writing the essay science and society nyu

Published September 18, 2023

Your Guide to the NYU Supplemental Essay

Katie Hindman

Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

As part of this year’s first-year application , you’ll have the option to answer a new NYU supplemental essay question. This year, we’re asking something brand new:

We are looking for peacemakers, changemakers, global citizens, boundary breakers, creatives and innovators – Choose one quote from the following and let us know why it inspires you; or share a short quote and person not on our list who inspires you, and include why (250 words).

• “We’re used to people telling us there are no solutions, and then creating our own. So we did what we do best. We reached out to each other, and to our allies, and we mobilized across communities to make change, to benefit and include everyone in society.”  Judith Heumann, 2022 NYU Commencement Address
• “ I encourage your discomfort, that you must contribute, that you must make your voice heard. That is the essence of good citizenship .” Sherilynn Ifill, 2015 NYU Commencement Address
• “If you know how to fly but you never knew how to walk, wouldn’t that be sad?” Lang Lang, 2015 NYU Honorary Degree Recipient
• “ You have the right to want things and to want things to change. ” Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland,  2023 NYU Commencement Address
• “It’s hard to fight when the fight ain’t fair.” Taylor Swift, “Change,” Released 2008, 2022 NYU Commencement Speaker
• Share a short quote and person not on this list, and why the quote inspires you.

No matter your initial reaction to this new question (perhaps “How or where do I start?!” or  “Hmm, nobody has answered this before…” or even “Woohoo! I get to be the first to take this on– no expectations!”), we want this question to give you a chance to shine.

Remember that there are real people (like me!) on the other side of the screen reading your application, and no matter what you write, we are grateful that you’re willing to share with us. 

We encourage you to approach the (optional!) NYU supplemental essay question with a sense of curiosity and excitement– because, after all, it’s all about YOU! 

HOW SHOULD YOU START?

Everyone’s writing process is distinct and personal. To begin, it might be helpful to jot down some ideas about what inspires you in each of these quotes. Even if one jumps out immediately, give some thought to them all! Is there a common theme that comes up in the ways you relate to each? Do they remind you of another quote that inspires you? Brainstorm in the way that works best for you, but give yourself a fair opportunity to consider your best answer.

Once you’ve chosen the quote you’ll reflect on, get all of your thoughts on paper. Sometimes the best writing comes from fragmented and unedited ideas, so try to stay away from judging your own writing before it’s time to edit.

WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY?

While each of the selected quotes has a specific connection to NYU, we want your answer to be about YOU. We assume you’re excited about NYU because you’re choosing to apply, so there’s no need to use this as a way to tell us about your interest in the school. You also don’t need to give us a literary or academic analysis! We’re confident you’re developing these skills in school. Rather, this is our opportunity to read about what inspires you as an individual (because we’re inspired by these quotes, too)!

Finally, think about how your answer might enhance what you’ve already shared with us through the rest of your application. Remember, you only have 250 words to answer the NYU supplemental essay, so start big and then narrow your ideas down to their most succinct form. Pick an idea and get right to it.

THE BOTTOM LINE…

There is no right or wrong way to answer as long as your answer is genuine to you. 

Remember that this question is completely optional (we promise). If you decide that you don’t want to answer the question, you will not be penalized in the admissions process. 

All of us admissions counselors are wishing you the very best of luck as you complete your college applications. We are already looking forward to learning more about the unique and dynamic class of 2028!

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Science, Health & Environmental Reporting

Because science is too important to leave only to scientists, and journalism is too important to leave to the scientifically illiterate.

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Where Science Savvy Meets Journalistic Excellence

A globally renowned science journalism program, the world’s oldest, we seek curious thinkers and strong writers from diverse backgrounds who share our belief that true stories well told can change the world. Building on a 40-year tradition of excellence and a tight community of highly accomplished alumni (at 476 and counting, it’s the largest alumni network in science journalism, by far), we focus on the joyous work of preparing the next generation of great science storytellers committed to covering scientific, medical and environmental topics with passion and precision.

Science, Health & Environmental Reporting

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Work and Learn in the World Capital of Science Journalism

There are more opportunities for aspiring science journalists in New York than anywhere else, and SHERP is the beating heart of this community. Our students publish and intern at dozens of leading outlets, where their editors are often SHERP alumni . Class work is focused squarely on developing practical, high-level storytelling skills. Writing, reporting and editing text is core but multimedia is anything but peripheral. SHERP students start shooting video just days after arriving and later add audio podcasting, programming, graphics, and data-mining. Projects range from quick news stories to full-blown investigative features and even a book proposal. Every SHERP student graduates with a rich portfolio of diverse stories published in professional outlets and in our award-winning publication Scienceline , which gets more than one million visits per year. We also leverage our position in New York and NYU, a world-class center for science research, to bring in more than 120 journalists, scientists, and other speakers each year to visit classes and take part in our Kavli Conversations on Science Communication  and other events.

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PUBLISHING AT SHERP

A Commitment to Diversity and Affordability

Central to our mission at SHERP is to serve democracy and advance social progress by diversifying the ranks of science journalism. We seek high achieving students from varied backgrounds and support them with large financial aid awards funded by NYU and by our generous donors, including foundations, alumni and friends . For the five most recent SHERP classes, the average financial aid award per enrolled student has been approximately $65,000. (This average includes only the aid we provide, not scholarships students secure on their own initiative.) The key point is this: If you think SHERP may be the right place for you, please don’t let financial concerns discourage you from applying !

Meet Our Current AND PAST Students

SUpport the next generation of science journalists

An Unmatched Reputation in the Job Market

SHERP’s job placement track record is unequalled in science journalism. Our graduates are working at The New York Times, Vox, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, ProPublica, Scientific American, Popular Science, Radiolab, Science Friday, Quartz, MIT Technology Review, and dozens of other major outlets. With the active assistance of our faculty and alumni, every student completes at least two high-level internships during their time at SHERP, giving them a major leg up in the job market.

INTERNSHIPS AT SHERP

Recent work by students and alumni

An Alumni Network Spanning 40 Years and 18 Time Zones

Our 476 graduates are a tight-knit group who love to engage with our current students in the classroom, in our mentorship program, at internships . and at our frequent events, including the Kavli Conversations on Science Communication . That means you’ll finish the program with not only a diverse story portfolio, a broad array of skills, and the experience of at least two high-level internships, but also connections to a network of successful journalists who understand exactly what you bring to the table.

Our Alumni, YEAR BY YEAR

RECENT AWARDS

A World-Class Faculty

Every teacher at SHERP is a working science journalist and a leader in our rapidly changing industry. They are also all veteran instructors with proven track records of success in the classroom. Their journalism informs their teaching; their teaching informs their journalism.

Professor | SHERP, Director

Dan Fagin is the director of the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program , in which he teaches Environmental Reporting and Current Topics in Science, Health and Environmental Journalism. He is also the founder and director of the Science Communication Workshops at NYU.

Awarded the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, Dan’s latest book, Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation, was described by The New York Times as “a new classic in science reporting.” A Times bestseller, Toms River also won the New York Public Library’s Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism, the National Academy of Sciences’ Communication Award and the Society of Environmental Journalists’ Rachel Carson Book Award. Toms River was included in several lists of the best books of the year, including by NPR, which described Toms River as a “gripping, page-turning environmental thriller,” and by Kirkus Reviews, which called it “fascinating” and “hard-hitting.” Two Chinese language editions of Toms River were published in 2015, and it was named a Book of the Year by the Beijing News and the China Times.

Eleanor Cummins

Adjunct Faculty | SHERP 2017

Eleanor Cummins is a freelance journalist whose work can be found in numerous outlets, including The Atlantic, Vox, The New Republic, and Popular Science, where she previously worked as an assistant editor. Her reporting on New York City oysters earned her the 2018 Edible Award and her narrative feature on Babe Ruth’s cancer treatment was a Longreads pick of the week. She is interested in experimenting with new media forms, which has led her to start her own publication, We’ll Have to Pass, to give a second life to killed stories and overlooked pitches. She’s also invested in the history of journalism, and maintains a public reading list and associated summer book club on the topic. A recent graduate of NYU’s Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program, Eleanor now serves as its internship professor.

Robin Marantz Henig

Adjunct Faculty

Robin Marantz Henig, who teaches the Reporting 1 workshop and the summer class in journalism ethics, has written scores of magazine and newspaper articles and nine books, most recently Twentysomething: Why Do Young Adults Seem Stuck? (co-authored with her daughter Samantha Henig). Her previous book, Pandora’s Baby : How the First Test Tube Babies Sparked the Reproductive Revolution , was named Book of the Year by the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and won the Science in Society Award of the National Association of Science Writers. Robin’s articles have appeared regularly in The New York Times Magazine , where she is a Contributing Writer, as well as in National Geographic, Scientific American , Smithsonian , and just about every woman’s magazine in the grocery store. She writes book reviews and opinion pieces for The New York Times , The Washington Post , and BookForum , and writes about grandparenthood for The Atlantic website. From 1997 to 2002 she was a member of the board of contributors of USA Today . She served for ten years on the board of directors of the National Association of Science Writers, was its president in 2014-2016, and was co-editor of its Field Guide for Science Writers .

Melinda Wenner Moyer

Adjunct Faculty | SHERP 2006

Melinda Wenner Moyer is a contributing editor at Scientific American magazine and a regular contributor to the New York Times, Washington Post,  and a number of other national publications.

She was the recipient of the 2019 Bricker Award for Science Writing in Medicine. One of her pieces for Scientific American was a finalist for a National Magazine Award, and another is featured in The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2020. Her work has also received first place awards in the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Reporting and the American Society of Journalists and Authors’ Annual Writing Awards. She was a 2018 Alicia Patterson Fellow.

Her first book, How To Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes , will be published in July 2021 by Putnam Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

She received an MA in Science, Health & Environmental Reporting from NYU in 2006.

Ivan Oransky, MD

Distinguished Journalist in Residence

Ivan Oransky, MD, Distinguished Writer In Residence, has taught medical reporting in the Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program since 2002. He is editor in chief of The Transmitter and co-founder of Retraction Watch, a site that reports on scientific integrity, fraud, and other issues. The site’s work has been cited by news outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, and in 2020 it was named one of NewsGuard’s “Unsung Heroes” who “are models in producing content that is truthful, compelling, credible, and transparent.”

Ivan previously was vice president of editorial at Medscape, global editorial director of MedPage Today, executive editor of Reuters Health, and held editorial positions at Scientific American and The Scientist. A 2012 TEDMED speaker, he is the recipient of the 2015 John P. McGovern Medal for excellence in biomedical communication from the American Medical Writers Association, and in 2017 was awarded an honorary doctorate in civil laws from The University of the South (Sewanee). Ivan has also taught at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism and has written for publications from Nature to the New York Times. From 2017-2021, he served as president of the Association of Health Care Journalists.

John Rennie

John Rennie teaches Science Writing in the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. Currently a deputy editor of Quanta Magazine, he served as editor in chief of Scientific American for almost 15 years and has been a member of its Board of Editors since 1989. In recent years, Rennie has also served as editorial director of McGraw-Hill Education’s online science reference AccessScience and has hosted the television series Hacking the Planet on The Weather Channel. He has also blogged at The Gleaming Retort for PLOS blogs and lectured widely about science topics, especially the life sciences, technology and ethical and cultural challenges of new discoveries. During his tenure at Scientific American, Rennie oversaw the modernization and expansion of that venerable magazine franchise to include new titles such as Scientific American Mind and assorted digital media. He edited the National Magazine Award-winning single-topic issues “What You Need to Know about Cancer” (Sept. 1996) and “A Matter of Time” (Sept. 2002). The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies honored him with its 2003 Navigator Award for distinguished service in support of national science and technology policy. He was also a recipient of the 2000 Sagan Award for Public Understanding of Science from the Council of Scientific Society Presidents.

Charles Seife

Professor | Director, Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute

Before joining the Department of Journalism, Charles Seife was writer for Science magazine -specializing in physics and mathematics- and had been a U.S. correspondent for New Scientist. He holds an A.B. in mathematics from Princeton University, an M.S. in mathematics from Yale University, and an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University. His research interests include science and mathematics journalism.

Seife’s freelance work has appeared in The Economist, Scientific American, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Post, The New York Times and other publications. He is also the author of Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea (2000), which won the 2000 PEN/Martha Albrand Award for First Nonfiction, as well as Alpha & Omega: The Search for the Beginning and End of the Universe (2003), Decoding the Universe: How the New Science of Information is Explaining Everything in the Cosmos, From Our Brains to Black Holes (2005), Sun in a Bottle: The Strange History of Fusion and the Science of Wishful Thinking (2008), and the forthcoming Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception (2010).

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Recent awards and fellowships won by graduates, students and faculty:

“Scienceline Kids: When Art Meets Science,” the special issue of Scienceline created by the December 2023 graduating class of Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program students, is a finalist in the 2024 Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence Awards in Region 1, the Northeast

As the SHERPies wrote: "Whether your dream is to become a famous fashion designer, an engineer, or anything in between — you’ll find something to love." Scienceline has earned this distinction at least a half dozen times before, and competition is always very stiff, with thousands of entries. We'll find out if they advance to the national awards at the SPJ Northeast conference at Emerson in April.

Alexa Robles Gil and Anthony Esguerra were awarded 2023 Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the United States (AFPC-USA) Scholarships

Alexa Robles Gil (SHERP) and Anthony Esguerra (Studio 20) are currently-enrolled students at NYU Journalism. 8 students enrolled in journalism master's programs across the U.S were awarded in total for this year.

SHERP Alum named NYU Alumni Changemaker of the Year

Sharon Guynup (SHERP 1998) won the honor for her investigative stories shining a light on threats to tigers and other at-risk animals all over the world. She also recently co-founded Big Cat Voices, a film, photography, and storytelling nonprofit focusing on protecting the world's big cats and the lands they inhabit.

SHERP Alum Wins Prestigious Post-Grad Fellowship

Deborah Balthazar (SHERP 2002) has won the Sharon Begley Science Reporting Fellowship at STAT News.

SHERP Graduate Wins Major Children’s Literature Prize

Chana Steifel (SHERP 1991) won the Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children’s […]

SHERP Graduate Wins Inaugural Sharon Begley Prize for Science Reporting

Bijal Trivedi (SHERP 1998) won the honor, which comes with a $20,000 grant to support a reporting project. Trivedi is the senior editor for science at National Geographic. The new award is administered by the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing.

Science Writing Award Goes to Recent SHERP Graduate

Jonathan Moens (SHERP 2020) won the annual science writing award of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, for an investigative report on chick-culling that was originally produced for a SHERP class and ultimately published in Undark.

Two Incoming SHERP Students Win Taylor/Blakeslee University Fellowships

Anna Gibbs and Marlowe Starling (SHERP 2023) were awarded the prestigious fellowships by the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing.

SHERP Grad Named a New America National Fellow

Rose Eveleth (SHERP 2011) has been awarded a New America National Fellowship to produce a podcast series on gender verification testing in sports. She is a writer, author and independent podcaster who explores how humans tangle with science and technology.

SHERP Alum wins climate investigative reporting award

Peter Fairley is one of two finalists in the investigative reporting category of the Covering Climate Now Journalism Awards. He was recognized for his story, "Who Killed the Supergrid" published in the Atlantic and InvestigateWest.

Four SHERP Alums Win Environmental Journalism Prizes

Lili Pike (SHERP 2020) won first place in the student category for a story about climate threats to public housing that started as a class assignment and was ultimately published in Undark. Lauren Young (SHERP 33) won second place in the small market-features category for a Valley Fever series for Science Friday. Lynne Peeples (SHERP 27) won third in small-market explanatory for an Ensia series on drinking water threats, while Katie Peek (SHERP 28) won honorable mention in the same category for an Audubon feature about ocean plastics.

SHERP grads win national trade journalism award two straight years

Antonio Regalado (SHERP 1994) won the award from the National Institute of Health Care Management Foundation for his stories in MIT Technology Review about the race to find a covid-19 drug in the blood of survivors. In 2020, Caitlin Cox (SHERP 2004) won the same award.

View OLDER Awards

Recent Published Work

Like all good journalism, the work of our students, faculty, and alumni speaks for itself. Here’s a sampling of recently published stories:

View Older Published Work

Writing The Essay:

This foundational writing course is required for CAS, Nursing, Social Work, Steinhardt and Tandon incoming undergraduates. "Writing the Essay'' provides instruction and practice in critical reading, creative and logical thinking, and clear, persuasive writing. Students learn to analyze and interpret written texts, to use texts as evidence, to develop ideas, and to write exploratory and argumentative essays. Exploration, inquiry, reflection, analysis, revision, and collaborative learning are emphasized.

Course of Study

Social Work Major Requirements

Our program provides both structure and flexibility so that you can forge your own unique path while fulfilling the School’s requirements for a well-rounded and meaningful educational experience. The liberal arts requirements offer a range of opportunities to explore various subjects of interest, including languages, history, journalism, or politics; the choices are seemingly endless.

Liberal Arts Core and Distribution

Liberal Arts Core Requirements

• EXPOS-UA 1 Writing the Essay (4 credits)
• EXPOS-UA 17 Writing in Community (4 credits) OR ACE-UAE 110 Advanced College Essay (4 credits)
• PSYCH-UA 1 Introduction to Psychology (4 credits)
• SOC-UA 1 Introduction to Sociology (4 credits)
• UNDSW-US 113 Human Biology (4 credits)

Liberal Arts Distribution

• Three Humanities Courses (12 credits total)
• Four Social Science Courses (16 credits total)
• Four Unrestricted Elective Courses (16 credits total)

The Social Work required courses will give you the skills and understanding that will form a solid foundation and veritable springboard to many exciting career possibilities. Students need 64 credits in the Social Work Major to obtain their degree.

Social Work Major Courses

Social Work Major

• UNDSW-US 1 – Society and Social Welfare (4 credits)
• UNDSW-US 2 – Skills in Interpersonal Communication (4 credits)
• UNDSW-US 11 – Agencies & Organizations (4 credits)
• UNDSW-US 12 – Social Work Research (4 credits)
• UNDSW-US 13 – Social Welfare Programs & Policies (4 credits)
• UNDSW-US 21 – Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (4 credits)
• UNDSW-US 22 – Human Behavior in the Social Environment II (4 credits)
• UNDSW-US 31 – Social Work Practice I (4 credits)
• UNDSW-US 32 – Social Work Practice II (4 credits)
• UNDSW-US 40 – Field Experience Lab (5 credits)
• UNDSW-US 41 – Field Instruction I (6 credits)
• UNDSW-US 42 – Field Instruction II (6 credits)
• UNDSW-US 55 – Diversity, Racism, Oppression, Privilege (4 credits)
• UNDSW-US __ – Social Work Elective (4 credits)
• UNDSW-US 116 – First Year Impact Seminar I (0 credit)

Practicum Education and Service Learning

Our  Practicum Education  provides the experience of social work in action, and  Service Learning  courses provide students with a valuable opportunity to do volunteer work.

• Explore Practicum Education
• Learn more about Service Learning

Social Work Curriculum by Year

Curious about what your next four years will be like at NYU Silver?  Below is a sample curriculum.

Second Year

Fourth year, “while at silver, i’ve been pushed to reconsider the world i’ve always lived in but have only just begun to learn about through the lens of social justice and service..

My social work education continues to be a challenging and invigorating process that I’m grateful for daily.”

Mel Variano, Class of 2021

• Skip to Main
• Cohort Program Learning Outcomes
• Second Year
• Junior Year
• Senior Year
• CAS Orientation on NYU Mobile
• CAS Orientation
• Resources and Checklist for First-Year Students
• Academic Advising
• CAS Advising Portal Presentations and Sample Schedules
• External Transfers
• Internal Transfers
• LS-to-CAS Transition
• Giving to CAS
• College Leaders Team
• Albert/NYU Guides
• Albert FAQs

Prehealth Students

To learn more about Calculus placement and check if you are Calculus ready, go to the CAS Math website

• Cohort Meeting (COHRT-UA 10) 
• First-Year Seminar (FYSEM-UA ---) or EXPOS-UA 1 
• Algebra and Calculus (MATH-UA 9)
• Start exploring your major – if your major coursework requires calcreadiness, consider a second Core Course
• Foreign language (e.g. Spanish for Beginners 1: SPAN-UA 1); Texts and Ideas (CORE-UA 4--); or Cultures and Contexts (CORE-UA 5--)
• Cohort Meeting (COHRT-UA 10)
• First-Year Seminar (FYSEM-UA ---) or EXPOS-UA 1
• General Chemistry I (CHEM-UA 125)
• Start exploring your major – unless required by your major, wait until Spring to add a 2nd science or math course

Note : Even if you receive AP/IB/other advanced standing credit for science courses, you will have to repeat the sciences as part of the prehealth and/or science major curriculum at NYU.

• First-Year Seminar (FYSEM-UA ---) or EXPOS-UA 1 (Writing the Essay)
• Principles of Biology (BIOL-UA 11)
• Foreign language (e.g. Spanish for Beginners 1: SPAN-UA 1);
• Cultures and Contexts (CORE-UA 5--)
• First-Year Seminar (FYSEM-UA ---) or EXPOS-UA 1 (Writing the Essay; Science)
• Calculus I (MATH-UA 121)*
• Texts and Ideas (CORE-UA 4--); or

*Students who receive college credit based on an advanced placement program/exam (e.g. AP, IB, A Level) may be able to enroll in a higher level math course. See the CAS bulletin for details and discuss with an advisor

Note : Even if you receive AP/IB/other advanced standing credit for science courses, you will have to repeat the sciences as part of the prehealth and/or science major curriculum at NYU. Chemistry majors with advanced standing credit in chemistry should consult their advisor about advanced general chemistry options.

• First-Year Seminar (FYSEM-UA ---) or EXPOS-UA 1 (Writing the Essay: Science)
• Physics I (PHYS-UA 91) and Lab (PHYS-UA 71)

*Students who receive college credit based on an advanced placement program/exam (e.g. AP, IB, A Level) may be able to enroll in a higher level math course. See the  CAS bulletin  for details and discuss with an advisor

Minor in Science and Society

Director:  Professor Karl Appuhn (CAS)

Administrator:  Jennifer Capozzoli  (CAS)

Steering Committee:  Professor Karl Appuhn (CAS), Professor Mara Mills (Steinhardt), Professor Jonathan Bain (Tandon), Professor Robyn D'Avignon (CAS), Professor Stefanos Geroulanos (CAS)

Requirements at a Glance:

• 1 required course ( HIST-UA 66, Introduction to Science & Society , formerly HIST-UA 94) Required course does not have to be taken first.
• 12 more points chosen from the list of approved minor electives . Minor electives are offered in NYU's College of Arts and Science (CAS), Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Tandon School of Engineering, and Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

How to Declare:

CAS students submit this form to declare the minor.

All other NYU undergradutes declare the minor using the Application for Cross-School Minor online form, accessible via the "Academics" tab in your Albert Student Center.

Science and society is a rich, inherently cross-disciplinary minor, drawing on the course offerings and faculty expertise of the College of Arts and Science, the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, the Tandon School of Engineering, and the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. The minor analyzes how the techniques and methodologies of the humanities and social sciences can be used to illuminate both the context and content of science, technology, and medicine. Drawing upon history, philosophy, anthropology, and sociology, students investigate how culture and society frame—and, indeed, are themselves framed by—science, technology, and medicine.

The current influence of scientific, technological, and medical issues on our lives is unprecedented, altering our notions of race, health, responsibility, ownership, ethics, esthetics, and indeed self. We are therefore obliged to understand these critical interactions with a view to understand, and intervene in, the world. The types of questions this minor poses include: How has gene patenting affected both the content and conduct of molecular biology, as well as intellectual property law? What is the relationship between the mathematical descriptions that physicists employ and the nature of physical phenomena? What are the ethical and political issues involved in human embryonic stem cell research? How do machines shape esthetics? What, if anything, is the difference between a machine and a human? How does nature have a history?

This minor serves as an enlightening complement to pre-health studies, pre-law studies relevant to intellectual property, biotechnology, and environmental and healthcare studies. It also provides a potent training to those interested in pursuing advanced degrees in the history, philosophy, sociology, or anthropology of science, technology, or medicine.

Program of Study

The minor in Science and Society requires 16 points of coursework. To complete the minor, students take the core course ( Introduction to Science and Society ) and complete the balance of required points with approved electives . Courses may be taken in any order;  Introduction to Science and Society does not have to be taken first. Many courses in the minor fall into one of the following four clusters: technology, physics, biology/prehealth, and environmental sciences. Students are strongly encouraged, however, to be creative and challenge themselves to think in ways other than those that are strictly categorical. For example, a student interested in understanding the difference between the natural and the artificial might take the following three elective courses in addition to the required Introduction to Science and Society course: Philosophy of Biology ; Humans, Machines, and Aesthetics ; and Nature and Technology in Modern America .

Students are also strongly encouraged to take courses in the various schools throughout NYU contributing to the minor. This will expose them to a plethora of diverse pedagogical experiences and greatly enhance co-learning. Please be mindful of your home school's policy for earning and credits in other NYU schools.

Required Course in CAS

HIST-UA 66, Introduction to Science and Society

formerly HIST-UA 94 (4 points) Introduces techniques and approaches used by the humanities and social sciences in studying science, technology, and medicine. Investigates how historians, philosophers, sociologists, and anthropologists apply their methodological toolkit in investigating scientific, technological, and medical knowledge. Invites students to think synthetically, organically, and creatively across several disciplines.

Elective Courses

Click here to see a list of Science and Society electives on offer in the current semester!

Please check Albert and departmental websites for each course's availability by semester, meeting times, and prerequisites.

If you have a course that you think should count as an elective, but do not see it in the following list, email a course syllabus to the minor's Administrator . 

College of Arts & Science

Gallatin School of Individualized Study

Nyu abu dhabi, nyu shanghai, steinhardt school of culture, education, and human development, tandon school of engineering, college of arts and science.

ANTH-UA 35,  Medical Anthropology (4 points)

ANTH-UA 36,  Global Biocultures: Anthropological Perspectives on Public Health (4 points)

CSCI-UA 1,  Computers in Society (4 points)

CSCI-UA 472,  Artificial Intelligence (4 points)

ENVST-UA 425,  History of Ecology and Environmentalism (4 points)

ENVST-UA 9450, Australian Environmental History (4 points)

FRSEM-UA 418,  Disease in American History (4 points)

HIST-UA 79, Pandemics in World History  (4 points)

HIST-UA 115,  Environmental History of the Early Modern World (4 points)

HIST-UA 135,  Premodern Science (4 points)

HIST-UA 158,  History of Medicine (4 points)

HIST-UA 202,  History of Western Medicine (4 points)

HIST-UA 275, Topic: Science, Technology, and Environment in East Asia (4 points)

HIST-UA 293, Topic: Global Medicine and Disease, Challenges We Face (4 points)

HIST-UA 401,  History of Sexuality and Reproduction (4 points)

HIST-UA 443,  Topics: Science, Religion, & Humanities Since Darwin (4 points)

HIST-UA 547,  Food and Drugs in Chinese History (4 points)

HIST-UA 569, Topics: Controversies and Debates in Public Health (4 points)

HIST-UA 572, African Ways of Knowing (4 points)

HIST-UA 750,  Topics: American Environmental History (4 points)

JOUR-UA 503,  Journalism and Society: Covering the Earth (4 points)

PHIL-UA 5,  Minds and Machines (4 points)

PHIL-UA 50, Medical Ethics (4 points)

PHIL-UA 53,  Ethics and the Environment (4 points)

PHIL-UA 80,  Philosophy of Mind (4 points)

PHIL-UA 88,  How Science Works  (4 points)

PHIL-UA 90,  Philosophy of Science (4 points)

PHIL-UA 91,  Philosophy of Biology (4 points)

PSYCH-UA 53, Psychological Science and Society (4 points)

SCA-UA 158, Race and Reproduction (4 points)

SOC-UA 414,  Sociology of Medicine (4 points)

SOC-UA 935,  Topic: Young Adult Health (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1059,  Disease and Civilization (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1156,  The Darwinian Revolution (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1207,  Origins of the Atomic Age (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1231,  The Trial of Galileo (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1294,  Philosophy of Medicine (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1298,  Ecology and Environmental Thought (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1328,  Rethinking Science (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1339,  Foucault: Biopolitics and the Care of the Self (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1514,  Science and Religion (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1516,  Understanding the Universe (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1519,  Biology and Society (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1532,  Lives in Science (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1534,  The Seen and Unseen in Science (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1551,  Science and Theatre (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1566,  History of Environmental Science (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1571,  Humans, Machines, and Aesthetics (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1575,  Energy (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1602,  Nature, Resources, and the Human Condition (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1652,  Science and Culture (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1703,  The Green Dream (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1720,  The Artificial and the Natural (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1760,  Quantification and Social Thought (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1801,  Minds and Bodies: A History of Neuroscience (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1814 , Darwin's Origin of the Species (2 points)

IDSEM-UG 1832, Genetics and Society (2 points) & IDSEM-UG 1833,  Music and Science (2 points) Note : The above courses together count as one elective

IDSEM-UG 1891,  Tinkering in Feminist Technoscience (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1911, Magic Bullets and Blockbuster Brands: Drugs, Disease, and Chemistry in the Modern World (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 1961,  The Western History of Madness, From the Bible to DSM-V (4 points)

IDSEM-UG 2018,  Life Among the Machines  (4 points)

CSTS-UH 1036, Progress in Science (4 points)

HUMN-SHU 110, What is Science and Technology Studies? (4 points)

FOOD-UE 1033,  Food and Agriculture in the 20th Century (3 points)

FOOD-UE 1180,  Food and Nutrition in a Global Society (4 points)

LIBAR-UE 141,  Science in the Community (4 points)

MCC-UE 1026,  Disability, Technology, and Media (4 points)

MCC-UE 1034 , Media, Technology, and Society (4 points)

MCC-UE 1036,  On the Phone: Telephone and Mobile Communication (4 points)

MCC-UE 1411,  Visual Culture of Science and Technology (4 points)

NUTR-UE 1184,  Food Science and Technology (3 points)

PUHE-UE 70,  Health and Society: Introduction to Public Health (4 points)

PUHE-1315,  Intro to Public Health Nutrition (4 points)

PUHE-UE 1323,  Environmental Health, Social Movements, and Public (4 points)

HI-UY 3244,  The History of Light (4 points)

HI-UY 2254,  From Heat Engines to Black Holes (4 points)

PL-UY 2254, Science and Pseudoscience (4 points)

PL-UY 2274,  Space and Spacetime (4 points)

PL-UY 2294,  Quantum Mechanics and Information (4 points)

PL-UY 3254,  Philosophy of Science (4 points)

PL-UY 3264,  Physics, Information, and Computation (4 points)

PL-UY 3284,  Relativity and Spacetime (4 points)

STS-UY 1002-A, Introduction to Science and Technology Studies (2 points)

STS-UY 2004-A, Science, Technology, and Society (4 points)

STS-UY 2224,  Science and Sexuality (4 points)

STS-UY 2244,  Magic, Medicine, and Science (4 points)

STS-UY 2444,  History and Philosophy of Internet Technology (4 points)

STS-UY 2624,  The Rhetoric of Science (4 points)

STS-UY 3004,  Seminar in Science and Technology Studies (4 points)

STS-UY 3204,  Science and Difference (4 points)

STS-UY 3434,  Hypermedia in Context (4 points)

STS-UY 3624,  Science and Technology in the Literary Sphere (4 points)

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

STS majors take 120 credits, divided into four parts:

1. General Education Requirement: 40 Credits

(a) texts, communication and social thought requirement: 2 courses, 8 credits.

• EXPOS-UA 1    and EXPOS-UA 2    - Writing the Essay and the Advanced College Essay

(b) Free Electives Requirement: 32 Credits

2. technology/science requirement: 40 credits.

The minimum cumulative GPA for this requirement must be 3.0.

(a) Innovation and Problem Solving Requirement: 5 Credits

• EG-UY 1001 Engineering and Technology Forum 1 Credits
• MA-UY 1024 Calculus I for Engineers 4 Credits or equivalent

(b) Technology/Science Electives: 35 Credits

35 Technology/Science credits taken from any of the following general fields, at least 15 credits of which must be from the same field (unless otherwise indicated by minor requirements specific to a given department and/or approved by the adviser).

• Biological Sciences
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Mathematics
• Applied Physics

3. STS Requirement: 40 Credits

Each class must be passed with a minimum grade of C.

(a) Core: 16 Credits

• STS-UY 1004W Science, Technology, and Society 4 Credits
• STS-UY 3004W Seminar in Science and Technology Studies 4 Credits
• STS-UY 4034 Internship 4 Credits
• STS-UY 4002 Capstone Project I in Science and Technology Studies 2 Credits
• STS-UY 4202 Capstone Project II in Science and Technology Studies 2 Credits

(b) Restricted Electives: 24 Credits

6 courses from the Science, Technology, and Society (STS) cluster of Humanities and Social Sciences courses (excluding those taken to fulfill the Core Requirement 3a). These courses include STS-prefixed courses as well as those listed under the STS Cluster in the Humanities and Social Sciences Electives List   .

Typical Course of Study for STS Major, Tech/Sci Concentration Undefined

Fall semester: 17 credits.

• EXPOS-UA 1 Writing the Essay 4 Credits
• Tech/Sci Elective 1 4 Credits
• Free Elective 1 4 Credits
• MA-UY 1024 Calculus I for Engineers 4 Credits

Spring Semester: 16 Credits

• EXPOS-UA 2 The Advanced College Essay 4 Credits
• Free Elective 2 4 Credits
• Tech/Sci Elective 2 4 Credits

Sophomore Year

Fall semester: 12 credits.

• Tech/Sci Elective 3  4 Credits
• Tech/Sci Elective 4  4 Credits
• Free Elective 3  4 Credits
• STS Elective 1 4 Credits
• STS Elective 2 4 Credits
• Tech/Sci Elective 5 4 Credits
• Free Elective 4 4 Credits

Junior Year

Fall semester: 16 credits.

• STS Elective 3 4 Credits
• Tech/Sci Elective 6 4 Credits
• Free Elective 5 4 Credits
• STS Elective 4 4 Credits
• Free Elective 6 4 Credits
• Tech/Sci Elective 7 4 Credits

Senior Year

Fall semester: 13 credits.

• STS Elective 5 4 Credits
• STS Elective 6 4 Credits
• Tech/Sci Elective 8 3 Credits

Spring Semester: 14 Credits

• STS Elective 7 4 Credits
• Free Elective 7 4 Credits
• Free Elective 8 4 Credits

Total credits required for the degree: 120