The degree requires completion of 84 credit hours of which 12 hours are for dissertation. Students may apply up to 30 hours from a prior master's degree towards the total hour requirement upon approval of the program steering committee. Each student, with his or her Supervisory Committee, develops a unique Study Plan, which the student's Supervisory Committee approves.
Each student completes the following coursework and milestones. There are no foreign language or statistics requirements, except as needed for a particular student's selected dissertation project.
Coursework
| Requirements |
Credit Hours |
| HSD 601, 602: Core Seminar |
8 |
| HSD 592: Research (Second-Year Research Project) | 6 |
| HSD 610: Colloquium | 4 |
| Coursework for Field 1 | 9 |
| Coursework for Field 2 |
9 |
| Coursework for Field 3 |
6 |
| Courses for Methods Training | 0-6 |
| Electives or HSD 792: Research | 21-27 |
| HSD 790: Dissertation Prospectus | 3 |
| HSD 799: Dissertation | 12 |
| Total |
84 |
Core Seminar (8 hours)
All first-year students will participate in a yearlong seminar to provide them with a thorough introduction to the literature on the human and social dimensions of science and technology, as well as core research tools and an overview of the major HSD methods. The Core Seminar will also provide skills in planning and conducting research, individually and in research teams, and will involve projects that help students learn skills in communicating and working with scientists and engineers, policy and community officials, and/or the public.
Colloquium (4 hours)
The colloquium will be a weekly series designed to create opportunities for the exchange of ideas among all members of the HSD community. It will have a range of activities, including student or faculty member presentations, community discussions, and outside speakers. To strengthen the interdisciplinary character of the program, the colloquium will, periodically, when appropriate, meet jointly with one or more other programs (e.g., the SoLS Seminar or CSPO Enlightening Lunch), to take advantage of speakers or events of mutual interest.
Each semester the colloquium will be offered for one credit as HSD 610: Colloquium. Students will be required to accumulate at least four credits of HSD 610.
Second-Year Research Project (6 hours)
During their second year, students pursue a major, guided, original research project, designed to provide them with essential research skills, as well as demonstrate their mastery of these skills. This project includes a research proposal, data collection and analysis, and the completion of a research paper of publishable quality or an equivalent scholarly work. The project must also involve at least some level of collaboration or engagement with scientists and/or engineers, policy and/or community officials, and/or members of the public. A member of the student's Supervisory Committee directs the project.
Fields (24 hours)
In consultation with the student's Supervisory Committee, each student develops three distinct Fields to provide the in-depth training necessary to formulate and carry out his or her dissertation research. Each student must complete two major and one minor Field. Major Fields consist of the equivalent of three courses of specialized work (either in existing elective courses or through independent reading or research projects) designed to achieve mastery of a particular intellectual subject. The minor field consists of the equivalent of two courses of specialized work. For each field, the Supervisory Committee and student will select a Field Director, who is a member of the student's Supervisory Committee and who will be responsible for working with the student to determine field content as well as the format for demonstrating mastery of the field, such as a field exam, field paper, or exemplary course paper.
Methods Training (0-6 hours)
Methods training will occur in two stages. The yearlong Core Seminar will provide HSD students with broad introductory knowledge of HSD research methods including:
The second stage of methods training will be defined by each student and her/his Supervisory Committee and will involve the selection and inclusion in the student's Study Plan one or more methods courses that will adequately prepare the student for his or her dissertation research. With the approval of the Supervisory Committee, courses may meet both Methods Training and Field requirements.
Electives and Research (21-27 hours)
Elective courses may supplement Fields or be used to explore related areas of interest. Students take many elective courses from HSD Faculty members, although humanities, social science, or science coursework, not specifically in the area of the human and social dimensions of science and technology but necessary for a student to develop skills or knowledge to undertake his or her research, may also be appropriate. Students register for directed research hours, preparatory to completing a dissertation, with their Supervisory Committee chair or another appropriate faculty member.
400-Level Courses
No more than 6 hours of 400-level courses may be counted in the Study Plan or Program of Study.
Dissertation Prospectus (3 hours)
Each student develops a written Dissertation Prospectus, including a bibliography, discussion of relevant research skills, and a brief (less than one page) description of each Field completed and how mastery was demonstrated. The Dissertation Prospectus shows that the student can integrate and synthesize the knowledge and skills developed through coursework and apply them to the development of a research project.
Dissertation (12 hours)
Each student collects and analyzes data and writes a dissertation.
Milestones
Study Plan and Study Plan Review
During the second semester, each student develops, in collaboration with the student's Supervisory Committee, a Study Plan. The Study Plan specifies the Second-Year Research Project topic, Fields, and electives the student will pursue.
The Study Plan Review is a formal meeting of each student's Supervisory Committee at which the student presents the Study Plan for Supervisory Committee approval. This meeting is typically held during the second semester of enrollment or at the beginning of the third semester. Students may not begin a fourth semester of study without an approved Study Plan.
| Courses (84 hours required) |
Hours credited to degree |
|
| Year 1 Fall |
HSD 601: Core Seminar (4) Field 1 (3) Field 2 (3) HSD 610: Colloquium (1) |
11 |
| Year 1 Spring | HSD 602: Core Seminar (4) Field 1 (3) Field 3 (3) HSD 610: Colloquium (1) |
11 |
| Year 2 Fall | Field 1 (3) Field 2 (3) HSD 592: Research (Second-Year Research Project) HSD 610: Colloquium (1) |
10 |
| Year 2 Spring | Field 2 (3) Field 3 (3) HSD 592: Research (Second-Year Research Project) HSD 610: Colloquium (1) |
10 |
| Year 3 Fall | HSD 790: Dissertation Prospectus (3) Elective or HSD 792: Research (6) |
9 |
| Year 3 Spring | Elective or HSD 792: Research (9) |
9 |
| Year 4 Fall | Elective or HSD 792: Research (6) | 6 |
| Year 4 Spring | Elective or HSD 792: Research (6) |
6 |
| Year 5 Fall | HSD 799: Dissertation (6) |
6 |
| Year 5 Spring | HSD 799: Dissertation (6) |
6 |
Demonstration of Mastery for Three Fields
After the completion of coursework or other assigned activities for three Fields, each student will demonstrate mastery of those Fields. The student's Supervisory Committee will assess mastery, in a format proposed by the committee and the student and approved by the program steering committee. Common formats for demonstrating mastery of a field include a field exam, a field paper, or an exemplary course paper. The timing of demonstration of mastery of each of the three Fields is determined by the student and his or her Supervisory Committee; the demonstrations need not occur at the same time.
Defense of the Dissertation Prospectus
The student makes an oral defense of the Dissertation Prospectus to his or her Supervisory Committee, which must approve the Prospectus. The writing and defense of the prospectus constitute the written and oral comprehensive examinations required by the Graduate College for advancement to candidacy. In accordance with Graduate College policy, this comprehensive exam is formally scheduled through the Graduate College. In addition, prior to scheduling the defense of the Dissertation Prospectus/comprehensive exam, the student files the formal Program of Study with the Graduate College. Students normally complete the Dissertation Prospectus and its defense in the fifth semester.
Defense of the Dissertation
The student makes an oral defense of the Dissertation to his or her Supervisory Committee, which must approve the Dissertation. These steps constitute completion of the degree.