Course syllabus for Technology and society

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-15 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameTeknik och samhälle
  • CodeTEK226
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMTS
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • ThemeMTS 7.5 c
  • DepartmentTECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 99126
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0117 Written and oral assignments 7.5 c
Grading: TH
0 c7.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Course round 2

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 99121
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0117 Written and oral assignments 7.5 c
Grading: TH
0 c0 c7.5 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level studies

Course specific prerequisites

The course is open for students having completed their first 60 hec within a Bachelor's Programme.

Aim

The overarching aims of the course is to a) foster abilities to make judgments with respect to relevant social and ethical dimensions, and demonstrate awareness of ethical challenges in research and development, b) provide insight into the possibilities and limitations of technology, its role in society and people’s responsibility for how it is used, including social and economic aspects.

More specifically, the course seeks to deepen the student’s understanding of the interrelation between scientific, technological, and social development. By introducing theoretical concepts within the social sciences and humanities, and applying them in the context of science, engineering, and design, the course aims to train students in engineering-related judgement. Further, the course endeavors to expand the student's awareness of how engineering and the sciences are intertwined with social development.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

- Describe theories of technology, science and society.
- Identify central themes in the relation between technological and social development.
- Reconstruct the interconnection between technology and society.
- Evaluate different approaches to manage the social outcomes of engineering design.
- Evaluate and critique theories about the relations between society, technology, and the sciences.

Content

The course
  • introduces key concepts from the social sciences and the humanities,
  • relating them to concepts within science and technology.
Further, it applies these concepts in the context of societal problematics encountered within engineering, and the design sciences more broadly.

Organisation

The course is organized as a series of lectures and group exercises.

Literature

The readings are presented in the course PM.

Examination including compulsory elements

The examination and grading is based upon an obligatory group report, optional mid-term exams and active participation in the course sessions.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.