Joint philosophy and computer science programs?

CurseItToHades · May 28, 2013, 3:20pm

I am about to go into my senior year at Pomona College as a philosophy major with a double minor in computer science and religious studies, and the time is coming that I actually have to think about what to do with my life. I think I am quite a good student in philosophy - I have done very well in my classes and have a kind of lunatic ambition that I think could get me places in the field. I’m just starting work on a very ambitious thesis that will either be totally awesome or a complete disaster. I have also done well in religious studies, which I view as a supplement to philosophy. However, I am kind of a mediocre student in computer science. Certainly not terrible (I managed to snag a B in data structures at Harvey Mudd) but I have definitely done progressively worse in every class I’ve taken and it’s clear that I don’t naturally have a head for things involving big tangles of numbers and symbols.

Nonetheless, I still want to pursue computer science alongside philosophy - namely studying things like machine consciousness and the ethics of AI, which don’t directly relate to programming skills but still require a rather in-depth knowledge of computers to be done properly. I do not plan on going directly to graduate school, so I lots have time to think things through, but I figure I should start looking into particular programs. Does anyone know of any graduate programs (any level - I’m not sure what I want to do yet) that would be fitting for someone with my interests and also accessible for someone with adequate knowledge of but no great talent for computer science (i.e. primarily philosophy-based)?

juillet · May 28, 2013, 4:59pm

Science & technology studies may be right up your alley:

[Science</a> and Technology Studies](<a href=“http://sts.cornell.edu/]Science”>http://sts.cornell.edu/)
[Science</a> and Technology Studies - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)](<a href=“http://www.sts.rpi.edu/]Science”>http://www.sts.rpi.edu/)
[Science</a> and Technology in Society | Virginia Tech](<a href=“Department of Science, Technology, and Society | College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences | Virginia Tech”>http://www.sts.vt.edu/)
[Science</a> & Technology Studies | Robert F. & Jean E. Holtz Center](<a href=“http://sts.wisc.edu/]Science”>http://sts.wisc.edu/)
[Science</a>, Technology, & Society Center :: Center for Science, Technology, Medicine, & Society](<a href=“http://cstms.berkeley.edu/research/sts/]Science”>Berkeley Program in Science and Technology Studies :: Center for Science, Technology, Medicine, & Society)
[MIT</a> STS: Program in Science, Technology, and Society](<a href=“Home - MIT STS”>Home - MIT STS)
[GT</a> Catalog : History Technology and Society : MS in History & Sociology of Technology & Science](<a href=“http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/colleges/cola/hts/grad/mshts.php]GT”>http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/colleges/cola/hts/grad/mshts.php)
[Science</a>, Technology and Public Policy MS | Programs of Study](<a href=“http://www.rit.edu/programs/science-technology-and-public-policy]Science”>http://www.rit.edu/programs/science-technology-and-public-policy)

Then there are programs in the ethics of science & technology:

[Master</a> of Arts in Technology, Policy, and Ethics | CAL - College of Arts and Letters](<a href=“http://www.stevens.edu/cal/graduate/technology_policy_ethics.html]Master”>http://www.stevens.edu/cal/graduate/technology_policy_ethics.html)
<a href=“https://sls.asu.edu/ae[/url]”>https://sls.asu.edu/ae</a>

The digital media program at Georgia Tech:

[GT</a> Catalog : Literature, Media, and Communication : MS Digital Media](<a href=“http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/colleges/cola/lmc/grad/master/msdm.php]GT”>http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/colleges/cola/lmc/grad/master/msdm.php)

Cognitive science programs may also be of interest to you:

[Cognitive</a> Science Society : Study : Academic Programs in Cognitive Science<a href=“a%20list”>/url</a>

Lastly, you may want to look into some more general programs in applied ethics or applied philosophy; some of them may have a concentration in technology and computer science.

[url=<a href=“School of History, Philosophy and Religion | College of Liberal Arts | Oregon State University”>School of History, Philosophy and Religion | College of Liberal Arts | Oregon State University]The</a> Masters Degree in Applied Ethics | School of History, Philosophy, and Religion | Oregon State University](<a href=“http://cognitivesciencesociety.org/study_programs.html]Cognitive”>http://cognitivesciencesociety.org/study_programs.html)
[UNF</a> - COAS: Philosophy - Graduate Programs](<a href=“http://www.unf.edu/coas/philosophy/Graduate_Programs.aspx]UNF”>http://www.unf.edu/coas/philosophy/Graduate_Programs.aspx)
[Social</a> and Applied Philosophy MA| The Philosophy Department | Marquette University](<a href=“Philosophy // Marquette University”>Philosophy // Marquette University)
[2012-2013</a> Graduate Catalog: Master of Arts in Ethics and Applied Philosophy | UNC Charlotte Course Catalogs | UNC Charlotte](<a href=“http://catalog.uncc.edu/graduate-catalogs/current/MA-ethics-applied-philosophy]2012-2013”>http://catalog.uncc.edu/graduate-catalogs/current/MA-ethics-applied-philosophy)

Importantly, though, before you pursue any of these degrees you should consider why you need one and what you plan to do with it. STS is a pretty well-respected field, but I’m not sure what graduates do when they leave with a degree there. The others I am even less sure about. Find out about job placement and look at costs. A PhD in STS should be fully funded, but those master’s programs won’t be.

juillet · May 28, 2013, 5:50pm