# Science, Technology, and Society/Second Major (STS)

**Source**: https://catalog.mit.edu/degree-charts/science-technology-society-sts/
**Parent**: https://catalog.mit.edu/schools/

[Science, Technology, and Society Program](https://catalog.mit.edu/schools/humanities-arts-social-sciences/science-technology-society/#undergraduatetext)

## Bachelor of Science in Science, Technology, and Society (Second Major)

The full major in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) may be pursued only as a second major in conjunction with another degree program in a field of engineering or science, or in other fields on a case-by-case basis.

### General Institute Requirements (GIRs)

The General Institute Requirements include a Communication Requirement that is integrated into both the HASS Requirement and the requirements of each major; see details below.

| Summary of Subject Requirements | Subjects |
| --- | --- |
| Science Requirement | 6 |
| Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Requirement [between three and six subjects can be from the Departmental Program]; at least two of these subjects must be designated as communication-intensive (CI-H) to fulfill the Communication Requirement. | 8 |
| Restricted Electives in Science and Technology (REST) Requirement | 2 |
| Laboratory Requirement (12 units) | 1 |
| **Total GIR Subjects Required for SB Degree** | **17** |

| Physical Education Requirement |  |
| --- | --- |
| Swimming requirement, plus four physical education courses for eight points. |  |

### Departmental Program

Choose at least two subjects in the major that are designated as communication-intensive (CI-M) to fulfill the Communication Requirement.

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Required Subjects | | **Units** |
| *Tier I* | |  |
| [STS.004](https://catalog.mit.edu/search/?P=STS.004 "STS.004") | Intersections: Science, Technology, and the World (CI-M) | 12 |
| *Select one of the following:* | | 9-12 |
| [STS.001](https://catalog.mit.edu/search/?P=STS.001 "STS.001") | Technology in American History |  |
| [STS.002](https://catalog.mit.edu/search/?P=STS.002 "STS.002") | Finance and Society |  |
| [STS.003](https://catalog.mit.edu/search/?P=STS.003 "STS.003") | Ancient Greeks to Modern Geeks: A History of Science |  |
| [STS.005[J]](https://catalog.mit.edu/search/?P=STS.005 "STS.005[J]") | Data and Society |  |
| [STS.006[J]](https://catalog.mit.edu/search/?P=STS.006 "STS.006[J]") | Bioethics |  |
| [STS.008](https://catalog.mit.edu/search/?P=STS.008 "STS.008") | Technology and Experience |  |
| [STS.011](https://catalog.mit.edu/search/?P=STS.011 "STS.011") | Engineering Life: Biotechnology and Society |  |
| [STS.012[J]](https://catalog.mit.edu/search/?P=STS.012 "STS.012[J]") | Science in Action: Technologies and Controversies in Everyday Life 1 |  |
| [STS.014](https://catalog.mit.edu/search/?P=STS.014 "STS.014") | Embodied Education: Past, Present, Future |  |
| *Tier II* | |  |
| Select one subject from the list of Tier II subjects 1, 2 | | 9-12 |
| [STS.THT](https://catalog.mit.edu/search/?P=STS.THT "STS.THT") | Undergraduate Thesis Tutorial | 6 |
| [STS.THU](https://catalog.mit.edu/search/?P=STS.THU "STS.THU") | Undergraduate Thesis (CI-M) | 12 |
| Restricted Electives | |  |
| Select a coherent group of four elective subjects in STS, plus four subjects related to the historical and social study of science and technology, in consultation with the STS undergraduate officer | | 87-96 |
| Units in Major | | 138-150 |
| Unrestricted Electives 3 | | 66-78 |
| Units in Major That Also Satisfy the GIRs | | (36-72) |
| Total Units Beyond the GIRs Required for SB Degree | | 180 |

The units for any subject that counts as one of the 17 GIR subjects cannot also be counted as units required beyond the GIRs.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| *1* | *Students who choose 9-unit subjects need to complete enough unrestricted electives to ensure that they have met the required 180 units beyond the GIRs.* |
| *2* | *See [list of Tier II subjects](https://catalog.mit.edu/schools/humanities-arts-social-sciences/science-technology-society/#subjectstext) in the Bulletin.* |
| *3* | *This chart has been calculated based on an overlap of 36 units (three subjects) between the HASS General Institute Requirement and the departmental requirements. Students who develop a program of study with more overlap will be able to select more unrestricted electives to meet the number of total units beyond the GIRs required for an SB degree.* |