STS 4751

Last Updated

  • Schedule of Classes - June 18, 2018 7:14PM EDT
  • Course Catalog - June 14, 2018 7:15PM EDT

STS 4751
Science, Race, and Colonialism

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2017-2018.

This course is divided into three major thematic sections. The first looks at the history of racial thinking in the West. We begin with the existence (or not) of conceptions of biological race in the early- modern period, focusing on early voyages of discovery and so-called "first encounters" between the peoples of the Old and New Worlds.  In the second part of the course we will look at early enunciations of racial thought in the late 18th century and at the problems of classification that these raised, before examining the roots of "Scientific Racism." We close with a look at Darwin, Social Darwinism, and eugenics movements in different national contexts.  The last third of the course looks at science and technology in colonial contexts, including "colonial technologies" (guns, steam- ships, and telegraphs) as well as medicine and public hygiene.

When Offered Spring.

Distribution Category (HA-AS)

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Syllabi: none

  •   Regular Academic Session.  Combined with: HIST 4751

  • 4 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  8780 STS 4751   SEM 101

  • Department Consent Required (Add)