PhD in History of Science, Technology, Environment, and Medicine in Cleveland United States | Case Western Reserve University

Four decades ago when it was founded, the graduate program in the History of Science and Technology initially shared facilities and faculty at CWRU with the newly established Society for the History of Technology (SHOT) and its publication, Technology and Culture. Over subsequent years, alumni and professors from the program have held key positions including secretaries of both SHOT and the History of Science Society, editors of Technology and Culture, presidents of SHOT and the International Committee for the History of Technology (ICOHTEC), and recipients of prestigious awards like the Dexter Prize, da Vinci Prize, and numerous other honors across both technological and scientific history fields.

Today's Science, Technology, Environment, and Medicine (STEM) track offers specialized focus areas including the sociocultural history of technology, science and technology policy, environmental history and policy, post-Renaissance physical sciences, gender studies in technology and science, and medical history.

In their initial full-time academic year, students complete required graduate literature surveys, selecting three from six available courses: HSTY 378, 402, 427, 451, 452, and 495. Additionally, they enroll in History 470: Historiography, Method, and Theory. The master's degree requires completion of at least 30 semester credit hours (ten courses). Course selection is determined through consultation with either the Director of Graduate Studies or the student's thesis advisor, with a maximum of three 300-level course credits permitted. The program also mandates nine credits of HSTY 651 (Thesis Research) and a completed master's thesis (included within the 30 total hours). Additional master's program specifics are available in the graduate handbook.