Graduate Coursework

Graduate students in the Program in History and Philosophy of Science can pursue PhDs either in the Philosophy Department, through its PhD subplan in History and Philosophy of Science or in the History Department, through its PhD field in History of Science, Medicine and Technology. Diplomas will be issued by the respective departments, but the HPS study will not be noted on the transcript nor on the diploma. Ph.D. students completing the requirements of the HPS program will also receive a certificate issued by our Program.

Graduate students in the Program in History and Philosophy of Science who wish to pursue a Ph.D. Subplan in History and Philosophy of Science must fulfill Philosophy Departmental Ph.D. degree requirements and the following HPS requirements:

1. HPS colloquium series attendance
2. One of the following graduate level Philosophy of Science courses: 263, 264, 264A, or 266
3. One elective seminar in the history of science
4. One elective seminar (in addition to the course satisfying requirement 2) in philosophy of science

Philosophy Ph.D. students declaring the HPS subplan in Axess will have it appear on the official transcript but is not printed on the diploma.

Graduate students in the Program in History and Philosophy of Science who wish to pursue a Ph.D. in History of Science, Medicine, and Technology, must fulfill History Department Ph.D. degree requirements, and the following HPS requirements:

1. HPS colloquium series attendance
2. the History Department core seminar in History of Science, Medicine and Technology
3. Four other courses in the history of science, technology and/or medicine
4. One course in the philosophy of science
5. Four additional courses in a given geographical or national field of research, one of which must be a core course

The courses described above must include two research seminars, at least one of which must be in the history of science, technology and/or medicine. Students are expected to write papers on substantially different topics for each seminar. You should also aim to present your research at the annual meeting of a professional society associated with the history of science, technology and/or medicine sometime during your third or fourth year.

All students participating in the program are required to attend the HPST colloquium series and are expected to present their own research at least once in the course of their studies at Stanford. The colloquium series generally meets three times per quarter. This year the students have created a History of Science Reading group which will meet five times in the winter quarter. The meetings are open to all who are interested.

For a complete list of courses see the Undergraduate page, or look up specific course information in the Stanford Bulletin.

For Graduate Admissions applications, please visit the Stanford graduate admissions page.