History of Science, Medicine, & Public Health courses
Director of undergraduate studies: Paola Bertucci, 300G HGS, 432-1397, paola.bertucci@yale.edu
FACULTY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM OF HISTORY OF SCIENCE, MEDICINE, AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Professors Daniel Kevles, Frank Snowden, Wiliam Summers, John Warner
Associate Professor Naomi Rogers
Assistant Professors Paola Bertucci, Mariola Espinosa, Joanna Radin, William Rankin
Senior Lecturers Bettyann Kevles, Rebecca Tannenbaum
Lecturer Sherwin Nuland
Affiliated Faculty Toby Appel (Yale University Library), Bruno Cabanes (History), Robert B. Gordon (Geology & Geophysics) (Emeritus), Veronica Grimm (Classics), Dimitri Gutas (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations), Ann Hanson (Classics), Jennifer Klein (History), Michael McBride (Chemistry), Joanne Meyerowitz (History), Amy Meyers (Yale Center for British Art), Alan Mikhail (History), Sherwin Nuland (School of Medicine), Kevin Repp (Yale University Library), Cynthia Russett (History), Paul Sabin (History), Gordon Shepherd (School of Medicine), Jenifer Van Vleck (History)
History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health is an interdisciplinary program of study that explores the development of science, technology, medicine, and public health and their interactions with each other and with society. Its course offerings range broadly in topics and geographical scope, including the Scientific Revolution, the relationships of medicine and the media in modern America, the development of the physical, earth, and life sciences, the interplay of science, technology, and the state, and public health and epidemics in global perspective. Students in the major combine courses in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health with courses from other relevant disciplines in the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities.
The program offers students considering a career in medicine, public health, or other health care fields a way to combine the requirements of their professional training with a broad liberal arts education. It also provides excellent preparation for many other careers, including law, business, journalism, museum work, public policy, and government, in which a contextualized understanding of science, technology, and medicine is advantageous.
The major for the Classes of 2013 and 2014 Students in the Class of 2013 must fulfill the requirements of the major in History of Science, History of Medicine that were in place when they entered the major, as described in previous editions of this bulletin. Students in the Class of 2014 may also fulfill the requirements of the major in History of Science, History of Medicine that were in place when they entered it. Alternatively, students in the Class of 2014 may fulfill the requirements of the major in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health as described below for the Class of 2015 and subsequent classes.
Requirements of the major for the Class of 2015 and subsequent classes The major in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health requires twelve term courses, including the two-term senior requirement. Students select a pathway of seven courses that guides them through an area of specialization. The seven pathway courses must include two courses in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health; one seminar numbered 100 or above in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health or in History; one science course; and three electives chosen from relevant courses in any department.
The five standard pathways in the major are medicine and public health; global health; science, technology, and power; gender and sexuality; and arts and media. Students may also design customized pathways in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. No later than the beginning of the junior year, students in the major must select a standard pathway or indicate that they wish to design their own.
Beyond the seven pathway courses, students must complete three additional electives in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health. One of the electives must be a seminar, and one must be chosen from a pathway other than the one selected for the major. All courses for the major are chosen in collaboration with the student's adviser.
Senior requirement By the end of reading period in the spring term of the junior year, students choose whether they will work toward a yearlong or a one-term senior project. Yearlong senior projects are completed in HSHM 490, 491; one-term projects are completed in HSHM 492. Students who choose a one-term project must take an additional seminar in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health during the final term of the senior year. Distinction in the Major is awarded only to students who complete a yearlong senior project.
For both the one-term and yearlong senior projects, students select a project adviser, propose a tentative topic and title, and submit a proposal to the senior project director. The final product of the senior requirement may be a written essay or an alternative project such as a film, exhibition, catalog, atlas, or historical data reconstruction. In the case of an alternative project, the student must identify a second reader in addition to the adviser before the project is approved by the senior project director. Either the adviser or the second reader must be a member of the faculty in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health. A written component to the senior project must illustrate sources and the intellectual significance of the project. For more details about requirements and deadlines, majors should consult the HSHM Senior Project Handbook; copies are available from the senior project director and on the program's Web site.
Credit/D/Fail Courses taken Credit/D/Fail may not be counted toward the requirements of the major.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisites None
Number of courses 12 term courses (incl senior req)
Distribution of courses 7 courses in pathway, incl 2 HSHM courses, 1 HSHM or Hist sem, 1 science course, and 3 electives, as specified; 3 addtl HSHM electives, incl 1 sem and 1 outside major pathway, as specified
Senior requirement Yearlong project (HSHM 490, 491), or one-term project (HSHM 492) and 1 addtl HSHM sem
