Explore how science and technology shape society, and how culture, politics, ethics, institutions, and inequality shape technological change in return.
The Science, Technology, and Society (STS) Certificate is a 15-credit interdisciplinary program bringing together perspectives from the social sciences and humanities. Students examine contemporary issues including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, digital media, cyberwarfare, scientific innovation, ethics, and inequality.
Start with a Spring 2027 Course
Begin with the required core course or explore an approved Social Science elective. These three sociology offerings are part of the STS certificate.
Required Core | 3 Credits
SYP 2422
Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
Spring 2027: Online and in person
Examine how scientific knowledge and technology shape everyday life, and how social institutions influence their development and use.
Social Science Elective | 3 Credits
SYP 3323
Video Games in Society
Spring 2027: Online
Explore video games as a social and cultural phenomenon, from communities and identities to the place of gaming in everyday life.
Social Science Elective | 3 Credits
SYO 3530
Social Power and Inequality
Spring 2027: Online
Examine how power and resources are distributed across society, a foundation for understanding who shapes technological change and who benefits from it.
Use Class Search in myUCF and select Spring 2027 to check sections, availability, and prerequisites. Your advisor can help confirm how these courses fit your degree plan.
Find Spring Courses in myUCFSee Certificate Requirements
The Certificate at a Glance
15 Credit Hours
One required STS core course and four approved electives.
Interdisciplinary
Courses span sociology, history, philosophy, anthropology, political science, psychology, communication, and writing.
Fully Online
The certificate can be completed fully online, although individual elective offerings may vary.
Declare the CertificateOfficial UCF Program InformationUndergraduate Advising
Certificate Requirements
The certificate requires 15 credit hours, including one required core course and four approved electives.
- 3 credit hours in the required core course
- 12 credit hours in approved restricted electives
- Minimum 2.0 GPA in certificate coursework
Required Core Course | 3 Credit Hours
SYP 2422 – Science, Technology, and Society (3)
Restricted Electives | 12 Credit Hours
Complete at least two approved Humanities courses (6 credit hours) and two approved Social Science courses (6 credit hours).
Humanities | 6 Credit Hours
Complete at least two approved courses:
- HIS 3470 – History of Technology, Society and Affluence (3)
- ENC 3417 – Literacy and Technology (3)
- ENC 3455 – Writing about Science and Technology (3)
- HIS 3462 – History of Science (3)
- LIT 4433 – Literature of Science and Technology (3)
- ENG 3861 – Digital Humanities Approaches to AI (3)
- PHI 3626 – Advanced Ethics in Science and Technology (3)
- PHI 4400 – Philosophy of Science (3)
- WST 3610 – Gender and Technology (3)
- HUM 4381 – Race and Technology (3)
Social Science | 6 Credit Hours
Complete at least two approved courses:
- ANT 3082 – New Frontiers: Anthropology of Space (3)
- ANT 4535 – Scientific Prejudice and Anthropology (3)
- COM 4332 – Communication, Technology, and Change (3)
- RTV 4403 – Electronic Media, Technology, and Society (3)
- CPO 4705 – Politics of Artificial Intelligence (3)
- INR 4764 – Cyberwarfare Policy (3)
- SYO 3530 – Social Power and Inequality (3)
- SYP 3323 – Video Games in Society (3)
- EXP 3604 – Cognitive Psychology (3)
- EXP 3404 – Basic Learning Processes (3)
What You’ll Learn
Students completing the STS Certificate will be able to:
- Analyze how social, political, and economic forces shape scientific and technological development
- Evaluate the ethical and policy implications of emerging technologies
- Apply interdisciplinary perspectives from sociology, history, philosophy, anthropology, political science, psychology, and communication
- Communicate complex technology-related issues clearly across academic and public audiences
- Critically engage with questions of power, inequality, global diversity, and representation in science and technology
Additional Program Requirements
- No foreign language requirement
- No credit by examination, including TSD or military credit
- Internship, Independent Study, and Independent Research credits may not be applied to the certificate
- At least 12 of the 15 credit hours must be earned at UCF
- Course substitutions require approval from the Department of Sociology Undergraduate Program Director
Interdisciplinary by Design
STS coursework draws from Sociology, History, Philosophy, Writing & Rhetoric, Anthropology, Psychology, Political Science, and Communication.
Ready to Add the STS Certificate?
The STS Certificate can be added to your academic program through myUCF. Before declaring the certificate, students may wish to review the requirements above and consider how the approved courses fit into their existing degree plan.
Declare the STS CertificateTalk with Undergraduate Advising
Questions About the Certificate?
Dr. Angela Vergara
Sociology Undergraduate Program Director
Angela.Vergara@ucf.edu