The Department of Science, Technology, and Society (STS) advances understanding of the social and ethical dimensions of science and technology. STS provides instruction in subjects that are essential to the education of professional engineers. This instruction forms the core of a liberal education and lays the foundation for ongoing professional development. All STS courses emphasize the relationships among science, technology, and society; ethics; and oral and written communication.

In addition to the first- and fourth-year courses (STS 101, and the STS 401 / STS 402 sequence) required of all Engineering undergraduates, the department offers an array of 200-level courses from which each student must choose at least one. Additional elective courses are offered at the 300 level. Drawing on disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, these courses provide a variety of perspectives—social, historical, esthetic, ethical, religious—on engineering, science, and technology.

In their senior year, all engineering undergraduates undertake a senior thesis project. Students work with a faculty member in their major and with an STS faculty member teaching STS 401-402; the thesis work includes integration of the technical subject matter with its ethical and social context. STS courses are supplemented by course work in the College of Arts and Sciences. STS courses connect the humanities and social sciences to engineering knowledge and practice. The STS component of the UVa engineering degree ensures that students have seriously considered the moral and social aspects of their future life’s work.

In addition, the STS department offers three undergraduate minor degree programs, and an Internship in Science and Technology Policy.

First Year

Excepting those students who place out of the course, all entering first-year students are enrolled in STS 101: Engineering, Technology, and Society. This course is designed to strengthen writing and speaking skills with special attention to the challenges of professional communication in engineering and applied science. The course also provides students with an introduction to the engineering profession, engineering ethics, and the social issues of professional engineering practice.

Second and Third year

In the second year or third year, all students take at least one 200-level course. Students who meet the prerequisites may elect to substitute one 300-level course for this requirement.

These courses examine the social and ethical issues of science and technology from humanities and social science perspectives. Each focuses on a topic area, such as Thomas Jefferson's interests in science and technology. Although writing and speaking skills continue to be stressed in these course, the focus shifts from skills to the course's content and the broader objective of improving students' grasp of the social and ethical issues of science and technology.

When space is available all 200/300-level courses are open to undergraduates from other schools in the University, and non-engineering students elect these courses as a way of expanding their understanding of the role of technology in modern society. Several of the 200/300-level courses are cross-listed with other departments including History, Psychology, and Architecture. Both engineering and non-engineering undergraduates may take a number of these courses in order to secure a minor.

Fourth year

Students in the fourth year enroll in a two-semester sequence, STS 401: Western Technology and Culture and STS 402: The Engineer in Society. This sequence combines focused study of the social, ethical, and professional issues of engineering and technology with the research and writing of the Undergraduate Thesis.