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STEM185

Course Summary

Course: STEM185 Title: The History and Context of

STEM
Length of Course: 8
Prerequisites : [leave blank] CreditHours: 3

Description
Course Description:
This course offer students the opportunity to delve into the history and context of the STEM disciplines. The course will
review not only the definition of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), but the history of the
individual study areas and their progression toward a unified field of study. The course will delve into the similarities that
helps to unite these fields as well as the distinct differences that separate them. Students will be exposed to a wide range
of topics as the course looks at different key timeframes in STEM, such as 19th century America and Europe as well as
today.

Course Scope:
This course covers the evolution of each of the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) from their
beginnings in ancient times to the present day. The advancements made during the scientific revolution, the industrial
revolution, and the space and information ages are emphasized in particular. The course examines the role of
underrepresented populations as well as the influence of society and cultural norms on the development of the STEM
fields. It concludes with a look at contemporary issues relating to STEM.

Objectives
CO1: Demonstrate an understanding of the foundation of today’s STEM practices
CO2: Develop a timeline of the key historical events involved in shaping today's STEM fields
CO3: Summarize how the field of STEM has affected underrepresented populations.
CO4: Outline interactions between social factors and STEM fields.
CO5: Demonstrate an understanding of how different STEM fields interact with each other.
Outline
Week 1: Ancient Science and Technology

Learning Objectives:
• LO1: Summarize key developments in the early history of STEM
• LO2: Outline how STEM influenced, or was influenced by, culture or government in an ancient civilization.
• LO3: Develop a timeline of ancient STEM developments

Reading(s)

• McClellan & Dorn, Chs. 3-9 (pick at least one chapter)

• Mayor, “Biotechne”
• Incas’ Knots
• Euclid’s Elements

Assignment(s)
• Week 1 Introduction Discussion Participation, Initial post due Wednesday and Peer replies due Sunday
• Week 1 Timeline Discussion Participation, Initial post due Wednesday and Peer replies due Sunday
• Week 1 Timeline: no due date but add at least 10 events to your final timeline project

Week 2: Science, Technology, and Mathematics: The Scientific Revolution

Learning Objectives:
• LO1: Summarize key STEM events in the Scientific Revolution
• LO2: Discuss how key events in the Scientific Revolution influenced, or were influenced by, European
culture and institutions
• LO3: Develop a timeline of the Scientific Revolution
• LO4: Discuss interactions between mathematics and the physical sciences during the Scientific Revolution

Reading(s)

• McClellan & Dorn, Chs. 11-13 (pick at least one chapter)

• Brecht, The Life of Galileo
• Kline, “The Mathematization of Science”
• Optional readings

Assignment(s)
• Week 2 Guided Essay due Sunday
 • Week 2 Timeline: no due date but add at least 10 events to your final timeline project

Week 3: The Industrial Revolution

Learning Objectives:
• LO1: Summarize key STEM events in the Industrial Revolution
• LO2: Outline the societal impact of key Industrial Revolution events
• LO3: Develop a timeline of the Industrial Revolution
• LO4: Discuss the relationship between science and engineering during the Industrial Revolution

Reading(s)

• McClellan & Dorn, Ch. 14

Assignment(s)
• Week 3 Timeline Discussion Participation, Initial post due Wednesday and Peer replies due Sunday
• Week 3 Timeline: no due date but add at least 10 events to your final timeline project

Week 4: The Second Scientific Revolution and the Rise of the University

Learning Objectives:
• LO1: Explain how universities' new emphasis on research affected STEM fields.
• LO2: Show the connection between university developments and societal impacts
• LO3: Outline the historical timeline of university development in relationship to key STEM developments
• LO4: Identify the new ways in which scientific theories began to be applied to engineering and technology starting in
the late nineteenth century.

Reading(s)

• McClellan & Dorn, Ch. 15

Assignment(s)
• Week 4 Timeline Peer Review Discussion Participation, Initial post due Wednesday and Peer replies due Sunday
• Week 4 Timeline: no due date but add at least 10 events to your final timeline project

Week 5: The Information and Space Ages

Learning Objectives:
• LO1: Summarize key STEM developments of the Information Age
• LO2: Outline the societal impact of Information Age STEM advances
• LO3: Develop a timeline of the Information and Space Ages
• LO4: Identify how developments in space exploration and information technology were influenced by their social
context.

Reading(s)

• McClellan & Dorn, Ch. 18, up to p. 376

• McClellan & Dorn, Ch. 19, pp. 406-14
• O’Mara, “How Stanford, Science, and War Made Tech History”
• Farmer and Markopoulou, “Collaborators in Creation”
• Optional readings

Assignment(s)
• Week 5 Guided Essay due Sunday
• Week 5 Timeline: no due date but add at least 10 events to your final timeline project

Week 6: Underrepresented Populations in STEM

Learning Objectives:
• LO1: Summarize the role women have played in the development of STEM
• LO2: Examine the role of minority groups in the history of STEM
• LO3: Outline a key example of underrepresented populations in the development of STEM

Reading(s)
• Hicks, “When Winning is Losing: Why the Nation that Invented the Computer Lost Its Lead”
• Optional reading:

Assignment(s)
• Week 6 Timeline: finish your timeline and prepare a video walkthrough to share in Week 7

Week 7: Contemporary issues relating to STEM: Science and Engineering

Learning Objectives:
• LO1: List continued benefits of historical scientific advances
• LO2: Outline unintended consequences of physical science developments
• LO3: Discuss a "unified' timeline of scientific advances
 • LO4: Identify how a development in the physical or engineering sciences was influenced by its social context.

Reading(s)
• How exactly does engineering impact society?

Assignment(s)
• Week 7 Timeline Peer Review Discussion Participation, Initial post due TUESDAY and Peer replies due Sunday o
Posts are due early this week to allow for time for peer review • Week 7 essay due Sunday

Week 8: Contemporary Issues Relating to STEM: Life Sciences

Learning Objectives:
• LO1: List continued benefits of historical scientific advances
• LO2: Outline unintended consequences of life science developments
• LO3: Identify how a development in the life sciences was influenced by its social context

Reading(s)
• McClellan & Dorn, Ch. 18, pp. 376-388
• McClellan & Dorn, Ch. 19, up to p. 406
• Unesco: Natural Sciences

Assignment(s)
• Week 8 Final Reflection Discussion Participation, Initial post due Wednesday and Peer replies due Sunday • Week 8
Final Timeline due Sunday

Evaluation
• Timeline, including video walkthrough and peer reviews
• 3 Essays
• 6 Discussion forums

Materials
If not using Intellus to cultivate the course materials, list any specific books, websites, etc. that will be used
for the course here.
Example:
BookTitle: European Philosophers from Descartes to Nietzsche
Author: Beardsley, M C
Publication Info: Random House Publishing Group ISBN:
9780375758041

Course Guidelines
Late Work
The University encourages all work to be completed according to the course schedule. The University Late Work
Policy can be found in the Student Handbook here.