Technology and Society (Spring 2005)

Related Links:

Overview of the Pilot Curriculum General Education Requirement
2004-2005 Pilot Curriculum General Requirement Course Descriptions


This course fulfills Category II of the General Education Requirement.

Faculty:

Ruth Cowan
History & Sociology of Science, Faculty
Ste. 303 LOGAN/6304
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~rcowan/
rcowan@sas.upenn.edu
898-7309

Meeting Times:

LEC COLL 002 402 M & W 12:00 - 1:00
REC COLL 002 403 F 10:00 - 11:00
REC COLL 002 404 F 12:00 - 1:00
REC COLL 002 405 F 11:00 - 12:00
REC COLL 002 406 F 12:00 - 1:00


Course Description:


Technology shapes our daily lives, our landscapes, our whole society— yet we really know very little about how it does that. This course will examine the role that technology has played in American Society and the role that American society has played in technological development from the 17th century until the present. We will explore (through field trips, lectures and reading) such artifacts as native American canoes, open hearth kitchens, spinning machines, railroad cars, electric generators, automobiles, contraceptives, computers and rockets. Borrowing insights from such disciplines as history, economics and sociology we will make an effort to uncover the basic principals of the interaction between individuals, society and technology.

Students must register for both the lecture and a recitation.

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