This programme will allow you to explore the philosophical themes and ideas that lie behind modern science.
You’ll discuss a range of issues that animate debates in contemporary philosophy of science, gaining an insight into how we understand science and how this has changed over time. You’ll think about the nature and extent of scientific knowledge and explanation, for example, as well as specialising in topics that suit your interests, from the metaphysics of science to epistemological topics such as realism and representation.
Our core module will introduce you to concepts and trends in philosophy of science, while you’ll select optional modules on topics of your choice. You could even broaden your approach by taking a module in Analytic Philosophy or the history of modern science communication, or gain more research experience by extending your dissertation.
Guided by internationally renowned researchers in our Centre for History and Philosophy of Science, you’ll learn in a supportive and stimulating environment.
We have world-class research resources to support your studies. In addition to its collections in history and philosophy, the Brotherton Library houses extensive manuscript, archive and printed material in its Special Collections, including Newton’s Principia, a first edition of his Opticks and thousands of books and journals on topics in the history of science. The Edward Boyle Library also possesses an extensive collection of works in the philosophy of science and across the full range of scientific topics in general.
The Centre also hosts a number of research seminars given by visiting speakers, staff members and doctoral students and which all postgraduate students are encouraged to attend. There are also regular reading groups on a wide range of topics and the seminar series of other centres within the School are also available.
From the start of the programme you’ll explore issues and concepts in philosophy of science, as a core module introduces you to classic debates and recent trends in the subject. You’ll then build on this knowledge when you choose from a range of optional modules throughout the year, allowing you to specialise in areas such as the philosophy of physics, philosophy of biology, or realism and representation in science.
Throughout the year, you’ll gain a firm foundation in philosophy of science as well as in-depth knowledge of specialist topics. You’ll take this a step further with your dissertation, an independently researched piece of work on a topic of your choice that gives you the chance to showcase your skills.
If you want to go into greater depth, you have the choice to extend your dissertation. Alternatively, you can select another module on a topic such as modern science communication or analytic philosophy, putting your research into a broader context.
If you choose to study part-time, you’ll study over a longer period and take fewer modules in each year.
You’ll take two compulsory modules, though you can choose whether to take a standard (60 credits) or extended (90 credits) dissertation. You’ll then choose one or two optional modules.
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Most of our taught modules combine seminars and tutorials, where you will discuss issues and concepts stemming from your reading with a small group of students and your tutor. You’ll also benefit from one-to-one supervision while you complete your dissertation. Independent study is also an important element of the programme, allowing you to develop your skills and pursue your own interests more closely.
We assess your progress using a combination of exams and coursework, giving you the freedom to research and write on topic areas that suit your interests within each module you study.
The subject knowledge you’ll gain from this programme, as well as the advanced skills in research, analysis and communication, will open doors to a wide range of careers.
This programme is good preparation for fields such as public engagement with science, but graduates from our School have pursued diverse careers in fields such as teaching, consultancy, business management, administration, accountancy and the civil service among others. Many of our graduates also go onto further study at PhD level and continue to work in academia.
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
This diverse programme allows you to study the history and philosophy of science, technology and medicine from a range of perspectives to gain a wide range of knowledge and skills.
You’ll explore the issues, debates and trends that have shaped the study of history and philosophy of science, with core modules that will also allow you to develop your skills in research and analysis. You’ll also have the chance to specialise in the areas that interest you by choosing from a range of optional modules on topics such as science and religion historically considered, modern science communication, and realism and representation in science.
Supported by active researchers at our Centre of History and Philosophy of Science, you’ll benefit from expert teaching and have access to our excellent library resources. You’ll even have the chance to develop your research skills and gain experience as we develop our Museum of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine.
We have world-class research resources to support your studies. The Brotherton Library houses extensive manuscript, archive and printed material in its Special Collections, including Newton’s Principia, a first edition of his Opticks and thousands of books and journals on topics from the 16th century onwards on topics such as astronomy, botany, medicine, physiology, chemistry, inventions and alchemy. You’ll also have access to the collections of artefacts across campus that we’re bringing together through the Museum of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine.
The Centre also hosts a number of research seminars given by visiting speakers, staff members and doctoral students and which all postgraduate students are encouraged to attend. There are also regular reading groups on a wide range of topics and the seminar series of other centres within the School are also available.
From the start of the programme you’ll study one core module in both history of science and philosophy of science, introducing you to the approaches, debates and trends that have shaped these naturally connected disciplines, as well as developing your research skills.
You’ll build on this knowledge when you choose from a range of optional modules, allowing you to specialise in aspects of history or philosophy of science that suit your interests. You could study purely philosophical topics, such as metaphysics of science; historical topics like illness and death in the Middle Ages; or modules that combine the two areas.
Throughout the programme you’ll develop your skills in research, analysis, interpretation and communication. By the end of your programme you’ll showcase these skills by submitting an independently researched dissertation on a specialist topic of your choice. You can choose to take an extended dissertation and research your topic in greater depth, or alternatively you can follow your interests by taking another optional module.
If you choose to study part-time, you’ll study over a longer period and take fewer modules in each year.
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Most of our taught modules combine seminars and tutorials, where you will discuss issues and concepts stemming from your reading with a small group of students and your tutor. You’ll also benefit from one-to-one supervision while you complete your dissertation. Independent study is also an important element of the programme, allowing you to develop your skills and pursue your own interests more closely.
We assess your progress using a combination of exams and coursework, giving you the freedom to research and write on topic areas that suit your interests within each module you study.
The subject knowledge you’ll gain from this programme, as well as the advanced skills in research, analysis and communication, will open doors to a wide range of careers.
This programme is good preparation for fields such as public engagement with science or the museum sector, but graduates from our School have pursued diverse careers in fields such as teaching, consultancy, business management, administration, accountancy and the civil service among others. Many of our graduates also go onto further study at PhD level and continue to work in academia.
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
Curating Science will enable you to develop an independent academic and curatorial practice at the intersection of histories, philosophies and social studies of science, science communication and museum studies.
You will engage with current debates in science communication and interpretive practice in museums, including cutting-edge art-science practices that are reimagining ways of knowing and being in the 21st Century. Alongside this, you will be encouraged to develop innovative practices of dialogic and participative engagement, developing their own ways of convening public spaces for debate.
You will undertake a range of active learning activities from developing displays, programmes and events to developing digital content and designing their own research projects. You will be supported throughout by an interdisciplinary academic staff team drawn from museum and curatorial studies and the histories and philosophies of science, as well as professionals from our partner institutions.
Students can specialise in their own areas of interest, through choosing from an array of optional modules that explore contemporary curatorial strategies, technologies and media, cultural memory, histories of medicine, audiences, participation and engagement. You will have the option of undertaking a negotiated placement with a museum or heritage organisation.
All students on the MA in Curating Science will take three core modules.
The History and Theory of Modern Science Communication allows students to explore how science, technology and medicine have been communicated to a wider public in the past. Students will identify how the processes and purposes of science communication has changed over the last two centuries and debate the consequences for science communication of the introduction of new media, ranging from the radio to the internet. The module addresses these questions by surveying the development of science communication since 1750, and by examining the changing theoretical perspectives that have underpinned these developments. Students will learn to re-examine the processes of contemporary science communication in the light of a deeper understanding of this history.
Interpreting Cultures is underpinned by action learning and puts contemporary curation in an international context. From the outset, students work on an interpretation intervention with one of the archives and collections on campus (such as The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery; Special Collections; Treasures of the Brotherton; Marks and Spencer Company Archive; ULITA ― an Archive of International Textiles; Museum of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine). This intensive experience of project planning, management, collaboration and team working prepares students for the option of undertaking a negotiated work placement in the second semester or optional modules exploring audiences, participation or engagement.
Through our Advanced Research Skills modules, students are equipped to undertake assessments and ultimately develop their own research project. The modules build to a symposium in Semester 2 where students present initial research findings towards a dissertation on a research topic of interest.
In addition, students choose from a range of optional modules offered by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies and the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science. These include the opportunity to complete a placement or consultancy project role in either curational approaches or engagement.
You will be taught by leading researchers and experienced practitioners in their fields, and you’ll benefit from a range of teaching and learning methods. They include lectures and seminars, gallery and museum visits, as well as hands-on experience of specific collections in library sessions.
We use a range of assessment methods including essays, presentations, assignments and literature reviews among others, depending on the modules you choose.
Through a combination of theory and practice, the programme produces graduates who are able to develop professional careers in the museums and heritage sector whilst retaining a critical and reflexive eye on their own practice and that of the institutions in which they work. It will equip you with a good understanding of the issues and approaches to science communication and curation, interpretation and engagement, as well as practical work experience ― a combination which is very valuable to employers.
To get a flavour of the kinds of career trajectories our graduates of allied MAs have taken see the ‘news’ section of the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage and the alumni pages of the School website.
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
In Semester 2 you will have the option to undertake a negotiated work placement to gain first-hand experience of curating science.
We have close links with many of the major cultural institutions and organisations in the region, meaning there are plenty of opportunities for you to explore. If you have a particular ambition in mind for your placement, we usually try to find a role that suits you.
Students on allied MAs have completed placements in organisations such as Leeds City Museum, Leeds Art Gallery, Harewood House, the Henry Moore Institute, National Science and Media Museum, York City Art Gallery, National Railway Museum, Impressions Gallery, The Tetley, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Lotherton Hall, Abbey House Museum and the Royal Armouries.
