History of Science

The Program in the History of Science at Princeton University offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the development of scientific ideas, practices, and institutions from antiquity to the present day. This program is designed for students interested in exploring the historical, philosophical, cultural, and social aspects of science across various periods and regions. Through comprehensive coursework and engaging research opportunities, students will develop critical skills in historical analysis, critical reading, and scholarly writing, preparing them for careers in academia, museums, science communication, or public policy. The curriculum covers a broad range of topics, including the history of physics, biology, astronomy, medicine, mathematics, technology, and environmental science, emphasizing the contextual understanding of scientific discoveries and their impact on society. Students will examine the evolution of scientific ideas within cultural and political frameworks, assessing how scientific knowledge has influenced and been influenced by broader societal developments. The program encourages active participation in seminars, workshops, and colloquia featuring leading historians of science and visiting scholars, fostering an intellectually vibrant community. In addition, students have the opportunity to undertake independent research projects, often collaborating with faculty on ongoing investigations into the history of scientific thought. The program aims to cultivate a nuanced understanding of science as a human endeavor shaped by historical contingencies, cultural values, and ethical considerations. Graduates will be equipped with analytical tools necessary to interpret scientific developments within their historical contexts, making them well-prepared for doctoral studies, museum curation, science policy analysis, or education. The Program in the History of Science at Princeton stands out for its rigorous academic standards, extensive faculty expertise, and a supportive intellectual community, making it an ideal environment for students passionate about exploring the profound interconnections between science and human history.

Courses:

During the first two years, students pursue a pattern of course work aimed at preparing them for the general examination and training them in the research techniques of professional scholarship. Students normally participate in two to three graduate courses per term. Students lacking prior background are encouraged to take undergraduate courses to supplement their graduate training. Although the precise pattern of courses depends on the individual, students plan their programs within the broad outlines set by the general examination.  Each course usually meets once a week for three hours. A course may be either the seminar type, centering on individual students preparing research papers, or the more general, reading type, aimed at having students gain a broad acquaintance with a subject or a mixture of both.

Language(s):

Program students should demonstrate a reading knowledge of two foreign languages as soon as possible after enrollment. French and German are normally recommended, but other languages relevant to the student’s prospective research may be substituted with the approval of the director of graduate studies. Candidates are not readmitted for a fifth term of study or permitted to complete the general examination until the language requirement has been satisfied.

The faculty of the Department of History set most of the language examinations. Examinations in some languages, however, may be administered by appropriate language departments at Princeton. Normally the examination consists of two passages to be translated, one with and one without a dictionary. Language examinations will be announced at the beginning of each semester. Other examinations should be scheduled in consultation with the director of graduate studies and (if appropriate) the department involved.

In addition to preparing for the general examination, students are advised to take seminars in the history of science that do not fall within their examination fields. Students focusing on European or American science are expected to take at least one course that deals with science, medicine, or technology in the non-Western world, and vice versa. Students are encouraged to look beyond the program as they pursue suitable coursework or language study related to their particular scholarly interests.

Pre-Generals Requirements(s):

Writing Requirement

Students are required to write two research papers based on primary sources before sitting for the general examination. Students often write one of these research papers in the context of a graduate seminar and another based on independent research.  The first must be completed and certified by June 15 of the first year of enrollment and the second by April 1 of the second year.

General Exam:

The general examination is normally taken at the end of the second year and consists of three sets of written and oral examinations in (1) a major field in the history of science, medicine, or technology; (2) a minor field in another area of history; and (3) one of the following options: (a) a second special field in the history of science, medicine, or technology, (b) a second field in another area of history, or (c) a field in some related subject, for example, philosophy of science, science and technology studies, or anthropology of science. Precise definitions of fields, and special concentrations within them, are worked out in consultation with the director of graduate studies for the Program in the History of Science and appropriate faculty members in the field before the beginning of the fourth semester of graduate study.

Qualifying for the M.A.:

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy, but also may be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program. Students who have satisfactorily passed all required coursework (with all incompletes resolved), fulfilled the language requirements in their field of study, and completed the two required research papers may be awarded an M.A. degree.

Teaching:

The Department of History tries to provide part-time teaching experience for most of the advanced graduate students who desire it. Teaching assistantships generally involve two to four classroom hours a week and should not interfere with progress toward completing the dissertation. Appointments are made by the department chair, according to the needs of the undergraduate teaching schedule, to third-, fourth-, and fifth-year graduate students.

Post-Generals Requirement(s):

Following the general examination, all students are expected to attend a two-day seminar on the responsible conduct of research as well as the departmental prospectus workshop.

Dissertation and FPO:

Students devote their last three years of study to the research for and writing of a dissertation. The dissertation ordinarily falls within a special field in the history of science that constitutes part of the student’s general examination. By December 1 of his or her third year of enrollment, each student is required to submit a detailed dissertation prospectus and outline for faculty approval; the deadline for students who take the general examination at a time other than May of the second year will be arranged in consultation with the director of graduate studies. Where research requires an absence abroad or elsewhere in this country, it usually takes place during the fourth year so that students may most effectively combine completion of the dissertation with the search for employment during the fifth year. Upon completion of the dissertation and its approval by at least two readers (usually, but not necessarily, members of the Department of History), the student takes a final public oral examination devoted to a defense of the dissertation and a discussion of its implications for further work.

The Ph.D. is awarded after the candidate’s doctoral dissertation has been accepted and the final public oral examination sustained.

• Application Fee: $90
• Statement of Academic Purpose
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Recommendation Letters
• Transcripts
• Fall Semester Grades
• Prerequisite Tests
• English Language Tests
• GRE : General test

Additional Departmental Requirements: 

• Sample of written work.

For Ph.D. candidates, tuition and fees during a student’s regular period of enrollment are provided in full from a student’s graduate student financial support, in the form of tuition support from fellowships, assistantships, or external sources.

The annual stipend amount provided to Ph.D. candidates during their regular enrollment is intended to support a single graduate student based on estimated costs. Master’s students or students with spouses and/or dependents may require additional resources to support their living expenses 

The History of Science program at Princeton University offers students a comprehensive exploration of the development of scientific ideas, practices, and institutions from ancient times to the modern era. This interdisciplinary field combines insights from history, philosophy, sociology, and science itself to provide a nuanced understanding of how scientific knowledge has evolved and influenced human societies throughout history. The program is designed to equip students with critical skills to analyze the historical context of scientific discoveries, technological innovations, and the cultural and societal impacts of science.

Students enrolled in the program have access to a wide range of courses covering various periods, regions, and themes in the history of science. These include the study of ancient science, medieval and early modern discoveries, the scientific revolution, the development of modern scientific disciplines, and contemporary issues in science and technology. The curriculum emphasizes approaches from both history and philosophy of science, encouraging students to think critically about scientific methods, theories, and the role of science in shaping human understanding of the world.

Princeton's program also benefits from a distinguished faculty renowned for their scholarship in the history of science, many of whom are actively involved in research projects that address critical questions about scientific change, epistemology, and the social dimensions of scientific knowledge. Students have opportunities for rigorous research, including independent projects, seminars, and participation in conferences and workshops. The program often encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering exchanges with departments such as history, philosophy, and the natural sciences.

Graduates of the History of Science program at Princeton have pursued diverse careers in academia, museums, science communication, policy-making, and education. The program prepares students with analytical, research, and communication skills that are valuable in many professional contexts. Overall, Princeton’s program aims to deepen students’ understanding of science as a historical and cultural phenomenon, enabling them to critically engage with contemporary scientific debates and issues from an informed historical perspective.