History and Philosophy of Science
Why Study History and Philosophy of Science?
The Bachelor of Science (BS) in History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) degree program at Caltech traces scientific thinking and processes over time through dedicated study of science's role in our world, consciousness, and society.
No matter what specific area of science you are interested in, studying the history and philosophy of science can greatly improve your research approach and deepen your understanding of scientific discoveries. By thoroughly analyzing historical thinkers, established precedents, and philosophical frameworks, you develop valuable tools to think of science in new ways and address complex questions—how have scientific discoveries impacted our conceptions of space, time, and consciousness? How do history's great scientists approach the concepts of truth and knowledge?
Why History and Philosophy of Science at Caltech?
The HPS major at Caltech illuminates the theoretical foundations of scientific principles and practices. Reaching this new level of understanding equips students to design sound research projects that yield ethically and accurately represented findings in any science or engineering field. Our bachelor's program encourages practical contributions to real-world scientific and philosophical advancements through on-campus and global research opportunities.
Thanks to vast alum networks and research connections, students in the history and philosophy of science bachelor's degree program learn from guest speakers and connect with special projects, enriching the learning experience beyond the classroom. For example, current Caltech researchers are studying the Einstein Papers—Albert Einstein's never-before-seen correspondences and writings. Nowhere else but at Caltech will you be able to converse with these leading-edge experts in small classes and join their research teams as an undergraduate.
What You'll Learn
The history and philosophy of science curriculum offers the flexibility to select courses spanning the evolution of scientific practice and the philosophical roots of scientific inquiry and policy. You'll study the theory behind causation, reality, and probability and gain high-level research and writing skills. Courses like Waste in the World deeply examine historical and cultural perspectives of a concept like trash and trace them to ideas and beliefs across society and nature. In other courses, you can attend guest lectures or collaborate with other students to debate ethical issues in real-world case studies, like misinformation in the COVID-19 pandemic.
As either a major or minor in history and philosophy of science, uncover interdisciplinary insights from ethics in artificial intelligence to interpretations of quantum mechanics to how to argue correlations between environmental toxins and physical symptoms.
View the Caltech catalog for major and minor requirements and curriculum information.
Who You'll Learn From
Work directly with our 12 award-winning faculty members—philosophers, scientists, and humanities researchers who bring philosophical rigor to scientific questions and historical insight to modern challenges. Our professors' collaborative approach connects students with experts worldwide, catering to the most niche research interests (like Indigenous Maori astronomy or how neural networks inform consciousness).
History and philosophy of science majors gain firsthand perspective on the scientific and philosophical developments they study by proposing or joining faculty research teams or pursuing independent research supported by faculty and their connections.
Caltech students get the kind of individualized attention they would get at a very small liberal arts college, but they have access to the laboratories and expertise of a major research university. Almost all undergraduate students participate in research at some point in their career, and many have scientific papers published by the time they graduate.
Career Possibilities
The history and philosophy of science major curriculum builds on Caltech's shared first-year core curriculum and requires no specific prior coursework. Key components of the bachelor's degree program include:
- Four self-selected courses in the humanities: two introductory and two advanced
- Advanced courses in the history and philosophy of science
- Additional units of science, mathematics, and engineering preparation
- Senior research seminar
- Bioethics consultants
- Career philosophers
- Medical or biological researchers
- Research program managers
- Science journalists and technical writers
- Scientific policy advisors
Curriculum Components and Prerequisites
The history and philosophy of science major curriculum builds on Caltech's shared first-year core curriculum and requires no specific prior coursework. Key components of the bachelor's degree program include:
- Four self-selected courses in the humanities: two introductory and two advanced
- Advanced courses in the history and philosophy of science
- Additional units of science, mathematics, and engineering preparation
- Senior research seminar
Pursue a Bachelor's in History and Philosophy of Science at Caltech
As a student in Caltech's history and philosophy of science degree program, you won't just endeavor to ask how science works but why it matters. When you pair a major or minor in HPS with another major, you'll complement your future career in research, science, and beyond with crucial skills in analysis, scientific communication, and philosophical reasoning.