The Science & Society Certificate Program is an undergraduate, interdisciplinary course of study that integrates science with its relationship to society. The interdisciplinary curriculum enables students to understand the social, legal, historical, and policy issues stemming from research and technological advances in both basic and applied science.

The Certificate in Science & Society allows undergraduate students to build on their science and technology leadership training and hone their expertise in science and technology policy.

Through a series of 4 courses, 2 lab placements, and a senior capstone course, students will learn to:

• Critique and analyze science and its downstream applications.
• Understand the social implications as well as the power and the limits of science and technology.
• Understand how research works (and sometimes doesn’t).
• Analyze both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Develop policy options that are practical, ethical, and just.

“Looking back at my time at Duke, I can confidently say that the courses I took for the Science and the Public Certificate were among the most influential classes I took in undergrad. Not only did they shape me into being a more intentional writer, the topics of science communication and patient advocacy have been central to my path towards medical school. Ultimately, my time with the Science and the Public certificate has shaped my values as a future physician and reinforced the importance of working towards a more equitable medical system.”

★

Alyssa Shi, Science and the Public Certificate class of 2023
(matriculated at Harvard Medical School fall 2024)

How to Enroll

We encourage all students interested in this Certificate program to consult with the Certificate Director and discuss whether the certificate is a good fit for you with Academic Advising.

• If you are a Trinity first-year student, you can indicate to us your intention to enroll in the Certificate next year through this web form, and we can welcome you informally into the Certificate community.
• If you have completed your first year at Trinity and have not yet declared a major, you can enroll in the desired Certificate track through Duke Hub when you declare your major with your advisor.
• If you are a declared Trinity sophomore, you may enroll in the Certificate by filing an Academic Plan Change form with the registrar’s office here.
• If you are a declared Trinity junior, please contact us directly to discuss whether you are able to meet the requirements for the Certificate before graduation. This will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• If you are a Pratt student, please fill out this form to enroll. (Select the S&S Certificate in the drop/down menu and explain your request in the comments section.)

Science and the Public Track Curriculum Requirements

Students complete 5 courses and 2 research experiences (at least one of which is for credit):

• SCISOC 256 (core course) preferably taken by the end of the junior year.
• Three elective courses (jump to current listings), including at least one course with an ethics, law, or policy component.
• Two approved research experiences consisting of either two semester long independent study courses or one semester long independent study course plus one approved summer research experience. The two research experiences must be independent of each other. All Duke summer research programs count toward the certificate.
• SCISOC 498S capstone course to be taken in the spring of senior year.

Note: At least one elective and at least one research experience must have a science component, and at least one elective must have an ethics, social science, law, or policy component. No more than three courses may originate in any one department; only two courses may be used to satisfy the requirements for any major, minor, or other certificate; and at least half the courses must be taken at Duke.

About the Spring 2020 Capstone Course

In Spring 2020, our capstone students prepared science policy-based white papers and presentations for two clients. One was the National Human Genome Research Institute (part of NIH), which asked us to explore the history of the genetic counseling profession and to learn more about recent tensions between Master’s level genetic counselors and some of the MD-medical geneticists with whom they work regarding genetic counselors’ scope of practice. The other client was Sage Bionetworks, a nonprofit that advocates for open science and patient engagement. Sage asked us to delve into issues revolving around implantable medical devices and, in particular, exactly what patients are consenting to when they agree to have, say, a network-enabled defibrillator or insulin pump implanted in their bodies. For example, what would happen if such a device were to be hacked?

Electives

The following courses will count as electives for the S&S Certificate. This is a list of past and current courses. Not all courses below are currently offered. Check in ACES for current course listings. If you took a course that is not listed here and wish for it to be considered as an elective for the Certificate, please send a detailed syllabus to scienceandsociety@duke.edu explaining your justification.

Current Electives

(“CL” in the table column headers below refers to cross-listed course numbers.)