History of Science, Technology, and Medicine, B.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

Major Hours: 36

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 48

Upper-Division Hours Within Major: 21


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Program Code: B510

Major Requirements

  • Some courses required for the major may also fulfill University General Education and/or Dodge College of Arts & Sciences Requirements.
  • A grade of “C” or higher must be earned in each course presented for major credit.

A minimum of 36 hours of HSTM courses, 21 of which must be upper-division, are required. The 21 upper-division hours includes the capstone course. Up to six hours (2 courses) taught in other departments (i.e., Honors College) may be counted towards the major, subject to written prior approval of the HSTM departmental undergraduate advisor.

Students may choose a specific emphasis within the major: technology & society; biology, medicine & society; or, a traditional history of science emphasis.

Choose one HSTM Global course 13
Choose one HSTM Pre-1750 Period course 13
Choose one HSTM Post-1750 Period course 13
Choose one HSTM survey/introductory course from two of the three areas listed below: 16
History of Medicine
History of Technology
History of Science
HSTM 3993Junior Seminar3
HSTM 4993Capstone in History of Science, Technology, and Medicine3
Choose five additional HSTM courses from any of the categories listed above, or from any HSTM course listed in the OU catalog15
Total Credit Hours36
1

A list of the courses approved for each category may be obtained from the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Department, or in the OU General Catalog.

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and Dodge College of Arts & Sciences requirements must be from the approved General Education course list published in the Class Schedule or at http://www.ou.edu/gened/coursesCourses graded P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition (6 hours)
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language (0-13 hours in the same language)
The college requirement cannot be met by high school coursework.
Beginning Course0-5
Beginning Course, continued0-5
Intermediate Course (2000 level) 1,20-3
Mathematics (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education Mathematics list3
Core Area II: Natural Science (7 hours, including one laboratory component)
Biological Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: BIOL, HES, MBIO, or PBIO 13-4
Physical Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: AGSC, ASTR, CHEM, GEOG, GEOL, GPHY, METR, or PHYS 13-4
Core Area III: Social Science (6 hours)
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course from the General Education Social Science list3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities (18 hours)
Artistic Forms
Choose one course from the General Education Artistic Forms list3
Western Culture
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
Choose one course from the General Education Western Culture list (excluding HIST 1483/1493)3
World Culture
Choose one course from the General Education World Culture list3
Additional Core IV Upper-Division Arts & Humanities courses
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Core Area V: First Year Experience (3 hours)
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours56
1

College of Arts and Sciences Requirements: college requirements are not automatically fulfilled by a previous degree.

2

One course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level

3

6 upper-division hours, 2 courses, at the 3000- 4000-level. Must be outside the major.

Free Electives

Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree including 48 upper-division hours.

Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements

Arts and Sciences Hours: At least 80 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BA degree. At least 55 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BS degree.
Pass/No Pass Enrollment: A maximum of 16 semester hours of free elective credit may be attempted under this option.
Individual Studies (e.g., courses titled “Independent Study”): A maximum of 12 total semester hours may be counted toward graduation, excluding Honors Reading and Honors Research.
P.E. Courses: No physical education activity courses will be counted toward the 120 semester hours of acceptable credit for graduation.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:

  • At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the awarding institution.
  • At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major work must be completed in residence at OU.
  • OU correspondence courses are not considered resident credit.

Grade Point Averages: Students must earn a minimum over all 2.00 for each of the following: Combined Retention GPA (all college grades), OU Retention GPA, GPA for all major courses, and GPA for all major courses taken at OU. Some schools and departments of the College have higher minimum grade point averages required for their students.
 

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

This plan shows one possible grouping of courses that would allow students to graduate in four years. Please refer to the front of the degree checksheet for official requirements. Students must consult with Dodge College of Arts and Sciences and/or Department of History of Science academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy University, College of Arts and Sciences, and History of Science, Technology and Medicine major requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
HSTM 1113 Science, Nature and Society: Historical Perspectives 3
First Year Experience (Core V) 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 5
Free Elective, lower-division 1
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
Beginning Language continued (Core I) 5
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 4
HSTM 2000-level course 1 3
 Credit Hours15
Sophomore
First Semester
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
Math (Core I) 3
Intermediate Language 3
HSTM 2000-level course 2 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3
Artistic Forms (Core IV) 3
Social Science (Core III) 3
World Culture (Core IV) 3
HSTM 2000-level course 3 3
 Credit Hours15
Junior
First Semester
HSTM 3013 History of Science to the Age of Newton 3
HSTM 3000-level non-survey course 4 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
HSTM 3023 History of Science Since the Seventeenth Century 3
HSTM 3993 Junior Seminar 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
HSTM 3000-level non-survey course 4 3
HSTM 4993 Capstone in History of Science, Technology, and Medicine 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
HSTM 3000-level non-survey course 5 3
HSTM 3000-level non-survey course 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120
1

HSTM 2133

2

HSTM 2213

3

HSTM 2423

4

HSTM 3223, HSTM 3413, HSTM 3483, HSTM 3493, HSTM 3833

5

HSTM 3223, HSTM 3413, HSTM 3473, HSTM 3483, HSTM 3833