University master's degrees
University Master's Degree in History of Science: Science, History and Society

An invitation to explore the social and historical dimensions of science, technology and medicine and prepare yourself for historical research and scientific communication

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

Ideal student profile

This master's degree is aimed at graduates in natural sciences, social sciences or humanities, wishing to undertake research in history of science or begin a career in museology, science popularisation or teaching. It is recommended to have a background in science and an aptitude for working in the humanities, especially reading (in various languages), writing and synthesising ideas.

Basic skills

  • Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.
  • Communicate and justify conclusions clearly and unambiguously to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Solve problems in new or little-known situations within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to the field of study.
  • Integrate knowledge and use it to make judgements in complex situations, with incomplete information, while keeping in mind social and ethical responsibilities.
  • Continue the learning process, to a large extent autonomously

Specific skills

  • Display rigorous, advanced knowledge of the evolution of science throughout history.
  • Display a sound knowledge of history so as to pinpoint the great events of the past with accuracy: authors, theories, experiments, practices, etc., and their stages of stability and transformation.
  • Analyse the multiple approaches to science's past taken by different authors and schools, and make reasoned choices between them.
  • Develop an original, interdisciplinary historical narrative that integrates humanistic and scientific culture.
  • Interpret, comment on and edit scientific texts on science's past and place them rigorously within their historical context.
  • Apply this discipline's own analysis methods and techniques in the construction of various historical narratives.
  • Apply historical knowledge of science to communication, material culture and science teaching.
  • Recognise, evaluate and catalogue the scientific and technical heritage (this competence is acquired by students who take the specialisation "Communication, Heritage and History of Science").
  • Design exhibitions and draw up a communication plan (this competence is acquired by students who take the specialisation "Communication, Heritage and History of Science").
  • Critically analyse the mechanisms of scientific communication in the mass media (this competence is acquired by students who take the specialisation "Communication, Heritage and History of Science").
  • Design original, innovative research projects regarding the historiographic schools of science (this competence is acquired by students who take the specialisation "Research and History of Science").
  • Apply the different methodologies and historiographic schools to research work (this competence is acquired by students who take the specialisation "Research and History of Science").

Cross-curricular skills

  • Work independently: solving problems, taking decisions and making innovative proposals.
  • Work in interdisciplinary teams, showing leadership and initiative.
  • Gather and critically assess information for problem solving, in accordance with the discipline's own analysis methods and techniques.
  • Use information and communication technologies appropriately in research and in professional activity.