PHL357H1
The Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology provides a comprehensive program of undergraduate instruction in general history of science, history of biology, history of medicine, history of mathematics, history of physical science, history of technology, philosophy of science, and science and society. The history and philosophy of science and technology is a discipline that cuts across the sciences and humanities. HPS courses treat science and mathematics, medicine, and technology as: historically significant in themselves, integral components of the general development of knowledge, culture, and society and conceptually and theoretically rich domains for philosophical analysis. The undergraduate courses explore these various features, and, in so doing, provide a wider context for the understanding of science and its applications. Many courses have a substantial historical component, others deal with philosophical, economic, or social issues and some combine these elements. Students taking courses that focus on the history of science will find that the material is an important component of cultural and intellectual history. Students taking courses in history of technology will find the material especially relevant to understanding economic or social history. Students taking courses in philosophy of science will explore the concepts, theoretical underpinnings and methodology of the sciences - an exploration that will enrich their understanding of the nature of science and its current dominance as a means of gaining knowledge. Science students may count any HPS course for the Humanities Breadth Requirement; Social Sciences and Humanities students may count specific HPS courses (as indicated in the course description section) as a science breadth requirement.
HPS courses are also offered through the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. Engineering students should contact either the Faculty office (978-3134) or the IHPST office (978-5397) for course and timetable information in the history or philosophy of science. Students from other Faculties who wish to enrol in one of these courses must petition the Registrar of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.
Some students may wish to plan their programs around a core of HPS courses. The specialist, major and minor programs are suitable training for careers in medicine, law, education, journalism, an many other fields.
The Institute also awards graduate degrees; interested students may obtain a copy of the IHPST Graduate Handbook from the Institute Office (VC 316, 978-5397).
Robson Scholarship
An award of $500 has been made possible by a bequest to Victoria College. Only 3rd-year Vic students, maintaining an "A" standing in an IHPST Specialist or Major program are eligible. For more information about this scholarship and others, please contact the Registrar's Office at Victoria.
Pauline M.H. Mazumdar Prizes in the History of Medicine
The prizes may be awarded annually to undergraduate or graduate students registered at the University of Toronto for the best essays on any subject within the field of the history of medicine. Prizes may be awarded separately for graduate and undergraduate students.
The essays can be submitted by a student, an instructor or a teaching assistant. The essays submitted will be read by three assessors, two of them in the field of the history of medicine and one outside it.
For the undergraduate prize, one of the readers in the field may be a teaching assistant. Undergraduate papers should be handed in by the due date for the course.
If no essay is judged to be suitable in any given year, the prize or prizes need not be awarded, and the funds placed in reserve. The amount of the prize will be determined by the assessors. The winners will be informed by letter.
For further information, please contact the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology at 416-978-5397 or e-mail: ihpst.info@utoronto.ca
The IHPST Writing Centre exists to aid undergraduate students who may be experiencing difficulty writing history or philosophy papers. We aim to help both students who are new to writing papers in the humanities, and more experienced students who require extra assistance for specific problems.
Contact us at ihpst.writing@utoronto.ca
Eligibility
The IHPST Writing Centre is available to all students enrolled in at least one course with an HPS or JHE code, or students enrolled in a joint Physics/Philosophy Program.
Workshops
We will be running 2 one-hour essay writing workshops later in the semester. These workshops are open to all students, and will provide a general overview on writing history and philosophy papers, as well as dealing with a few problems commonly encountered by students writing essays for the first time. The times and places for these workshops are still to be determined.
Office Hours
We will be available for consultation during scheduled office hours in the Victoria College TA room (Vic 06 A). This room is located in the basement of Old Vic, near the elevator. Our office is open Mondays from 11am-1pm, and Wednesdays from 10am-12pm.
Scheduled Meetings
Students can schedule individual meetings by contacting the writing centre directly at ihpst.writing@utoronto.ca. Meetings will be booked in half-hour time slots. Students requiring more extensive help, such as reading over a finished paper, should consider booking a full hour.
Please book early. We have limited time slots which will fill up quickly as due dates approach.
Two types of meetings are offered: one for students who have yet to begin writing their paper, and one for students who have already started or who are finished writing. In addition, students should consider booking meetings strategically. We cannot provide a student with extensive help at every stage of their writing. A pre-writing meeting and a post-writing meeting will likely exhaust the suggestions we can make. Remember, a paper is a test of your abilities, not ours.
*Please come prepared for these meetings* For the pre-writing paper we ask that students come with an outline and a list of possible resources. Students who have already begun writing should come with their paper and a list of questions. In every case we ask that students bring their syllabus and assignment. We cannot provide meaningful help without understanding the outline and purpose of the specific writing assignment.
Services
The writing centre instructors will show students both the strengths and weaknesses of their work. Any areas that need improvement will be examined in more detail, and helpful suggestions or strategies will be provided. It is also important to come to the writing centre well before the assignment is due in order to leave sufficient time for any improvements to be incorporated into the paper.
Please note that we cannot provide ESL services. If this is your issue, you should consult the online resources available at http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/further-resources/online-esl-resources.
As we have limited time slots, we may not be able to meet the needs of every student who may need our services. Other resources for students who desire help with writing can be found at http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/.