Introduction
This handbook is intended to welcome new students to the Program in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine and to provide a reference for students as they progress through it year-by-year. Graduate study in these historical areas are distinctive from many other academic disciplines in that they are still relatively young fields, are highly interdisciplinary, and prepare students for several career options. Most students entering the HSTM graduate program have had just a few courses, if any, in our field during their undergraduate or graduate studies. For such students there is the exciting prospect of entering a field that possesses a wide variety of approaches and spans many areas of knowledge. Others may come with advanced degrees in other areas or even in one of the subfields, and for those students our eleven faculty members offer a broadening experience through multifaceted course offerings in the history of science, technology, and medicine.
In your first year, you will acquire basic knowledge through a two-semester seminar that will introduce you to the nature of this interdisciplinary field, its varied methods, and its fundamental questions. Your goal should be to acquire an overview even as you identify those areas of inquiry of most interest to you. Acquiring this perspective is important preparation for the preliminary exams that should come just before or during your third year. Most incoming students have identified a broad area of specialization -- the history of biological or natural sciences, the history of technology, the history of medicine, the history of physical sciences, or the study of science in American culture -- prior to entering the program. During the first year, too, you should begin to think about a more specific area for your dissertation. In your second year your research interests will become more focused and gain depth from supporting courses within and beyond the program. Subsequent years will be devoted principally to specialized research for your dissertation. (return)
Overview of the Program
The Program in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine is an all-university program that integrates faculty and students from many departments and programs. Each faculty member has a joint appointment in a department in the Institute of Technology, the Medical School, or the College of Biological Sciences, and many have graduate appointments in other departments as well, ensuring close association with other related fields. We have particularly strong ties with the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science, the Department of History, and the science and engineering departments within which faculty hold tenure. These university and departmental connections are a major source of intellectual stimulation and support for both faculty and graduate students.
Our program is physically dispersed because graduate students in the history of science and technology have offices in the Social Sciences Building on the West Bank and the faculty have offices in several departments on the East Bank and in St. Paul, and both the history of medicine faculty and students are located in the Medical School. We therefore make a significant effort to maintain our strong sense of community. You will get to know your fellow students and faculty through courses, by working together, attending the Friday colloquia, forming special reading groups, working as teaching assistants, and at various social occasions. With only a little effort, it is easy to get to know all the faculty and students in our history program. The faculty has an open door policy and members will always be glad to talk to you when they are free.
You will find it particularly important to attend and participate in the numerous scholarly presentations offered by visiting scholars, including the Friday colloquia series on the history and philosophy of science and technology in the Tate Laboratory of Physics as well as a series of lectures each semester in Diehl Hall. These occasions bring all members of the program together for cookies, coffee, and tea before each event and also provide an opportunity to socialize after them. They also provide an essential opportunity to become and remain familiar with contemporary research and with many of the field’s leading practitioners. Students are required to attend the lectures appropriate to their areas of interest and encouraged to attend those that will introduce them to the breadth of work available. The schedule of lectures each semester is posted at the HSTM website (www.hstm.umn.edu). (return)
Brief History of the HSTM Graduate Program
The Program in the History of Medicine was inaugurated in 1967 when Leonard G. Wilson joined the faculty of the Medical School as the first Professor of the History of Medicine. His appointment was made possible by a grant from the Hill Family Foundation and an endowment raised by Owen H. Wangensteen, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery. Dr. Wangensteen also raised the initial endowment to found the historical library of biology and medicine that bears his name. In 1969, aided by a grant from the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, a second faculty position was added which has been held in turn by Guenter B. Risse (1969-71), Toby Gelfand (1971-74), John Eyler (1974-98), and Jennifer Gunn (1999-present). In 1968 the Program began its series of public lectures which have been held annually ever since. The Program received its first lectureship endowment in 1984 from the Charles E. Culpeper Foundation. Subsequent endowments from other donors have made possible the Dorothy M. Bernstein Lectureship in the History of Psychiatry (1999), and the Sally and Bruce Kantar Lectureship in the History of Medicine (2000). The Graduate School authorized the Program to grant the Ph.D. in the History of Medicine and Biological Sciences in 1971, and the first Ph.D. was granted to Dale C. Smith in 1979. In 1986 a M.A. degree was added to the
Program’s offerings. In 1998 John M. Eyler succeeded Leonard Wilson to the endowed professorship and became Head of the Program. In 2001 Jole Shackelford joined the faculty on a half-time appointment as an Adjunct Assistant Professor.
The Program in History of Science and Technology was inaugurated in 1972, when the university administration committed funds to establish a new program in history of science and technology. Roger Stuewer received an appointment in the Department of Physics as the coordinator of this effort, and subsequently became the director of the program. At that time he was given one additional appointment, which was filled by Alan Shapiro. In 1974 the Hill Family Foundation (later the Northwest Area Foundation) awarded the fledging program a grant that allowed it to add positions in history of biology and history of technology, teaching assistants, and a secretary. Malcolm Kottler and Edwin Layton were appointed to those faculty positions in 1975. From 1985 to 2003 John Beatty was historian of biology. The history of biology and history of technology position are currently held by Mark Borrello and Jennifer Alexander, respectively; Michel Janssen has now replaced emeritus professor Stuewer. In 1979 the Regents granted the Program the authority to award graduate degrees, and in 1982 Eda Kranakis received its first Ph.D. In 1981, after a national competition, the Charles Babbage Foundation chose the University as the location for the Charles Babbage Institute for the History of Information Processing, which added a major research center to the Program. The director of CBI, initially Arthur Norberg, is a tenured member of the HST faculty; Robert Seidel held a five-year term and Tom Misa is the current director. In 1989 Sally Gregory Kohlstedt joined the faculty. In 1991, after another national competition, the National Science Foundation awarded the Program, together with the Minnesota Center for the Philosophy of Science, a five-year Research Training Grant (RTG) that provided significant resources to the program and enhanced its visibility and stature nationally and internationally. Most recently, in 2005, Susan Jones joined the Program.
In 2006 the University of Minnesota Regents approved a merger of the graduate programs in HST and HMed to create a new graduate Program in History of the Science, Technology, and Medicine to be fully implemented in the fall of 2007. More detailed descriptions of the faculty are available on the HSTM website (www.hstm.umn.edu).
(return)
Advising
In a relatively small program such as ours, where students bring diverse undergraduate training and interests, each student’s course of study can be individually planned within the framework of University and Program requirements. Each semester, students may want to consult with faculty about the requirements for upcoming classes, since the demands vary significantly. Thus, one combination of four courses might be quite feasible in a given semester while another combination of three courses might not. In particular, students should keep in mind the difficulty of undertaking too many major research projects at one time. It is important to work closely with your advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) on these matters.
Critical to your success in the HSTM program will be the advising that you receive from faculty members within and beyond our program. Some of these relationships are quite formal and concentrate on exams and similar matters, while others may involve informal mentoring that may prove very important to your progress toward the degree. While each advisor will assist his or her advisee, all students are encouraged to take personal initiative to develop an imaginative and sound program to fit their interests and future plans. (return)
Informal Advising
The DGS is responsible both to the Graduate School and to the Program faculty in overseeing all aspects of the graduate program. The DGS serves as the temporary advisors to all incoming students until they identify their permanent advisor, guiding students through one or two semesters of course selection and encouraging each student to talk with potential formal advisers. (return)
Formal Advising
The selection of a dissertation advisor (or co-advisors) is a very important step, one that is typically for a long-term relationship, although it may be changed if your interests shift to new areas. The selection of adviser(s) may occur at any point in your first two years and is formalized at the time your entire program is reviewed and the official degree program filed. Students should expect that their advisor will assist them in selecting appropriate courses for their major and minor fields (described below), assist in the selection of a preliminary examining committee, and serve as chair of the Preliminary Oral Examining Committee. The adviser will also work with the student in constructing reading lists and generally preparing for the preliminary examinations.
The advisor(s) will also work with you in planning for the dissertation. It is important to select advisors who are knowledgeable about your proposed field of study. Dissertation advisers assist students in selecting a Final Oral Examining Committee, which may or may not be the same as the Preliminary Oral Examining Committee, because it is selected with attention to the dissertation topic. The advisors also respond to drafts of the dissertation prospectus and to parts of that project as it takes shape and serve as required Final Oral Reviewers.
At the start of each spring semester, students are asked to talk with their advisers about their progress during the year. They should discuss their goals, research interests, and time lines for completing the degree. During the semester the entire faculty meets to review each student’s course work and other academic activities. Subsequently each student will receive written comments about his or her progress. To remain in good standing students must be making appropriate progress (described elsewhere), be in contact with their advisor, and have no more than two incomplete courses.(return)
Peer Advising
Because we are a relatively small program, we do not appoint official peer advisors. However, some of the best advice that you can find with regard to courses, professional activities, and suggestions for living a balanced life will come from your fellow students. The TA office has a number of materials that are also of help, including a series of Ph.D. dissertations, copies of old exams (from a previous system), copies of successful proposals to the National Science Foundation and other archives important for the history of science.
During the course of the year, fellow students give practice talks before presenting a professional paper. It is supportive and instructive to attend these presentations because you will be doing the same soon enough. Some years there are informal reading groups established by students who share some common interest or those who want to keep up-to-date with journal literature. Most years there is a Dissertation Writing Group (DaWGS) whose members meet to encourage each other and to discuss their chapters as they are drafted and finalized. (return)
Program of Study
in Two Tracks
The Program offers the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in two tracks: History of Science and Technology (HST) and History of Medicine (HMed). Each of these tracks defines a distinctive set of requirements and, while the degree requirements in the two tracks are similar, there are some differences in the distribution requirements.
Students in either track may elect to use the other track as their minor or to use courses in that track as part of their supporting program. However, it is important to note that courses with dual numbers in HMed or HSci may not be so used. You may also do a minor or develop a supporting program entirely outside the Program. The options are wide-ranging, with some students selecting a minor in history, American studies, social studies of science and technology, or a specific science or engineering field; the list of potential minors is long and available on the Graduate School website. The other option is a supporting program that may help you build expertise and background from a range of departments and programs.
Some classes are exclusively within a particular track and a few classes count toward the requirements in both tracks. The classes that cross the track boundary and are cross-disciplinary are indicated by an asterisk on the list in Appendix A; these classes may meet the core requirements in the other track. For example, the History of the Germ Theory, HMed 5035, may count in either track. As the class is typically taught by a member of the faculty in the History of Medicine, it clearly meets the HMed requirement, but in addition, may be used by someone in the HST track to meet that track’s requirement. These cross-disciplinary classes may not be used for a supporting program because they have significant content in the main track selected by a student. These cross-track classes thus build on both the logic of a merged program and the need for distinctive tracks. However, all other classes not designated as a common class, may be selected by a student from the other track as part of a supporting program. (return)
Distribution
Requirements for Graduate Degrees
The Program’s distribution requirements are designed to match several goals: 1) chronological and geographic breadth in your understanding of the history of science; 2) capacity to conduct research within the historiographical context of our field; and 3) preparation for pursuing a career in academic, museums, or writing in the history of science, technology, and medicine. For that reason it is important to work closely with the DGS and your advisor as you formulate and then modify your course work plan and participate in all aspects of the program.
Preparation for the field is provided through core courses. Only one course (HSci 8112 or HMed 8112) is required of all students. This course will introduce you to the theories and some representative schools of interpretation in the history of science, technology and medicine. All Ph.D. students are required to complete this course plus HSci 8113 or HMed 8113, a directed research seminar. These two courses are usually taken during the first year of study.
In addition, for the Ph.D. degree, but not for the M.A., there is a period distribution requirement. Students in the HST track are required to take a minimum of two courses (6 credits) in pre-1800 period and two courses (6 credits) in the post-1800 period. Students in the HMed track are required to take at least one course (3 credits) in both the pre-1800 and post-1800 periods.
In the HST track, but not in the HMed track, there is an area distribution requirement. Students in the HST track must complete a minimum of two courses in each of two fields. There are four fields in the HST track:
·
History of the Physical Sciences
·
History of the Biological Sciences
·
History of Technology
·
History of Science and Technology in American
Culture
Some courses deal with subjects that cross these area boundaries. Students may not use the same course to satisfy more than one area distribution requirement, but a particular course might be used by different students to satisfy different area distribution requirements. Decisions as to whether a course satisfies a particular area requirement will be based in part on the content emphasized in assigned and elected projects and will be made in consultation with your advisor and finalized by the DGS. (return)
Research Seminar
Requirement
Ph.D. students are required to complete a minimum of two research seminars in which they write a substantial research paper. HSci 8113 or HMed 8113 may be one of these courses. Each year the faculty offer other seminars designed (and so designated) to satisfy this requirement. A single course may satisfy a period, an area, and a research seminar requirement simultaneously. (return)
M.A. Degree
Requirements
The Program offers a M.A. degree with a thesis (Plan A) and a M.A. based primarily on course work plus an examination on one to three papers (Plan B). In either case, the Graduate School requires a minimum of 30 credit hours for the M.A.
Plan A
·
HSci 8112 or HMed 8112 (Research Methods,
8113,
is strongly recommended in preparation for writing the M.A. thesis).
·
12 credits from courses within the selected
track. In the HST track this requirement must be met by a minimum of
two
courses in each of two of the four areas listed above.
·
A minor or supporting program of 6 credits
from
another discipline or in the other track.
·
Demonstration of a reading knowledge of a
foreign language, ordinarily French or German.
·
10 M.A. thesis credits.
·
Oral defense of the M.A. thesis. The
examining
committee will consist of two program faculty members and one faculty
member
from the supporting program or minor.
Plan B
·
HSci 8112 or HMed 8112.
·
22 additional credit hours in the major
track.
In the HST track the actual courses must satisfy the area distribution
requirement by including a minimum of two courses in each of two of the
four
areas listed above. In the HMed track this number must include four
courses (12
credits) from within the history of medicine track.
·
A minor or supporting program of 6 credits
from
another discipline or in the other track.
·
Demonstration of a reading knowledge of a
foreign language, ordinarily French or German.
·
Oral defense of one to three Plan B papers
representing a total of 120 hours of work. The examining committee will
consist
of two program faculty and one faculty from the supporting program or
minor. (return)
Ph.D. Degree
Requirements
The Graduate School requires that candidates have 24 thesis credits and meet the specific requirements of their degree program which for HSTM include:
·
HSci 8112 or HMed 8112, and HSci 8113 or HMed
8113 (6 credits).
·
Five additional courses (15 credits) within
the
selected track. These courses must be chosen to satisfy the following:
o
Period distribution. In the
HST track
two courses (6 credits) in the pre-1800 and two courses (6 credits) in
the
post-1800 period. In the HMed track one course (3 credits) in each of
these
chronological periods.
o
Area distribution. In the HST
track
only, two courses (6 credits) in each of two of the four areas
specified above.
There is no area distribution requirement in the HMed track.
o
Two
(2) research seminars (6 credits) in
which a substantial research paper is the focus of the semester's work. HSci
8113 or HMed 8113 may be one of these.
·
Demonstration of a basic understanding of the
content offered in the two-semester undergraduate survey
in the student’s area of concentration (HSci 1714/1715, HSci
1814/1815, or HMed 3001/3002). This requirement will generally be
satisfied by
either auditing or serving as a TA for the relevant undergraduate class
or
having taken an equivalent class as an undergraduate. The determination
that a
student has satisfied this requirement will be made by the Director of
Graduate
Studies and by the instructor of the undergraduate survey course.
·
Twelve (12) credits either in a single
"minor" field or in a "supporting program" that consists of
a coherent pattern of courses taken from several disciplines. A minor
is
defined by the department or program that offers it. Thus it may
require that
you include particular classes or sequences of classes, so it is
essential to
meet early with the Director of Graduate Studies in a program that
might
interest you. Many students in our Program take 12 or more credits
outside
their major and create an individual supporting program. These classes,
selected with your advisor and the Program DGS, may consist of related
technical courses in science or engineering, or of courses in cognate
fields
such as philosophy of science or history, or in a combination of these.
The
option you chose will depend on your prior training and future plans.
An
internal supporting program in the other track is acceptable.
·
Twenty-four (24) dissertation
credit hours, namely HSci 8888 or HMed 8888. Once
these are completed, students must register for Grad 999 (or HSci
8444/HMed
8444) to remain in good standing until the final semester. The semester
in
which you defend your dissertation you must register for one credit.
·
Reading proficiency in two foreign languages.
Since much of the primary and secondary literature in the history of
science
and technology is in French and German, most students have demonstrated
proficiency in these two languages. It is possible to request a
substitution of
another foreign language; however, the request must be motivated in
terms of
your scholarly plans. The Program faculty collectively decides on each
exception. As you may need languages for some courses, you are urged to
arrive
with a reading knowledge of one language and to complete the second one
by the
beginning of the second year. Typically, you should have completed both
languages by the beginning of your third year. You will not be
permitted to
take the preliminary examinations until you have satisfied the language
requirements.
There
are four ways to satisfy
your language requirements:
o
A
language certification gained at another college or university may be
presented.
o
Specific language courses for graduate students offered through the College of Continuing Education (CCE) will satisfy the requirement. French 100 is offered as an Independent and Distance Learning Course, and German 222 is offered at night and in the summer.
o
Students
may also take French 1001 and 1002 or German 1001 and 1002, passing
each with a
B or better grade; students who have some background and elect to take
intermediate French or German simply need to have a passing grade (C or
better)
in 1003 or above. You should contact each language department to
determine
their prerequisites. The department may have funds to help pay for
summer
language courses.
o
Several
language departments offer proficiency examinations in lieu of courses.
These
are rumored to be difficult and very few of our students have taken
this
option. Program faculty may give a reading test, but that is up to each
individual member. (return)
Examinations
and
Reviews
The
preliminary examination is the final step in the series of requirements
admitting students to candidacy for the doctoral degree. The goal of
our
program is to educate students in the nature of the field of history of
science, technology, and medicine, its methods, and its fundamental
questions
in preparation for a career in scholarship and teaching. To this end,
we want
to assure that our students acquire both breadth and depth of knowledge
in more
than one area.
Successful
completion of course work is one way to demonstrate that a student has
acquired
both a body of knowledge in one or more major areas and a
minor/supporting
program area and further experience with the methods of the field. The
requirement that each student master the level of knowledge of the
material
covered in the two-semester survey course for their chosen area of
concentration (science, technology, or medicine) is another means of
demonstrating breadth in preparation for teaching. Successful
completion of two
research seminars should prepare students for writing a dissertation. (return)
Preliminary
Examination
Once you
have completed all the course work required for the Ph.D. or are in the
final
semester of course work, you may begin to prepare for your preliminary
examination. The members of the examination committee are chosen by the
student
and the adviser in consultation with the DGS. In general, the committee
will
consist of the adviser and two other members of the HSTM faculty
(inside or
major faculty), plus two faculty members from the area of the
supporting
program or minor (outside or minor program faculty). The preliminary
examining
committee may have many or all of the same members as the eventual
dissertation
committee, but this is not required.
The
preliminary examination consists of written and oral components.
Written Exam
Each
student will compile reading lists
that identify the most essential and influential books and articles in
two
fairly broad areas of historical scholarship under the guidance of two
of the
three committee inside members from the program. The lists must be
approved by
all three members and a copy of the approved list is filed with the
DGS.
For
the written component of the
preliminary examination, the student will prepare two essays, one based
on each
of the reading lists. The essays should demonstrate critical
understanding of
the field. The essay in the major area of interest will be 25 pages in
length,
not including the bibliography, and the second area paper will be 15
pages in
length. The two essays will be read by all three committee members from
the
HSTM program within ten to fourteen days. If the three faculty members
agree
that one of the essays needs revision before an oral examination can be
held,
the student has one month to revise and resubmit the essay. If both
essays are
unsatisfactory, the student fails the preliminary examination.
Oral Exam
If
two of the three faculty members agree that the essays are
satisfactory, the
oral examination is scheduled. That examination normally will take
place within
three weeks, allowing time for the Graduate School to process the
appropriate
paperwork. At the oral examination with all five members of the
Preliminary
Examination Committee, students will be examined on their essays, their
reading
lists, and on subjects covered with faculty members on the committee.
The
essays should normally be submitted at the end of the summer of the
second year
and no later than the end of the third year.
You
also need to file with the Graduate School a thesis title form and a
250-word
statement of your research and methods no later than a semester after
passing
the preliminary oral examination. The Graduate School may put a hold on
your
registration if this form is not filed in a timely manner. (return)
Review of the
Dissertation Prospectus
Within
three months of passing the preliminary examinations, students must
submit a
dissertation prospectus for discussion by their Dissertation Examining
Committee. This committee may be the same as the Preliminary Examining
Committee or it may have some change to reflect the particular topics
and
expertise required for the dissertation; both committees require three
faculty
members from the track and two outside faculty members.
The
presentation and discussion of the prospectus should take place within
three
weeks of submission of the document. The oral presentation of the
prospectus is
an opportunity for the student and the committee collectively to
identify
strategies for research and writing of the dissertation and to help
students
prepare successful funding proposals. This discussion is not an exam
and will
normally be about an hour. Once accepted, the prospectus, which should
be five
to ten pages plus a bibliography, is then circulated to the entire HSTM
faculty. (return)
Defense of the
Dissertation
The defense
of the dissertation comes after your advisor has had sufficient time to
read it
thoroughly and agree it is ready for defense. A penultimate version is
submitted to three dissertation readers, who will need to sign a form
agreeing
that the dissertation is ready for defense. They should be given at
least three
weeks for their reading, after which either that version or a revised
version
is submitted to the entire examining committee. This process may take
some time
or may happen expeditiously depending on the quality of the
dissertation draft.
The rules
for determining your dissertation readers (three readers, two from
inside the
program), the final examination committee (at least five members, two
from
outside the program), and the final examination itself are somewhat
complicated, so you should read the Graduate School Catalog carefully
and talk
with the DGS. The committee will typically be similar to your
preliminary
examination committee but it need not be the same. While you may select
committee members from outside the University, the Program does not pay
for
their expenses. You must make arrangements with the DGS at least two
months
before the examination itself so that the requisite paperwork can be
completed
with the Graduate School. (return)
Finalizing the
Requirements
After the
defense, you are required to provide one unbound copy of the final
version of
your dissertation to the Graduate School, which complies with their
guidelines.
You are also required to provide one unbound copy to the appropriate
office,
either in the History of Science and Technology or in the History of
Medicine,
to become part of the permanent collection of dissertations completed
in the
Program. It will be bound by the department, or you may arrange to have
it
bound. You are required to give a bound copy of the final version of
your
dissertation to your dissertation advisor(s). It is also customary to
offer a
copy to other readers. (return)
Responsibilities
of
a
Teaching Assistant in the Program
Most
full-time doctoral students in the Program at some point participate in
teaching undergraduate classes. Generally, this involves leading
recitation
sections (typically 12 to 25 students) in conjunction with larger
lecture
classes. Sometimes a TA is assigned to grade papers or otherwise assist
faculty
who have large classes but do not use sections.
Teaching
assistants are expected to attend lectures, prepare for sections,
conduct them,
grade students' work in a timely manner, and to assist the instructor
in the
lecture classes. In addition, they are expected to participate in all
TA
meetings, turn in all paperwork in a timely fashion, proctor exams,
notify the
faculty member of any problems, and participate fully in the course to
which
they are assigned. Every TA must act responsibly as a professional
instructor,
which includes scheduling regular office hours and encouraging students
in
their work. If any responsibility, including meeting with classes,
cannot be
met, the faculty supervisor or the department chair must be notified in
advance. It is important to remember that you represent the entire
Program
while you are instructing and advising undergraduates.
A 50%
teaching assistantship requires 20 hours of work each a week, on
average. If
you find that your work load varies significantly from that (too little
or too
many hours), please speak to your supervisor or to the DGS.
The Program
requires that students attend orientation sessions for new TAs offered
by the
university and any special meetings called for TAs by the Program. TAs
are
required to maintain good progress (as outlined by the Graduate School)
with
regard to degree forms and as indicated in their annual review.
For students
who anticipate a future in academe, we encourage participation in the
Preparing
Future Faculty Program and in other opportunities to learn more about
effective
teaching. The PFF program is particularly effective in helping students
develop
teaching portfolios and introduces them to current trends in higher
education.
Center
for Teaching and Learning Services
www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/
Many
of you will hone your teaching skills as teaching assistants within the
Program, or by teaching your own course through the Honors or
Composition
programs. The Center for Teaching and Learning Services offers a series
of
Teaching Enrichment workshops on instructional design, stimulating
discussion,
grading, teaching writing, and other topics for teaching assistants and
faculty
each August. The Center offers consultations, online resources,
workshops, and
other pedagogical guidance throughout the year.
Preparing
Future Faculty Program
www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/pff/
Through
the Center for Teaching and Learning Services, the Graduate School and
the
University Office of Human Resources sponsors the Preparing Future
Faculty
program for students interested in a more formal, comprehensive
approach to
teaching preparation. Students take two core courses, have mentors, and
receive
letters of recognition and certificates for participation. (return)
Progress toward
the Degree and Planning Ahead
Standard Progress
You are
encouraged to complete your course work and your foreign language
requirements
during your first two years in the Program. You should ordinarily
complete your
preliminary examination no later than the end of your third year. You
must
maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 or above. It may
occasionally be advantageous to work on a paper beyond the end of the
term,
but, unless there are extenuating circumstances such as health or
family
problems, you should strive to complete the work in a few weeks and
before the
start of the following semester. It is disadvantageous to take
longer-term
incompletes since they may absorb time in your second or third year
when you
should be moving on to independent research and your dissertation
topic. You
are not allowed to have more than two incompletes at any time.
Students must register every semester under federal and university guidelines. Once course work is complete (or if the student is taking one course and needs a minimum registration of six credits for a TA or RA position) and before taking the preliminary oral exam, students may register for HSci 8666 or HMed 8666 (for 1-6 credits). Students may take these credits in two semesters or summers for up to 12 credits. Departmental consent is required for a third or fourth registration for up to an additional 12 credits. The Graduate School maximum number of credits for 8666 courses is four repetitions or 24 credits. After passing preliminary orals, students must register for 24 thesis credits and then register each semester for 1 credit of either GRAD 999 (no cost, but doesn't fulfill FTE requirement for visas or student loans) or HSci 8444/HMed 8444 FTE: Doctoral or HSci 8333/HMed 8333 FTE: Master's.
(return)
Professional
Development
The graduate
student community has traditionally been a cohesive and supportive
group.
Policy decisions are made by consensus and activities arranged
informally. Graduate
students individually and collectively assume responsibilities that
assist the
Program and each other.
Graduate
students share office space. Each student who is a teaching assistant
or who
plans to spend considerable time on campus has a desk in the offices on
the
first floor of the Social Sciences Building or in Diehl Hall. These
desks are
distributed, by convention, on the basis of seniority.
There are a
number of opportunities on campus to become involved with graduate
students
from other departments and colleges, to participate in programs, and to
participate in governance activities. These include the Council of
Graduate
Students (COGS) and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
(GAPSA),
both of which have useful web pages. (return)
Professional
Organizations
It is
strongly recommended that students join one or more of the
organizations
important to their discipline, namely the History
of Science Society (HSS), the American
Association for the History of Medicine (AAHM), and the Society
for the History of Technology
(SHOT). These professional organizations offer discounted student
membership
rates, and membership includes a subscription to the group’s journal
and
newsletter. These publications indicate what is happening broadly in
the field
and offer an opportunity to learn about topical meetings and financial
support
of various kinds. There are also regional organizations and specialized
groups
that hold annual or semi-annual meetings that are a wonderful place to
meet
scholars in the field and to present your own ideas even in the early
stages of
your graduate study. The major organizations have useful websites that
allow
you to look for fellowships and grants:
The American Historical Association
(www.historians.org)
has a comprehensive list of sources, while specialized groups like the Eighteenth-Century Studies Society or
the British Society for the History of
Science will have news of much more targeted opportunities.
Many of us
also subscribe to H-Net, the online
humanities network, as a source of information. H-Net’s homepage is www.h-net.org
and participation in any of its online listserves is free (although
making a
contribution to cover local costs is encouraged). H-Sci-Med-Tech
regularly
circulates information about conferences, archives, travel grants,
fellowships,
and jobs in these fields. (return)
Summary of Program
Requirements*
|
Requirements
|
M.A.
|
Ph.D.
|
|
Time Limit
|
Not more than 7 yrs. total
|
Not more than 5 yrs. past candidacy
|
|
File Degree Program**
|
After 12 credits; not later than 3rd semester
|
During 2nd yr.
|
|
Distribution
Requirements
|
2 “area” courses and
HSci or HMed 8112
|
HST: 4 period and 4 area courses.
HMed: 2 period courses.
HSci or HMed 8112 and 8113
|
|
Writing Seminar
|
1 writing seminar
|
2 writing seminars
|
|
Minor Courses Required
|
6 credits
|
12 credits in minor or supporting program
|
|
Languages
|
1: French or German
|
2: French and German
|
|
Preliminary Exam
Committee
|
Not Applicable
|
5 members: 3 from
“major”,
2 from “minor”
|
|
Preliminary Written
Exam**
|
None
|
Bibliography and two essays
|
|
Preliminary Oral
Exam**
|
None
|
Not less than 1 week after passing written
|
|
Register Thesis
Title**
|
No time requirement for Plan A No thesis
requirement for Plan B
|
Within 1 semester of passing oral exam
|
|
Thesis Credits Required
|
10 for Plan A (HSci 8777);
0 for Plan B
|
24 (HSci or HMed 8888)
|
|
GPA
|
Minimum GPA of 3.3
|
Minimum GPA of 3.3
|
|
Final Oral
Committee**
|
3 members (2 from major)
|
5 members: 3
readers;
2 from outside major
|
*See also the Graduate
School Catalog (www.catalogs.umn.edu/grad).
**Obtain necessary forms from
Graduate School Office, 3rd
Floor, Johnston Hall or by going on line at www.grad.umn.edu/forms. (return)
Graduate Minor
in the History
of Science, Technology, and Medicine
Students
who wish to take the graduate minor in the History of Science,
Technology, and
Medicine are required to take four three-credit courses. The
Historiography
class (HSci or HMed 8112) is strongly recommended, along with other
courses
that are selected to define a course of study that should have some
identifiable focus but also certain breadth. Students should not plan
to take
all courses in the minor from the same faculty member. (return)
Financial Aid
Graduate School
Opportunities
Incoming
students with outstanding records are eligible for Graduate
Student Fellowships, which consist of stipends to cover
living expenses, full tuition waivers, and health care (which extends
through
the following summer). The Program faculty nominates a designated
number of
incoming students for these awards each year shortly after admission
decisions
have been made. There are also a number of Diversity (DOVE) fellowships
to
which the Program may also make nominations. The Graduate School
decides the
final awards.
The
Graduate School also has several Endowed
Fellowships that are awarded each year. Among these are the Thomas
F.
Wallace Fellowship and the William W. Stout Fellowship which provide
tuition as
well as living stipends, plus the Torske Klubben Fellowship which
provides
partial funding for research in Norway. Information and applications
are
available from the Graduate School Fellowship Office (321 Johnston
Hall) or www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships.
For Ph.D.
candidates who have passed their preliminary exams and completed all
but the
dissertation (ABD), the Graduate School offers Dissertation
Fellowships that provide support for an academic year.
Early in the spring semester, the faculty from each graduate program at
the
university nominates a specified number of students for these
fellowships. The
recipients are decided in a university-wide competition. Among the
Graduate
School requirements are that the year of student admission is no more
than four
years prior to the year of application, or two years prior if the
student
entered with an M.A. degree; i.e., a Ph.D. student nominated for a
dissertation
fellowship in 2007-2008 could not have entered the program before
2004-2005.
The
Graduate School also has a variety of other kinds of support, including
Doctoral Dissertation Research Grants.
These funds of up to $2,500 for domestic and $5,000 for foreign travel
are
available for ABD (all but the dissertation) students. See www.grad.umn.edu/dgs/handbook/fellowships/dissertation.html.
(return)
History of Science,
Technology,
and Medicine Program
Fellowships and
Assistantships
There are
several Endowed Program Fellowships
available through HSTM, some with designated fields of study. These
broadly
defined fellowships are allocated by decision of the faculty and
include the
Roger Stuewer Fellowship (history of science), the Tomash Fellowship
(history
of computing), and the Wangensteen Fellowship (history of medicine).
The HSTM
program has several teaching
assistantships that are allocated through the two tracks. These are
assigned based on the terms of the offer at the time of acceptance into
the
Program, scholarly accomplishments (published papers, archival and
museum
contributions), academic achievement (quality of exams and research
papers),
timely progress toward completion of degree, previous record as a TA,
professional activities, and the number of years of previous support.
The
program works to help students to find support for five years,
anticipating
that three of those five years may be within the Program. Thus,
students are
also encouraged to apply for teaching appointments in other
departments; in
past years these have included the writing program, physics and biology
departments, and education. As these become available, they are posted
at https://employment.umn.edu.
Appointment percentages, skill requirements, and wages will vary from
department to department.
Research assistantships are
occasionally
available through faculty in the program based on internal research
grants or
support from agencies like the National Science Foundation. HSTM
students have
also had success in finding research assistantships outside the
program, most
recently in the school of public health.
Travel funds in small amounts are
available for graduate student travel. Priorities for distributing the
funds
are 1) dissertation research of a preliminary nature, 2) delivery of a
paper at
a professional meeting, particularly for students on the job market,
and 3)
attendance at a professional meeting. Previous awards will also be
taken into
consideration. To apply for travel funds, send a brief statement to the
Director of the Program of your track outlining the purpose, dates and
estimated expenses of the travel. Because the funds are limited, the
full
amount of travel will generally not be awarded. (return)
Other Grants and
Fellowships
There are
only limited external resources available for first and second year
graduate
students. Two of the most competitive are the National Science
Foundation
Fellowship and the Javits Fellowships, which must be applied for in the
first
year and require very high undergraduate GPAs and GRE scores.
Especially
as students begin to do research and writing for their dissertations,
there are
various sources of funding external to the University. Sometimes these
are
quite specific in terms of the topics, so students should consider what
kinds
of private and public foundations and institutions might be interested
in their
project and search imaginatively. Some but not all of these are
advertised
through professional organizations (listed above), most professional
associations provide open access. Your advisor should be able to assist
you in
locating and applying for these funds, and it is important for you to
work with
him or her on drafts of your proposals and that you allow at least two
or three
weeks for writing required recommendations. (return)
Resources for
Study and Research
Our
location in a major metropolitan area and a larger research university
opens a
wide array of possibilities for expanding the classroom experience.
Some of
these are institutions and opportunities closely connected to our
program, but
others may require you to be adventuresome.
Colloquium in the
History of Science and Technology
During each semester there is a regular Colloquium on Friday at 3:35, sometimes featuring historians of science and technology, and sometimes speakers from philosophy and social studies of science, thus hosting a variety of speakers with a broad range of specialties. Coffee and refreshments are served beforehand, at 3:15, in the lounge of the Tate Laboratory of Physics, room 216. The schedule is found each semester at http://groups.physics.umn.edu/hsci/events/colloquia.html. It offers members of the Program in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine a chance to interact with each other, and to meet a variety of specialists in the fields. Often there is a social hour at a local pub or at a faculty home following the colloquia. Students in the HST track are expected to join in a brown bag lunch with visiting historians on the Friday of their visit. These lunches vary in format, sometimes involving a discussion of a particular reading by the author, sometimes a conversation about method or theory, and often a conversation about professional issues. (return)
Lectures in the
History of Medicine
The History
of Medicine Program sponsors a series of endowed lectures every fall
semester.
These presentations offer an opportunity for students to hear and to
interact
with prominent scholars from other academic centers. Lectures are
usually on
Monday at noon. Coffee and refreshments are provided in Diehl Hall.
Brown bag
lunches are welcome. The schedule is available on the History of
Medicine
website www.med.umn.edu/history/events.html.
In
addition the Wangensteen Historical Library sponsors lectures on the
history of
medicine in spring semester of some years. (return)
Campus Libraries (www.lib.umn.edu)
- Walter
Library, http://walter.lib.umn.edu, on
the East Bank of campus is devoted to the physical sciences and
engineering. There are also two specialized libraries with holdings
related to Walter Library’s in the School of Design (especially
Architecture) and the Department of Mathematics.
- The Bio-Medical
Library, www.biomed.lib.umn.edu, in Diehl
Hall on the East Bank has an extensive collection of journals and books
under its topical purview.
- Magrath
Library, http://magrath.lib.umn.edu, on
the St. Paul Campus, contains materials in the life sciences and
agriculture, including USDA documents.
- Wilson
Library, http://wilson.lib.umn.edu, on
the West Bank, has holdings in the humanities and social sciences.
Specialized libraries within Wilson include the Ames Library of South
Asia, the East Asia Library, the Map Library, the James Ford Bell
Library which is a collection of more than 20,000 rare books, 2,500
maps, and 2,500 manuscripts from the period 1400 to 1800, documenting
the expansion of Europe. Wilson Library is also a US Government
Document Repository.
- The Elmer
L. Anderson Library, http://andersen.lib.umn.edu,
on
the West Bank houses seven archival collections, including the Charles
Babbage Institute (see below), the University Archives and Special
Collection and Rare Books, and the Social Welfare History Archives. For
a complete list of the University’s special collections see http://special.lib.umn.edu.
- The Bell
Museum of Natural History, www.bellmuseum.org,
maintains an
outstanding art collection including world-renowned wildlife dioramas,
prints, paintings, sculpture and wildlife films designed to bring
nature to life for museum visitors. Many of the museum's dioramas were
painted by Minnesota native Francis Lee Jaques.
- The Charles
Babbage Institute: Center for the History of Information Technology,
www.cbi.umn.edu, holds archival
materials (including company, personal, and institutional records),
rare publications and oral histories that document the history and
development of information technology. Information technology is
defined broadly to include such topics as computing, information
processing, hardware and software design developments, software
applications, development of standards, networking, the Internet,
security and surveillance, and the social and cultural implications of
computing. A searchable index of manuscripts and collections is
available on-line. CBI also offers the Tomash Fellowship in the History
of Information Processing. CBI is known internationally as a must stop
for many topics in computing history but its records can also support
numerous other historical topics, especially in the post-1930 period.
- The Frederick
R. Weisman Art Museum, www.weisman.umn.edu,
is located
on campus next to the Coffman Student Union and houses an extensive
collection of American painting and sculpture as well as large print
and photograph collections. The holdings are particularly strong in
works from the first three decades of the 20th century. Among these,
the University Art Museum boasts the largest collection of Marsden
Hartley works in the world. The Alfred Steiglitz circle and WPA work
are also well represented. The Museum also holds many works by
Minnesota artists and artists connected to the University of Minnesota.
Exhibition catalogues from museum showings across the United States are
housed in the Museum’s library. (return)
University Centers
The
University of Minnesota, as the large and only major research
university in the
state, has significant resources in its academic and professional
colleges and
schools. You will want to explore the often highly respected programs
and
centers within and beyond the ones that host our faculty members. A few
of them
with whom our faculty members have close affiliation are mentioned
below, but
you will want to look for others that have resources and activities
that may
contribute to your experience here. Examples include the Minnesota
Population
Center, the Institute for Global Studies, as well as workshop groups in
the
Department of History and reading groups in American Studies.
- The Minnesota
Center for the Philosophy of Science, www.mcps.umn.edu,
is housed with the Department of Philosophy in Heller Hall and serves
as one of the key programs in the Social Studies of Science and
Technology Studies Graduate Minor.
- The Center
for Bioethics, www.bioethics.umn.edu,
works to
advance and disseminate knowledge concerning ethical issues in health
care and the life sciences. The Center carries out this mission by
conducting original interdisciplinary research, offering educational
programs and courses, and fostering public discussion and debate often
on topics of current interest.
- The Center
for German and European Studies, www.cges.umn.edu,
is one of the
nation's top centers for innovative interdisciplinary teaching and
research on Germany and Europe. It is a consortium of the University of
Minnesota (Twin Cities) and the University of Wisconsin (Madison) that
promotes knowledge about Germany and Europe among established and
emerging scholars and sponsors a series of summer institutes.
- The Center
for Austrian Studies, www.cas.umn.edu,
serves as a
focal point for the study of Austria and Central European lands with a
common Habsburg heritage across disciplines in the humanities, the
social sciences, the applied sciences, and the fine arts.
- The Institute
for Advanced Study, http://ias.umn.edu, is a new
initiative which brings together exciting new work across the
university community. The Institute offices and public spaces in the
Nolte Center provide a place where faculty and students can meet
informally for discussions with one another and for more structured
presentations, concerts and conversations. The IAS also houses the
activities of the Humanities Institute, the Center for Medieval Studies, and the Center
for Jewish Studies. (return)
Off-Campus Museums
and Collections
- The Bakken
Library and Museum of Electricity in Life, www.thebakken.org,
has an important, diverse, and extensive collection of instruments
relating to electricity and magnetism, many of them displayed in a
family-friendly museum. The library houses technical journals dating
from 1665 through 1940, manuscripts and rare books, and ephemera.
- The Minneapolis
Historical Society and State Archives, www.mnhs.org/index.htm,
has been collecting and preserving items relating to the history of
Minnesota and the old Northwest for 150 years. Collections are not
limited to local memorabilia; MHS holds materials relating to the
history of medicine and medical practice, the medical device industry,
exploration and interaction between indigenous and non-native peoples,
labor and commercial history of the region, political activities, and
the official
