Curriculum

The Master’s in Philosophy of Science, Technology & Society (PSTS) consists of two years with a total of 120 EC. During the first year, you will follow a number of compulsory courses. The second year consists of elective courses, the possibility of an internship, and eventually your master’s thesis. If you choose to follow the 4TU Ethics and Technology track, your curriculum will be different.

4TU Ethics and Philosophy track

“I am particularly interested in investigating the ethical significance of AI in modern societies. How can we better adjust AI applications to fit in a good society? What is a good society? There are different concepts and we openly discuss them during the lectures. Also, we look into the logic of computer science in a more critical way. For example, where do the scientists who build today’s technologies come from, in which countries are they developing these technologies, are they taking into account the diversity of society?"

Courses:

• Good Technologies for Users and Society
• Ethics and Epistemology of AI
• Philosophy of Risk (Eindhoven University of Technology)
• Design for Values (Delft University of Technology)

Joint educational programme Philosophy of Science, Technology & Society and Business Administration

4TU Ethics and Philosophy track

“I want to explore how technologies change society and what we can do about it. How can we improve technologies? A lot of technologies are scary but at the same time they are shaping our future, so the better we understand them, the better we will know what kind of effect they have on society. I am keen on applying the theoretical knowledge I have gained during the Master’s to analyse how companies can manage technological innovation, research, and development.”

Courses:

• Strategic Technology Management and Innovation
• Machines, Minds and Society: the Ethics and Epistemology of AI
• Anticipation and Evaluation of Emerging Technologies 
• Philosophy of Responsible Innovation (Delft University of Technology and Wageningen University & Research)

Structure

The first year consists of a core programme for all students. You will first become familiar with particular philosophical concepts, theories, and methods and the multidisciplinary field of science, technology, and innovation studies. Then you will learn the typical PSTS approach and apply your knowledge by teaming up with one of our researchers and working on an engineering project at our research institutes. In the second year, you can choose five elective courses, in any combination you wish. At the same time, you start narrowing down your thesis topic and research question in the mandatory MasterLab course.

4TU. Ethics, Ethics & Technology track

If you wish to pursue an academic career and prepare for a PhD position, you can apply for the one-year 4TU Ethics and Philosophy track. It consists of 30 EC in advanced courses in ethics and technology, the course MasterLab (5 EC), and a master's thesis (30 EC).

The course curriculum in the first semester consists of graduate courses offered by the University of Twente (UT), Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), and Wageningen University & Research (WUR). The courses are spread out across one week after which you complete an assignment. The second semester is dedicated to writing your master’s thesis that will be supervised by ethicists from the 4TU Centre for Ethics and Technology.

AI in Science and Society track

Are you curious about how AI is shaping our world? The AI in Science and Society track offers an opportunity to explore the ethical and societal implications of AI. At the end of your first year, you can choose this specific track. You will follow 25 EC of advanced AI-focussed courses and a Master's thesis guided by an expert in AI research.

Graduating with this track sets you apart, preparing you for the growing number of AI-related roles in fields like healthcare, finance, education, and governance. Whether you're aiming for an academic career or roles like AI ethics consultant or policymaker, this learning line equips you with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Science, Technology and Sustainability track

The Science, Technology and Sustainability track is a one-year specialisation that includes 25 EC of coursework alongside a master’s thesis focused on sustainability-related topics. The curriculum explores the political, historical, decolonial, and justice-oriented aspects of sustainability transitions.

This track provides you with the conceptual and analytical tools needed to critically assess and contribute to debates on societal transformation, whether in academic research, policy development, activism, or advisory roles.

Master’s thesis

You complete this Master’s by writing a thesis. The choice of your graduation subject is largely up to you depending on your interests and career prospects: you can focus on any topic at the intersection of science, technology, and society. You can also write your thesis in collaboration with a company, a government, or a knowledge institute. You have plenty of room to propose your own idea and collaborate with one of the research groups at UT.

Depending on whether you want to gain more hands-on experience before graduating, you can go for a short master’s thesis (30-50 pages) plus an internship (at least seven weeks) or focus only on your master's thesis (40-60 pages). If you choose the first option, you can write your thesis and do the internship simultaneously. We recommend that you do the internship first and then start with the thesis as we expect a full-time internship. Moreover, you can link your internship to your thesis, so you can deepen your knowledge in the particular field and topic you are researching.

Questions?

Do you want more information about this Master’s? Contact the study adviser.