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

Several changes have been made to the study plan of this master's degree. Please check the information on the latest version here History of Science: History, Heritage and Scientific Communication

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.