Undergraduate Course: Technology in Society (RCSS08003)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Technology in Society provides an introduction to one of the fastest-growing and most vibrant areas of academic inquiry ? the Social Study of Science and Technology. This is an area in which Edinburgh has longstanding strengths and which the course draws upon.
'Technology' is seen as one of the distinguishing characteristics of modern societies. The promotion of new technologies figures centrally in economic and industrial policy. In recent years there has been extensive debate and public discussion about the social implications of particular technologies for work, for the quality of life, for health and the environment. But what is technology? How does it arise? How does it affect us? Technology in Society explores these issues.
The overall aim of the course is to examine some of the different ways of analysing and understanding technology in society. It explores both the consequences of technical innovation for society and the ways technology is itself shaped by cultural, economic, political and organisational factors. We introduce a range of analytic perspectives on Technology in Society - drawing upon history, economics, and the sociologies of work, gender and science & technology themselves. We apply these to examine particular areas of technological activity including the workplace, the home, reproduction, and weapons technology.
Technology in Society reflects the interdisciplinary traditions of social studies of science. It is intended to appeal to students taking either social science or natural science programmes. |
| Course description |
Not entered
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 90,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
86 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment is based on coursework and an examination. Essay 1500-2000 words = 40%, Exam = 60% of total mark. You MUST pass the exam to pass the course.
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop a critical analysis of the mutual relationship between technology and society, exploring the ways in which technology is itself shaped by social and other factors as well as the effects of technology on society. The student will become familiar with, and develop a critical understanding of, the main approaches to the socio-economic analysis of technology, and the ways in which these theories have been deployed to analyse various technological innovations in different settings (including industrial production, technology in the home, contraception, information technology, biotechnology and defence technologies, environmental technologies.
- Exploring the ways in which technology is itself shaped by social and other factors
- Exploring the effects of technology on society
- Develop a critical understanding of, the main approaches to the socio-economic analysis of technology
- Become familiar with, and develop a critical understanding of, the ways in which these theories have been deployed to analyse various technological innovations in different settings (including technology at work and in the home, information technology, biomedicine and defence technologies,
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
1 hour tutorial per week for 10 week(s). One hour tutorial each week, starting in week two. |
| Keywords | Technology Society Environment Socio-economic Information Technology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Robin Williams
Tel: (0131 6)50 6387
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr John Riddell
Tel: (0131 6)50 9975
Email: |
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