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Bijlage master PSTS (2011-2012)

General programme specific section of Student Charter, including Education and Examination Regulations 2010-2011

Reference GW-OSC.2011.036 version 9 June 2011

Appendices MSc programme
Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society (PSTS)

Appendix 1 Goals of the MSc programme Philosophy of Science Technology and Society (PSTS) 2

Appendix 2 Objectives of the MSc programme PSTS 3

Appendix 3 Admission requirements of the MSc programme PSTS (section 7.13 of the WHW) 6

Appendix 4 Language in the MSc programme PSTS 8

Appendix 5 Structure of the MSc programme PSTS 9

Appendix 5b Examiners and mode of assessment (art. 3. 5) 11

Appendix 6 Adjusting examination formats due to a handicap (art. 3.1 par. 5) 13

Appendix 7 Prerequisites in the MSc programme PSTS 14

Appendix 8 Registration to and withdrawal from units of study and interim examinations 16

Appendix 9 Procedures during interim examinations 18

Appendix 10 Board of Examiners PSTS 20

Appendix 11 Obligation to attend colloquia 21

Appendix 1 Goals of the MSc programme Philosophy of Science Technology and Society (PSTS)

The aim of the programme is to equip students with knowledge and skills in the area of general philosophy and the philosophy of technology, with a possible expansion into the multidisciplinary subject area of science and technology studies (STS). This is achieved in such a way that graduates (making use of knowledge gained through a previous Bachelor’s programme in a technical field or one of the physical sciences) are able to conduct philosophical or philosophically informed multidisciplinary analyses pertaining to the areas of technology, technical sciences and applied physical sciences, technological developments, and the relationship between technology and society. Graduates possess sufficient knowledge and skills to participate in professional practice, for example as scientific researchers, R&D researchers, consultants, policymakers, educators, or designers. They are able to independently carry out philosophical and/or multidisciplinary STS research and should be considered for a PhD. position.

Appendix 2 Objectives of the MSc programme PSTS

The final qualifications of the programme for each of the five Dublin descriptors are appropriate for a Master's level programme:

Knowledge and insight:

The Master's student continues to build on knowledge from his/her Bachelor’s programme in a technical field or one of the physical sciences. This is expressed through the final qualifications pertaining to research skills. For example, the graduate must be able to conduct research where philosophical and/or multidisciplinary STS knowledge and skills are integrated with knowledge from the Bachelor’s programme. Final qualifications for the philosophy of technology (PT) and science, technology and society (STS) often assume knowledge of (applied) physical sciences and technology. The final qualifications are oriented toward a philosophical and/or multidisciplinary deepening and broadening of the knowledge gained in the Bachelor’s programme.

Application of knowledge and insight:

The final qualifications emphasize research skills whereby the formulation of individual, new positions is important. The research skills are oriented towards creating interesting combinations of knowledge from differing domains (e.g. between philosophical theories and technical knowledge). The skills also emphasize various contexts (e.g. scientific and public debates) in which graduates must be able to exhibit their knowledge and skills.

Making judgements:

The ability to independently collect data, analyze it, and form a judgment as expressed in the final qualifications leads to an ability to form judgments on the basis of incomplete or limited information. Naturally, in a programme in which (applied, professional) ethics plays an important role, the socio-cultural and ethical responsibilities associated with the application of individual knowledge and judgments are also addressed.

Communication:

Communicative skills, and skills relevant to participating in scientific and public debates, are addressed in the final qualifications of the programme.

Learning skills:

As indicated in the programme goals, graduates should merit consideration as doctoral candidates. This should be visible in the final qualifications: skills pertaining to literature study, analysis, independent articulation of one's own position, and further research enable graduates to complete further studies (e.g. as doctoral candidates in the philosophy of science and technology studies) that are largely independent or autonomous.

For the Master’s programme, philosophical and general academic qualifications are required along with a number of final qualifications specific to each of the two streams of study. Related to the programme goals, the following final qualifications have been formulated (these qualifications are divided into knowledge and skills):

General qualifications

Knowledge

·	Basic understanding of systematic philosophy and history.

·	Good knowledge of the philosophy of technology and technical sciences.

Skills

Very good general academic skills, including:

·	very good writing and verbal communication skills

·	skills in reasoning and arguing

·	skills in the analysis of reasoning and arguments

·	skills in locating and processing literature from multiple subject areas

·	skills in critical analysis and evaluation of texts

·	skills in the comparison of differing scientific approaches or paradigms in one's own subject area, the application of these approaches, and the ability to question or cast doubts upon them

·	skills in communicating research and solutions to colleagues as well as professionals from other subject areas, and the ability to generate learning processes from the interaction

·	reflective capacity pertaining to one's own work, selecting or altering course, and the ability to translate learning trajectories into the development of more general knowledge and methods

·	skills in reading and analyzing philosophical texts from both classic and contemporary authors, and particularly philosophical texts pertaining to technology and technical sciences

·	skills in locating philosophical literature and the ability to critically assess and process it.

·	skills in reading and analyzing scientific, professional, and popular texts that reflect on technology, technical sciences, technological developments, and the relationship between technology and society

·	skills in the identification and analysis of philosophical problems, and formulation and argumentation of philosophical positions or statements, with a focus on philosophical problems pertaining to technology and technical sciences

·	skills in preparing for a social career wherein philosophical skills such as analytical capacities, reflection, and conceptual strength are required.

Specific qualifications for the Philosophy of Technology track

Knowledge

·	Specialist knowledge in one sector of technological specialisation within the philosophy of technology and technical sciences.

This includes: philosophical anthropology of technology, ethics of technology, the social and political philosophy of technology, the philosophy of technical sciences, and the applied physical sciences; the philosophy and ethics of biomedical technology; the philosophy and ethics of environment and sustainable technology, the philosophy and ethics of information and communications technology; engineering ethics; the philosophy of technological risks.

Skills

·	The ability to formulate and argue one's own position in the domain of philosophy of technology and technical sciences and the ability to articulate and defend one's own position in a scientific or public debate.

·

The ability to conduct scientific research in the domain of philosophy of technology and technical sciences wherein philosophical methods are used and whereby the further development of knowledge and skills from the previous Bachelor’s programme in a technical field or one of the physical sciences is demonstrated.

Specific qualifications for the Science, Technology, and Society track

Knowledge

·	Thorough knowledge of theoretical approaches in the STS field, and the ability to place these within relevant disciplinary approaches in philosophy, history, and sociology of science and technology

·	Thorough knowledge of the core themes that come into play in the complex exchange of STS (such as technology dynamics, societal embedding, design in use, policy and controversies)

·	Knowledge of empirical (sociological and historical) research methods

Skills

·	The design and execution of a research design. This consists of the formulation of a problem statement, the development of a line of questioning geared towards a multidisciplinary analysis framework, and the development of an adequate research methodology.

·	The ability to conduct scientific research in the domain of science and technology studies whereby further development of knowledge and skills from the previous Bachelor’s programme is demonstrated.

Appendix 3 Admission requirements of the MSc programme PSTS (section 7.13 of the WHW)

The following are the formal admission requirements for the MSc programme PSTS:

1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in:

·	(applied) natural science, engineering science, computer science, biomedical science or environmental science, or

·	Philosophy, in addition to a coherent programme of at least 30 EC at the level of Bachelor of Science in any of the above mentioned disciplines.

·	any other discipline, in addition to or including

a)	a programme of courses in science or engineering at the university level, equating at least one year of study , or

b)	at least one year of professional employment in science or engineering, broadly construed, for example as a science writer, laboratory assistant, or computer programmer, or

c)	a specialisation in a non qualifying Bachelor’s programme with a strong emphasis on (applied) science or technology; for example, because it focused on the application of technology in a particular professional area.

2. Sufficient mastery of the English language (reading, writing, speaking, listening).

An IELTS minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS or an internet-based TOEFL (iBT) minimum score of 90, or equivalent is required.

3.	Sufficient entry-level academic skills, including skills in reading, writing, textual analysis, and library skills.

4.	Good grades (CGPA – cumulative grade point average) at the Bachelor’s level. (In weighing grades, the Admission’s Board will also take into consideration the quality of the institution where the applicant took his/her Bachelor’s programme.)

Note:

In addition to the fact that basically all international and Dutch applicants are subject to the same formal and content-related admission requirements, the nature and scope of the prior education of Dutch applicants require further explanation.

The admission process is determined by the fact whether a Dutch applicant has a degree from a Dutch research university or a degree from a Dutch university for applied sciences (HBO-instelling).

Applicants with a degree from a Dutch research university:

Students with an appropriate Bachelor’s degree or ‘Ir-degree’ from a Dutch technical university (Delft, Eindhoven, and Twente) automatically qualify for admission, although it is recommended that they take an English test if they have not completed VWO-English. Other Dutch students with university degrees in one of abovementioned fields also qualify for admission, unless they have not completed VWO-English with a passing grade (6 or higher) or HAVO with at least an 8, in which case we require the applicant to take an English test or submit other proof of adequate English-language speaking and writing skills.

Applicants with a degree from a professional Dutch university (HBO):

Students with an appropriate Bachelor’s degree or ‘Ing.-degree’ from a Dutch HBO have to satisfy the following requirements:

·	Cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 7.0 in the last two years of their HBO studies

·	English test, unless they have completed VWO-English with a 6 or HAVO-English, with at least an 8.

·	Proof of academic skills, through taking an academic skills test in the admission procedure.

Note.

Bachelor’s students from the University of Twente are allowed to participate in specific courses and in the tutorial and to enjoy other services on the basis of a mutual agreement and study planning (in Dutch: studieplan), on the premises that the deficiency in their Bachelor’s degree programme does not exceed 20 EC’s. The admission to the MSc. PSTS takes place only after graduation in the Bachelor’s degree programme, in line with the regulations for Dutch research university students as stated above.

Appendix 4 Language in the MSc programme PSTS

The language of communication in the MSc programme Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society is English.

However, this premise requires some additional explanation:

·	All study materials are in English.

·	All classes (seminars, workshops, practicals, and others) are taught in English as long as non-Dutch speaking students are involved.

·	Communication between a student and an instructor may revert to Dutch in case no non-Dutch participants are involved.

·	All written examinations and interim examinations are composed in English.

·	All presentations (including the Final Presentation) have to be prepared in English

·	Non-Dutch students are supposed to be aware of the aforementioned rules with regard to the use of English and Dutch.

Appendix 5 Structure of the MSc programme PSTS

There are two specialisation tracks in the programme: a philosophical track—Philosophy of Technology—and a philosophically informed multidisciplinary track—Science, Technology, and Society. The first year of the Master’s programme constitute a shared foundation for both specialisation tracks. Students formally declare their choice for a specialisation track by the end of the third quartile. After having completed all units of study of quartile 1 to 3, students formally enter one of the two specialisation tracks.

All units of study comprise of 5 EC unless indicated otherwise. EC designates European Credits: One year of study is 60 EC’s, meaning that 1.4 EC is about one week of study. The entire study programme is 120 EC; both study programme years are 60 EC; semesters are 30 EC; quartiles are 15 EC.

The programme for The part time variant is the same as for the full time programme. Part time student will take a longer period to complete the programme.

CORE PROGRAMME

Semester 1.1

·	Introduction to philosophy

·	Introduction to philosophy of technology

·	Introduction to science and technology studies

·	Introduction to philosophical methods

·	Ethics and technology I

·	Philosophy of science

Semester 1.2

·	Philosophical anthropology and technology

·	History of science and technology

·	Society, politics and technology

·	Ethics and technology II

·	Workshop PSTS

·	Technology and social order

SPECIALIZATION PHILOSOPHY OF TECHNOLOGY

Semester 2.1

·	Philosophical Anthropology and Human-Technology Relations (5EC)

§	Technology and the Quality of Life (5EC)

§	Ethics and Politics of emerging Technology (5EC)

·	Specialisation topics (10 EC)

·	Brief Internship PoT (10EC) (elective)

·	Thesis proposal (5EC)

Semester 2.2

·	Master’s thesis – PoT (20-30 EC)

SPECIALIZATION PHILOSOPHY OF TECHNOLOGY

SUBSPECIALIZATION ETHICS AND TECHNOLOGY

Semester 2.1

·	Ethics and Politics of emerging Technologies (UT) (5 EC)

·	Technology and the Quality of Life (UT) (5 EC)

·	three from the following list:

o	Ethics and Engineering Design (TUD) (5 EC)

o	Environmental Ethics (TUE) (5 EC)

o	Philosophy of Risk (TUE) (5 EC)

o	Technology and Responsibility (TUD) (5 EC)

o	Philosophical Anthropology and Human-Technology Relations (UT) (5 EC)

·	Research Skills and Thesis proposal (5 EC)

Semester 2.2

·	Master’s Thesis (30 EC)

SPECIALIZATION SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

Semester 2.1

·	Governance of technology

·	Science and technology and modern society

·	Shaping technology and Use

·	Specialization topics STS

·	Research Training Project

·	Research skills and thesis preparation

·	Brief Internship -STS (10EC) (elective)

Semester 2.2

·	Master’s thesis STS (20-30 EC)

Appendix 5b Examiners and mode of assessment (art. 3. 5)

Year #1

Year #2

* In case more than one (1) examiner per unit of study is mentioned, the examiner in bold has been designated as the one who holds first responsibility.

Appendix 6 Adjusting examination formats due to a handicap (art. 3.1 par. 5)

Dyslexia ruling*

·	The student in question shares proof of dyslexia with the programme’s study counsellor and has a conversation with him/her.

·	The student can sit for the interim examination in a separate location; the exam time may be extended by 50% with a maximum of one (1) hour and 30 minutes (if necessary, additional regulations may be implemented by the study counsellor).

·	The study counsellor informs relevant lecturers of the situation.

·	The student will receive a copy of a letter to the lecturers outlining the ruling.

·	The student registers for each exam using TAST and informs the lecturer(s), in terms of timing identical to the regular registration procedure that he/she would like to make use of the dyslexia ruling.

·	The information (proof of dyslexia, ruling with agreements, and any correspondence) is stored in the student's file.

* Where applicable, this ruling applies for every handicap.

Appendix 7 Prerequisites in the MSc programme PSTS

Year #1semester 1

Year #1, semester 2

Year #2, Specialization Philosophy of Technology

Year #2, Specialization Science, Technology and Society

Appendix 8 Registration to and withdrawal from units of study and interim examinations

Registering and withdrawing from units of study

For each unit of study a student would like to follow, there is a registration procedure. This registration should take place Blackboard (the university’s electronic course management system). For units of study that use seminars or practicals as the dominant teaching method, an alternative registration procedure may also take place (e.g. through written signup sheets). If applicable, information regarding such a signup sheet will be available on the Blackboard-site of the related unit of study.

The exact time when students may signup for units of study is published and updated regularly via the Blackboard system. Students, who would like to register for units of study after the final signup date, may submit a request to the Blackboard co-ordinator. Approval for participation will be dependent on the total number of registered participants and whether or not the examiner deems it feasible to allow additional participants.

Contractual students, subsidiary students, ‘backpack students’, exchange students, and other non-traditional students, desiring to follow units of study must contact the Blackboard co-ordinator. Registration for these students will only take place through the co-ordinator.

A registered student who later decides not to participate in a unit of study has to withdraw from the unit of study before the final registration date.

Note: when a student registers for a unit of study, he/she will receive on the concerning Blackboard-site a message that states that:

Registering and withdrawing from interim examinations

The registration for participation in interim examinations is compulsory through TAST. For each interim examination, students must sign up separately. Registration can take place until 8 days before the examination period begins. The examination period starts the Monday when the first examinations are held. After this date, registration will no longer be accepted.

Being registered thus means having the right to participate (provided that the student possesses the required prior knowledge). For these students, sufficient seating will be arranged in the examination room and sufficient copies of the exam will be available.

Note: the staff of the Educational Service Centre will check the TAST registration list whether the registered students are entitled to sit for the interim examination. They will mark those students who unpermitted intend to sit for the interim examination and they will inform the examiner(s).

When students have registered for an interim examination, they have the right to withdraw from it until one day before the exam.

All arrangements regarding registration, withdrawals, and extenuating circumstances are to be handled through the Educational Affairs Offices of the faculty’s Educational Service Centre and not through the lecturer of the unit of study.

Appendix 9 Procedures during interim examinations

1.	In the examination rooms, seats are indicated by their prepared examination papers.

2.	The students are required to be seated before the start of the interim examination. Students who arrive late may only sit the interim examination if no other student has left the examination room in the meantime. Students arriving more than half an hour late cannot sit the interim examination.

3.	Students must remain sufficiently calm and quiet so as not to hinder fellow students in any way.

4.

In case the examiner uses test cards (grade slips), students must complete them completely and legibly with a pen, including the student number, name, initials, address, unit of study code, and date. Also fill in the programme in which you are enrolled. If you are enrolled in more than one programme, indicate the programme where details on the unit of study in question must be kept.

5.

Upon completion of the interim examination, each page of the examination paper should include a clearly legible name with initials and the student number. Any student who has not been able to answer any of the questions on the interim examination will submit one page including name, initials, and student number. Interim examinations consisting of multiple pages should be folded together.

6.	The work will be submitted to the proctor. When departing examination rooms, students will remain sufficiently calm and quiet so as not to hinder fellow students in any way.

7.	A brief bathroom break is possible if approved by the proctor. This facility may only be offered to one person per room at a time.

8.	Bags, books, and so forth may not be brought into the room unless with explicit permission. There may be an opportunity to leave items at the front of the examination room.

9.	Students may have at their desks only those items deemed absolutely necessary for completing the interim examination.

10.	Students are forbidden to have any direct or indirect contact with each other, inside or outside of the examination room, during the examination time.

11.	In cases of academic offence, the interim examination will be declared invalid. The result will be a grade of 1. In addition, further reaching repercussions may be sought.

12.	In cases of unpermitted participation the student’s interim examination will not be graded. In addition, further reaching repercussions may be sought.

13.	In each examination room, at least one proctor will be present who is associated with the unit of study to which the exam is related. All directions given by this person should be followed. Complaints from the students may only be addressed after the interim examination has taken place.

14.	Students must bring their student identification cards to the interim examination and must place them visibly on the examination desk.

15.	The use of calculators, organisers, mobile telephones or other electronic call apparatus is, unless explicitly approved by the proctor, forbidden. Mobile telephones must be switched off during interim examinations.

16.	During interim examinations that take longer than two course hours, complimentary coffee or tea will be served.

17.	When students hand in their work, they have to paraph the attendance list, and show their student card or other certified identity card to the proctor, before leaving the examination room.

Appendix 10 Board of Examiners PSTS

Board of Examiners PSTS

Chair: Prof.dr. P.A.E. Brey

Members: Prof.dr. N.E.J. Oudshoorn,
Prof.dr. L.L. Roberts,

Dr. M.J.K. Coeckelbergh

Clerk: vacancy

Advisers: Prof.dr.O.Aydin, director of educational programme

Drs. J.P. van Diepen, coordinator

Chamber for the Specialization Science Technology and Society

Prof.dr. N.E.J. Oudshoorn

Prof.dr. L.L. Roberts

Chamber of the Specialization Philosophy of Technology

Prof.dr. P.A.E. Brey

Dr. M.J.K. Coeckelbergh

Appendix 11 Obligation to attend colloquia

The PSTS student is obliged to participate in a minimum number of colloquia in the domain of the PSTS programme that is offered by the departments that are involved in PSTS. The objective of this obligation is that the student is introduced in the culture and community in the domain of his academic field. The requisite is being present, aware and alert. There is no formal assessment involved. The student asks the speaker to sign for his participation directly after the colloquium. A form is available at the web pages of PSTS. Participation of a minimum of eight colloquia is a prerequisite for graduation as it is integrated in 162280 Research Skills and Thesis Preparation (Specialization STS) and in 161271 Thesis Proposal Philosophy of Technology (Specialization PoT).