HPST: History and Philosophy of Science and Technology MA

Master of Arts

Program Description

Admission to the MA is highly selective and competitive. Acceptance is based on a combination of grades, references, academic and professional accomplishments, areas of interest, and a sample of written work. The IHPST website contains detailed instructions for completing admission applications. Applications must be accompanied by transcripts, a statement of interest, letters of reference, a curriculum vitae, and a writing sample.

Applicants who wish to take one or more of the courses offered by IHPST as non-degree students should apply for admission as Special Students. The application procedures are the same as for those of the MA program, but the deadline for applications is May 1.

The MA program can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy IHPST's additional admission requirements stated below.
  • A bachelor's degree from a recognized university with an average grade of at least B+ in the final two years of undergraduate work. While the majority of accepted students exceed this standard, the very broad scope of the field and the variety of fruitful approaches to it also imply that many different backgrounds are appropriate. Accordingly, grades are only one criterion used to judge applicants.
  • Applications must be accompanied by a 300- to 500-word statement of interest indicating the applicant's areas of interest in history and/or philosophy of science and technology at the graduate level. A writing sample of no more than 3,000 words (not to exceed 20 pages) is required.
  • Application deadline is January 15 of every year.
  • Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Written English (TWE) with the following minimum scores:
    • Paper-based TOEFL: 580 and 5 on the TWE
    • Internet-based TOEFL: 93/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

Program Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must complete a minimum of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs). A student’s curriculum is arranged in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies. Students make course choices consistent with a commitment to either:
    • One of the three history fields (History of Mathematics and Physical Sciences; History of Medicine and Life Sciences; History of Technology), or
    • The philosophy field (Philosophy of Science).
  • Students in a history field must:
    • Complete HPS1000H Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Science (0.5 FCE) in the first session
    • Complete 1.0 FCE from the HPS 2000 series
    • Complete 0.5 FCE from the HPS 3000 series
    • Complete elective courses (1.0 FCE)
    • Demonstrate a reading knowledge of French or German; language instruction courses are not counted in the 3.0 FCEs required for the degree.
  • Students in the philosophy field must:
    • Complete HPS1000H Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Science (0.5 FCE) in the first session
    • Complete 0.5 FCE from the HPS 2000 series
    • Complete 1.0 FCE from the HPS 3000 series
    • Complete elective courses (1.0 FCE)
    • Demonstrate proficiency in introductory logic, a reading knowledge of French, or a reading knowledge of German; logic and language instruction courses are not counted in the 3.0 FCEs required for the degree.
  • Students in either field who wish to pursue independent research may take HPS1500H Research Paper (0.5 FCE), in which they carry out a self-initiated research project under the direction of a faculty advisor.

Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S);
15 sessions part-time

Time Limit

3 years full-time;
6 years part-time