SOC 295-02 - Special Topic: Science and Its Social Problems: The Sociology of Science and Technology

4 credits (Fall)

It is hard to imagine our contemporary world without science. Yet, how is scientific knowledge created, where does this activity take place, and why do we believe it (or not)? Sociologists examine science both as a powerful source of institutional authority and as a set of practices for making and using knowledge. Drawing on controversies over research, policy implications, and challenges from social movements, this course is designed to provide a sociological framework for unpacking central issues around science which concerns us all.

Prerequisite: SOC 111.
Instructor: Oberlin