South Dakota - School of Mines and Technology
Bachelor of Science in Science Technology and Society
Rapid City, USA
BSc
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 29,200 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
What is Science, Technology, and Society?
The Science, Technology, and Society (STS) degree at South Dakota Mines combines rigorous science coursework with a firm grounding in the social sciences, humanities, and liberal arts.
STS students at Mines learn to connect scientific and technological innovations to real-world problems in order to analyze the societal impact of those innovations.
The degree offers two tracks - environment and sustainability or policy and law.
What do science, technology, and society graduates do?
The Science, Technology, and Society at Mines program prepares students for admission to law school or graduate school as well as careers and placement in public policy, science communications, and writing, environmental sciences, science and technology business, education, accelerated teacher certification programs, the military, or law enforcement.
International students may seek scholarship opportunities but should be aware that many scholarships are limited to US citizens or permanent residents. South Dakota Mines does not offer scholarships specifically for international students. You must be ADMITTED by January 15 of the year you are planning to enroll in the fall semester if you wish to be considered for scholarships. Scholarships are only awarded for a start date of the fall semester. Please see the Scholarships website for information on Mines scholarships.
International students are NOT eligible for South Dakota Mines or federal loan programs and should not apply for such financial assistance.
Freshman Year
First Semester
- Composition I
- General Biology I
- General Biology I Lab
- Math Elective
- General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s)
Second Semester
- Introduction to Statistics (OR) Introduction to Probability and Statistics
- General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s)
- General Education Science Elective
Sophomore Year
First Semester
- Communication in the STEM Workplace
- Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society
- General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s)
Second Semester
- Explorations in STEM Communications
- Connections: Humanities & Technology
- 300/400 Level Humanities or Social Science Elective
Junior Year
First Semester
- Computers in Society
- Principles of Ecology
- Environmental Law & Policy (OR) Environmental History of the US
- 300/400 Level Science or Engineering Elective
- 300/400 Level Humanities or Social Science Elective
Second Semester
- Environmental Literature & Culture
- Current Bioethical Issues (OR) Bioethics
- Criminology (OR) Licit and Illicit Drugs
- 300/400 Level Science or Engineering Elective
- 300/400 Level Humanities or Social Science Elective
Senior Year
First Semester
- Writing and Research in Science, Technology, and Society
- Psychology of Abnormal Behavior (OR) Theories of Personality
- 300/400 Level Science or Engineering Elective
- 300/400 Level Humanities or Social Science Elective
Second Semester
- Undergraduate Research/Scholarship
- Level Science or Engineering Elective
- 300/400 Level Humanities or Social Science Elective
With a Science, Technology, and Society degree from Mines, you will have the opportunity to work in such fields as:
- Community and government
- Science and technology
- Military
- Law enforcement
- Education - science and math teachers
- Science lobbyists
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