Notice of Program Name Change
The Certificate in Integrated Studies in Science, Engineering, and Society is being renamed to the Certificate in Science, Technology, and Society. Students can earn a certificate in Studies in Science, Engineering, and Society through the end of summer 2027. Beginning fall 2027, the program awarded will be Certificate in Science, Technology, and Society.
The certificate in Integrated Studies in Science, Engineering, and Society (ISSuES) offers students an opportunity to explore the social sciences and humanities in a way that emphasizes the relationship between science, technology, medicine, engineering, and society. From energy to communications technologies to gene editing to automation, the interplay between researchers, developers, policy makers and the public is constantly shaping and reshaping our world. The certificate allows students to complement their majors with a set of courses aimed at helping them understand how society shapes science and how science shapes society.
Offered by the Holtz Center for Science & Technology Studies, the certificate is highly flexible and is available to all undergraduate students interested in exploring the complex interplay between science, technology, medicine, engineering, and society.
How to Get in
The certificate in integrated studies in science, engineering and society (ISSuES) is offered to all undergraduate students. Students should begin the application process by the end of sophomore year, but no later than the end of their junior year.
The first step in applying to the program is to consult with the ISSuES certificate advisor. To make an appointment, please send an email to sts@ssc.wisc.edu.
Requirements
Students must complete at least 12 credits for the ISSuES certificate. Courses taken with the pass/fail grade option do not count toward the certificate’s requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Course | ||
| STS 201 | Where Science Meets Society | 3 |
| Introductory Courses | ||
| Complete 3 credits from: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Digital Communication | ||
| Environmental Studies: Social Science Perspectives | ||
| Global Environmental Issues | ||
| Global Environmental Health: An Interdisciplinary Introduction | ||
| Gender, Women, Bodies, and Health | ||
| Biology and Society, 1950 - Today | ||
| The Origins of Scientific Thought | ||
| The Making of Modern Science | ||
| Bodies, Diseases, and Healers: An Introduction to the History of Medicine | ||
| Science, Medicine, and Race: A History | ||
| Science and Storytelling | ||
| Informational Divides and Differences in a Multicultural Society | ||
| Introduction to Health Policy in the United States | ||
| Exploring Religion in Sickness and Health | ||
| Health Care Systems: Interdisciplinary Approach | ||
| Elective Courses | ||
| Complete 6 credits from: | 6 | |
| Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice | ||
| Culture and Built Environment | ||
| Conservation and Climate Change - Local to International Strategies | ||
| Special Topics: Social Perspectives in Environmental Studies | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Health | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
| The Female Body in the World: Gender and Contemporary Body Politics in Cross Cultural Perspective | ||
| Biology and Gender | ||
| Women and Health in American History | ||
| Special Topics in Gender and Biology | ||
| The History of the (American) Body | ||
| Women's Global Health and Human Rights | ||
| Honors Seminar: Studies in Science, Technology, Medicine | ||
| Special Topics in the History of Science | ||
| Data and Algorithms: Ethics and Policy | ||
| Science, Media and Society | ||
| Visualizing Science and Technology | ||
| Risk Communication | ||
| The Development of Public Health in America | ||
| Ethical and Regulatory Issues in Clinical Investigation | ||
| International Health and Global Society | ||
| Ethical Issues in Health Care | ||
| Topics in Ethics and History of Medicine | ||
| The Ethics of Modern Biotechnology | ||
| Contemporary Moral Issues | ||
| Psychological Effects of the Internet | ||
| Introduction to Human Factors | ||
| The Environment: Religion & Ethics | ||
| Human/Animal Relationships: Biological and Philosophical Issues | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Residence and Quality of Work
- Minimum 2.000 GPA on all certificate courses.
- At least 6 certificate credits must be completed in residence.
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- Be exposed to the social sciences and humanities and see their relevance to scientific and technological enterprises.
- Develop the capacity for interdisciplinary, critical thinking about the relationship between science, technology, engineering, medicine and society.
- Develop a sense of personal and social responsibility for their engineering, scientific or other professional practice.
- Strengthen written communication skills.
Advising and Careers
Advising
To obtain advising assistance, students should consult with the certificate advisor: sts@ssc.wisc.edu.
All UW–Madison undergraduates are encouraged to begin working on their career exploration and preparation soon after arriving on campus. We partner with SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science. L&S graduates are in high demand by employers and graduate programs, and the Integrated Studies in Science, Engineering, and Society certificate provides students with a way to integrate their liberal studies with the skills they are developing in their majors. It is important to us that our students are career ready at the time of graduation, and we are committed to your success. Students who have completed the certificate say that it helped them enhance the portfolio of skills they offered to employers and graduate programs by giving them foundations for understanding and communicating effectively about the ethical, policy, design, and other nontechnical aspects of science, engineering, and medicine.
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students