STS is the “social context” department. Environmental problems in context. Science and technology in context. Design and innovation in context.
STS professors are experts in the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of science, medicine, computing, and engineering. They apply this expertise toward research, teaching, and design on important public issues, like nuclear waste storage, drug overdose prevention, and the future of computing.
Students in the STS department become independent thinkers through flexible degree programs that encourage hands-on research, creativity, and interdisciplinarity. Our students benefit from:
- Small class sizes
- Work on real research and community-based projects
- Connection with our alumni network
- A faculty-staff advising team that knows you
- Co-curricular activities like field trips and clubs
With a degree from the STS department, you can pursue a career as an innovation leader, designer, researcher, sustainability consultant, or social change-maker. Many pursue advanced degrees in law, medicine, design, or other fields.
Our students stand out because they combine insights from history, sociology, and anthropology with skills like design thinking, 3D prototyping, stakeholder research, policy analysis, and community engagement. You can take full advantage of everything RPI has to offer; beyond your major, you’ll take 24 credits in math and science, 16 credits in an area of study that complements your major, and electives that can apply to a minor or dual major.
In fact, our undergraduate programs are designed to work as dual majors, so you can finish the requirements for two degrees within just four years. Some popular combinations are:
- Design, Innovation, and Society + Mechanical Engineering
- Science, Technology, and Society + Computer Science
- Sustainability Studies + Business and Management
The Design, Innovation, and Society (DIS) bachelor’s degree program provides creative, socially conscious students a broad education in design. We stand out from other design schools by integrating social and humanistic inquiry into a creative and technical studio-based curriculum.
Students pursuing the B.S. in Science, Technology, and Society investigate the social and historical dimensions of science, engineering, and medicine. The major is designed for intellectually curious, socially conscious, and self-motivated students who seek a well-rounded education. Law, policy, and ethics are core themes of this degree program.
Students pursuing the B.S. in Sustainability Studies examine human-environment interactions and develop sustainability strategies through policy, community engagement, and hands-on projects. Sustainability Studies is a degree designed for environmentally conscious students seeking an education that blends social and natural sciences, humanities, and technology.
The doctoral program in Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer is globally renowned for research on the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of science, technology, and medicine. Graduates typically go on to be researchers, professors, planners, and advisers in academic, government, and private institutions.