Content Official Master's Degree in History of Science: Science, History and Society

Study guides

Master description

The new syllabus is of 60 ECTS, divided into 30 ECTS per semester. Modules are of 15 ECTS, with the exception of the external placements (9 ECTS credits), Research Methodology (9 ECTS credits), and the master’s degree dissertation (6 ECTS credits).

From Science in History, a common introductory module in which the major stages of the History of Science are presented, the degree then provides two optional modules based on the chosen area of specialisation. In the Research and History of Science ambit, the Major Issues of History of Science module reconstructs the historical origins of this academic discipline and presents current discussions of particular interest in Science History (science and gender, science and religion, scientific controversy, technoscience, etc.). In the Communication, Heritage and History of Science ambit, the Scientific Material Culture, Heritage and Communication module provides solid training in museums, scientific heritage (archives, instruments, machines, etc.), as well as engaging with science in the media of the twentieth century.

In the second semester, students can choose The Origins of Modern Science, which analyses fundamental aspects of ancient, medieval and early modern science, or Individual, Health and Society, which is related to health and medical problems in contemporary societies, or a third module, titled From Frankenstein to Einstein: Contemporary Science and Society, which focusses on the relationships between science, technology and war in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

In the Communication, Heritage and History of Science specialisation, the master’s degree offers a placement module (External Training: 9 ECTS credits) to train students in fields related to the management, preservation, conservation, study and diffusion of scientific and technological heritage.

In the Research and History of Science specialisation, the Research Methods module (9 ECTS credits) will allow students to acquire a range of fundamental skills required for designing a research project.

Finally, all students must write a master's degree dissertation, which will consist of the preparation, writing, written presentation and public oral defence of a research project on a relevant topic in the history of science, under the supervision of a lecturer from the master’s degree programme.

In the tutoring process, students will be guided in such a way that will allow them to complete their training within the two areas of specialisation in this master's degree. That is, students opting for the Research and History of Science specialisation are required to take the following modules: Science in History; Major Issues of History of Science; Research Methods; and the master's degree dissertation. Students opting for the Communication, Heritage and History of Science specialisation are required to take the following modules: Science in History; Scientific Material Culture, Heritage and Communication; External Training; and the master's degree dissertation. Their syllabus will be completed by taking and passing one of the three optional modules in the second semester, as indicated above.

Teaching timetable

Timetables

Study plan structure

Specialization in Communication, Heritage and History of Science

* Specialization Compulsory
** Optional, you must take 15 credits

Specialization in Research and History of Science

* Specialization compulsory
** Optional, you must take 15 credits

OB: Compulsory
OT: Optional