The undergraduate certificate program in the history and philosophy of science is designed to give students an understanding of the traditional philosophical issues surrounding science and the historical development of concrete scientific theories and ideas.

Philosophical questions about how we understand nature through science and how scientific claims gain authority are enriched when they are considered in a historical context. Such philosophical and historical study also often includes the examination of contemporary sciences and their place within the larger society, including the study of bioethics, policy and law.

This certificate is a valuable addition for students in the sciences or the humanities. It crosses disciplines to help students engage in unfamiliar and familiar paths of inquiry in new and interesting ways. The program is offered by the School of Life Sciences.