History and Philosophy of Science, PhD
Studying the history and philosophy of science while embedded among biologists in ASU's School of Life Sciences gives you distinct insights into the character and development of the biological sciences. You'll benefit from participating in the university's interdisciplinary culture and integrate coursework from the sciences and humanities into your education.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
The history and philosophy of science is an interdisciplinary field that traces its origin to foundational works such as Thomas Kuhn's "Structure of Scientific Revolutions." The field is based on the idea that the best way to understand science is to study how it changes over time, along with careful analysis of its concepts, theories and practices.
The Doctor of Philosophy program in history and philosophy of science offers you training in the core areas of history and philosophy of science with an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies of the sciences, including:
- computational history and philosophy of science
- conceptual foundations of biology, including evolution ecology, genetics and development
- general philosophy of science and epistemology
- history and philosophy of applied ethics and science policy
- history of 19th- and 20th-century biology
The program is especially appropriate if you have an undergraduate or master's degree in philosophy, history, or the sciences and if you are seeking to broaden your disciplinary studies. If you are a science student who hasn't taken relevant undergraduate humanistic core courses, you can make up these courses during your first years in the program.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (6 credit hours) Restricted Program Electives (30 credit hours) Program Electives (24 credit hours) Research (12 credit hours) Dissertation (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information HPS 615 Biology and Society Lab is a one credit hour course focused on student presentations of works in progress. Students must complete it three times during their graduate study.
HPS 615 Biology and Society Lab (3)
HPS 620 Research Prospectus Writing (3)
HPS 792 Research (12)
HPS 799 Dissertation (12)
An individual student program is developed in consultation with the student's advisor and committee.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Able to articulate an understanding of current literature on scientific developments and their relevance to society in scholarly writing.
- Able to contribute to original history and philosophy of science research in scholarly writing.
- Able to communicate history and philosophy of science research results in presentations.
Able to articulate an understanding of current literature on scientific developments and their relevance to society in scholarly writing.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of recognized standing in a related field such as history, philosophy, or history and philosophy of science, as well as a demonstrated background and interest in one or more sciences. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
A doctorate in history and philosophy of science provides strong preparation for academic careers at every level, from community colleges to research universities, including research, teaching, administration and science communication. The skills and knowledge obtained in this program are also valuable for government careers in federal and state agencies responsible for health, agriculture, conservation and education policy and management, and for careers in industry and nongovernmental organizations.
Career examples include:
- lawyer
- medical writer or editor
- professor or instructor at a university or college
- researcher analyzing health care, environmental or educational systems in an academic, government, nonprofit, private or industrial organization
- science communicator in an academic, private or industrial organization
- science or social studies teacher in an elementary or high school
- science policymaker or administrator
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Life Sciences
|
LSA 181
sols.grad@asu.edu
480-965-1768
Admission deadlines
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
