******************************************************************************

DRAFT MOTION

Authorize SDSMT to offer a minor in Science, Technology, and Society, as presented.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL

AGENDA ITEM: 3 – C (5)

DATE: July 8, 2020

******************************************************************************

SUBJECT

New Program: SDSMT – Minor in Science, Technology, and Society

CONTROLLING STATUTE, RULE, OR POLICY

BOR Policy 2:23 – Program and Curriculum Approval

BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (SDSMT) requests authorization to offer a

minor in Science, Technology, and Society on campus. Science, Technology, and Society

(STS) is an interdisciplinary field of study that seeks to examine and assess the many ways

that science and technology shape culture, values, institutions, and environment, and how

those factors shape science and technology. It combines rigorous coursework in the natural

sciences with a firm grounding in the Social Sciences and Humanities.

The addition of a minor in Science, Technology, and Society will enable students majoring

in any degree program on the SDSMT campus, whether it be in the sciences or engineering,

to supplement their scientific and technical training with interdisciplinary coursework

designed to teach students to think about scientific knowledge and its applications in a

systematic, critical way. By emphasizing the cultural, ethical, societal implications of

scientific and technological innovation, students will develop an interdisciplinary perspective

on contemporary issues, as well as a heightened ethical awareness and sense of public

responsibility.

IMPACT AND RECOMMENDATION

SDSMT does not require any additional resources to offer this minor.

Board office staff recommends approval of the program.

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment I – New Program Request Form: SDSMT – Minor in Science, Technology,

and Society

AAC Form 2.8 – New Baccalaureate Degree Minor (Last Revised 05/2019 )

SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF REGENTS

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS FORMS

New Baccalaureate Degree Minor

Use this form to propose a new baccalaureate degree minor (the minor may include existing and/or new courses. An

academic minor within a degree program enables a student to make an inquiry into a discipline or field of study beyond

the major or to investigate a particular content theme. Minors provide a broad introduction to a subject and therefore

develop only limited competency. Minors consist of a specific set of objectives achieved through a series of courses.

Course offerings occur in a specific department or may draw from several departments (as in the case of a topical or

thematic focus). In some cases, all coursework within a minor proscribed; in others cases, a few courses may form the

basis for a wide range of choices. Regental undergraduate minors typically consist of 18 credit hours. Proposals to

establish new minors as well as proposals to modify existing minors must recognize and address this limit. The Board

of Regents, Executive Director, and/or their designees may request additional information about the proposal. After

the university President approves the proposal, submit a signed copy to the Executive Director through the system

Chief Academic Officer. Only post the New Baccalaureate Degree Minor Form to the university website for review

by other universities after approval by the Executive Director and Chief Academic Officer.

UNIVERSITY: SDSM&T

TITLE OF PROPOSED MINOR: Science, Technology, and Society

DEGREE(S) IN WHICH MINOR MAY BE

EARNED:

All baccalaureate degrees

EXISTING RELATED MAJORS OR MINORS: B.S. in Science, Technology, and

Society

INTENDED DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION: Fall 2020

PROPOSED CIP CODE: 30.15

UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT: Humanities and Social Sciences

BANNER DEPARTMENT CODE: MSOS

UNIVERSITY DIVISION:

BANNER DIVISION CODE:

☒Please check this box to confirm that:

• The individual preparing this request has read AAC Guideline 2.8, which pertains to new

baccalaureate degree minor requests, and that this request meets the requirements outlined in the

guidelines.

• This request will not be posted to the university website for review of the Academic Affairs

Committee until it is approved by the Executive Director and Chief Academic Officer.

University Approval

To the Board of Regents and the Executive Director: I certify that I have read this proposal, that

I believe it to be accurate, and that it has been evaluated and approved as provided by university

policy.

Click here to enter a

date.

President of the University Date

ATTACHMENT I 2

AAC Form 2.8 – New Baccalaureate Degree Minor (Last Revised 05/2019 )

Note: In the responses below, references to external sources, including data sources, should be

documented with a footnote (including web addresses where applicable).

1. Do you have a major in this field (place an “X” in the appropriate box)?

2. If you do not have a major in this field, explain how the proposed minor relates to your

university mission and strategic plan, and to the current Board of Regents Strategic Plan

2014-2020.

Links to the applicable State statute, Board Policy, and the Board of Regents Strategic Plan

are listed below for each campus. BHSU: SDCL § 13-59 BOR Policy 1:10:4

DSU: SDCL § 13-59 BOR Policy 1:10:5

NSU: SDCL § 13-59 BOR Policy 1:10:6

SDSMT: SDCL § 13-60 BOR Policy 1:10:3

SDSU: SDCL § 13-58 BOR Policy 1:10:2

USD: SDCL § 13-57 BOR Policy 1:10:1

Board of Regents Strategic Plan 2014-2020

3. What is the nature/purpose of the proposed minor? Please include a brief (1-2 sentence)

description of the academic field in this program.

Science, Technology, and Society (STS) is an interdisciplinary field of study that seeks to examine

and assess the many ways that science and technology shape culture, values, institutions, and

environment, and how those factors shape science and technology. It combines rigorous coursework

in the natural sciences with a firm grounding in the Social Sciences and Humanities. It offers students

the opportunity to build on the strength of SD Mines’ science and engineering programs while

simultaneously developing a contextual understanding of the human and societal dimensions of

scientific change provided by coursework in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

The addition of a minor in Science, Technology, and Society will enable students majoring in any

degree program on the SD Mines campus, whether it be in the sciences or engineering, to supplement

their scientific and technical training with interdisciplinary coursework designed to teach students to

think about scientific knowledge and its applications in a systematic, critical way. By emphasizing

the cultural, ethical, societal implications of scientific and technological innovation, students will

develop an interdisciplinary perspective on contemporary issues, as well as a heightened ethical

awareness and sense of public responsibility.

☒ ☐

Yes No

ATTACHMENT I 3

AAC Form 2.8 – New Baccalaureate Degree Minor (Last Revised 05/2019 )

4. How will the proposed minor benefit students?

The minor in STS will foster a critical community engaged in understanding science and its relation

to society, and promote contact among students across different fields. It will encourage SD Mines

students to examine the social and cultural implications of new technologies, cross disciplinary

boundaries, engage with industry partners and with public policymakers, and require students to

think critically about how to manage and articulate the meaning of scientific and technological

change in a democratic society.

Students will learn to connect scientific and technological innovations to real-world problems and

analyze the societal impact of those innovations. A minor in STS will teach students to distinguish

between sound and unsound interpretations of scientific information, employ cogent reasoning and

ethical considerations in examining scientific issues of historical and contemporary concern, and

effectively communicate the ways in which science and technology shape cultures, values, and

institutions, and vice versa.

Confronting issues from climate change to biodiversity loss involves not only continual scientific

adaptation, it demands an understanding of the historical origins of current developments and the

limits of current knowledge, communication across cultures, and an examination of the ethical

implications of our choices. As such, the STS curriculum provides essential training for STEM

students. The STS minor achieves these objectives through a flexible yet rigorous course of study. It

builds on the strengths of our existing faculty and curriculum and encourages collaboration across

multiple departments and initiatives such as Mines Advantage and EPICS.

The STS minor furthers the SD Mines commitment to bring interdisciplinarity, collaboration, and

respect for the human dimensions of technological innovation to its students as they prepare to

address the scientific and engineering challenges of the 21st century. Identified by the National

Academy of Engineering as the “Grand Challenges for Engineering,” an international consortium of

leading scientists and technological innovators has grouped these 21st century issues into four

categories: sustainability, health, security, and joy of living. In every case, the multi-dimensional

skills of STS students will be an essential component in addressing the global implications these

complex challenges present to humanity.

5. Describe the workforce demand for graduates in related fields, including national demand

and demand within South Dakota. Provide data and examples; data sources may include but

are not limited to the South Dakota Department of Labor, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics,

Regental system dashboards, etc. Please cite any sources in a footnote.

ATTACHMENT I 4

AAC Form 2.8 – New Baccalaureate Degree Minor (Last Revised 05/2019 )

Nationally, the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the following

projections for growth in likely occupational paths for STS graduates:

Table 1: US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016-2026 Projections

Employment by detailed occupation, 2016 and projected 2026

Likely occupations in the fields of Science, Technology, and Society (Numbers in thousands)

2016 National Employment Matrix title

Employment

Change, 2016–26

Occupational openings,

projected 2016–26 annual average

Number Percent

distribution

2016 2026 2016 2026 Number Percent

Art, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations

2,772.9 2,941.0 1.8 1.8 168.1 6.1 288.9

Community and social service occupations

2,570.7 2,942.6 1.6 1.8 371.9 14.5 330.7

Conservation Scientists 22.3 23.7 0.0 0.0 1.4 6.3 2.0

Education, training, and library occupations

9,426.5 10,315.4 6.0 6.2 888.9 9.4 918.5

Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

34.6 38.8 0.0 0.0 4.2 12.1 4.6

Environmental scientists and specialists, including health

• Including environmental analyst

89.5 99.4 0.1 0.1 9.9 11.1 9.5

Law enforcement workers 1,285.0 1,300.1 0.8 0.8 15.2 1.2 91.0

Legal occupations 1,283.3 1,399.5 0.8 0.8 116.2 9.1 90.8

Management occupations 9,533.1 10,340.4 6.1 6.2 807.3 8.5 841.5

Miscellaneous life, physical, and social science technicians

159.3 174.8 0.1 0.1 15.4 9.7 20.7

Public relations specialists

• Including environmental communications specialist, public affairs officer, and management, scientific, and technical consulting services

259.6 282.6 0.2 0.2 22.9 8.8 28.2

Source: Employment Projections program, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

ATTACHMENT I 5

AAC Form 2.8 – New Baccalaureate Degree Minor (Last Revised 05/2019 )

SD Mines recently secured consulting services from Ruffalo Noel-Levitz (RNL) in an effort to

identify relevant data regarding program demand among students interested in STEM degrees.

Figure 2 below provides data generated in October 2018 by RNL. Within the category

“communications,” 65 prospective students (or 23% of those who identified communications as an

area of interest) cited Science, Technology, and Society as the academic program of greatest

interest. The other areas of student interest listed (including science policy, science

communication, environmental resources management, and technical writing/communication) are

also career paths commonly chosen by STS graduates. An STS minor will provide students with

foundational coursework in multiple disciplines and thus ensure familiarity with the knowledge,

concepts, and practices that sustain this field of study.

Communications: Which of these specific programs are you most

interested in? Frequency Percent

Science, Technology, & Society 65 23%

Digital Media 60 22%

Science Policy (Energy and Environmental Policy, Regulation, Law) 39 14%

Engineering Management and Leadership 34 12%

Engineering/Science Communication 26 9%

Environmental Resources Management 21 8%

Technical Writing/Communication 20 7%

Figure 2: Results of 2018 RNL research on student interest in “communications” among those

intending to pursue a STEM degree.

6. Provide estimated enrollments and completions in the table below and explain the

methodology used in developing the estimates (replace “XX” in the table with the appropriate

year).

The estimates provided are based upon a review of recent enrollments in new minor programs and

their likely four-year progression, as well as continuing discussion with faculty, students, and

department heads who have expressed support for creating an STS minor at SD Mines.

Fiscal Years*

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Estimates FY 21 FY 22 FY 23 FY 24

Students enrolled in the minor (fall) 3 6 9 12

Completions by graduates 1 3 6 *Do not include current fiscal year.

7. What is the rationale for the curriculum? Demonstrate/provide evidence that the

curriculum is consistent with current national standards.

As SD Mines continues to meet the demand for rigorous STEM education, it must also meet the

pursuant demand from students for the professional skills to guide tomorrow’s technology policy

toward the public’s best interests. Since the 1970s, universities throughout the country have

responded to this need by creating Science, Technology, and Society (STS) programs.

ATTACHMENT I 6

AAC Form 2.8 – New Baccalaureate Degree Minor (Last Revised 05/2019 )

While there are no national standards established for Science, Technology, and Society academic

credentials, STS constitutes a well-established academic field as indicated by the fact that at least

66 prominent institutions of higher education in the U.S. offer major or minor programs in the

field, including:

• Brown University

• Cornell University

• Georgia Institute of Technology

• New Jersey Institute of Technology

• Polytechnic Institute of New York University

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

• Rochester Institute of Technology

• Stanford University

• Stevens Institute of Technology

• University of Texas at Austin

• University of Virginia

• Missouri University of Science and Technology

8. Complete the tables below. Explain any exceptions to Board policy requested.

Minors by design are limited in the number of credit hours required for completion. Minors

typically consist of eighteen (18) credit hours, including prerequisite courses. In addition, minors

typically involve existing courses. If the curriculum consists of more than eighteen (18) credit

hours (including prerequisites) or new courses, please provide explanation and justification

below.

A. Distribution of Credit Hours

[Insert title of proposed minor]

Credit Hours Percent

Requirements in minor 6 33%

Electives in minor 12 66%

Total 18

B. Required Courses in the Minor

Prefix Number Course Title

(add or delete rows as needed)

Prerequisites for

Course Include credits for

prerequisites in

subtotal below.

Credit

Hours

New

(yes,

no)

IS 201 Introduction to Science,

Technology, and Society

No 3 No

HUM 200 Connections: Humanities and

Technology

No 3 No

Subtotal 6

ATTACHMENT I 7

AAC Form 2.8 – New Baccalaureate Degree Minor (Last Revised 05/2019 )

9. Elective Courses in the Minor: List courses available as electives in the program. Indicate

any proposed new courses added specifically for the minor.

Students must complete twelve credits from the following. Select 1 course from four of the following

categories:

Prefix Number Course Title

(add or delete rows as needed)

Prerequisites

for Course Include credits

for prerequisites

in subtotal

below.

Credit

Hours

New

(yes,

no)

HUM 375 Computers in Society None 3 No

ENGL 300 Environmental Literature and Culture (previously: Literary Experience of Nature)

None 3 No

POLS

or

HIST

407

379

Environmental Law and Policy

Environmental History of the US

None 3 No

PSYC

or

PSYC

451

461

Psychology of Abnormal Behavior

Theories of Personality

PSYC 101

PSYC 101

3 No

SOC

or

SOC

351

411

Criminology

Licit and Illicit Drugs

SOC 100 or 150

SOC 100 or 150

or PSYC 101

3 No

Subtotal 12

NOTE: In only two of the five categories of elective courses for the minor are there prerequisites:

PSYC and SOC. The three prerequisite courses in question (PSYC 101; SOC 100 or 150) are

generally part of a student’s general education coursework and will thus have minimal impact on

students’ time to degree. Moreover, by completing PSYC 101, students will have fulfilled all the

prerequisites necessary to complete the STS minor.

• PSYC 451 (PSYC 101)

• PSYC 461 (PSYC 101)

• SOC 351 (SOC 100 or 150)

• SOC 411 (SOC 100 or 150 or PSYC 101)

A. What are the learning outcomes expected for all students who complete the minor?

How will students achieve these outcomes? Complete the table below to list specific

learning outcomes—knowledge and competencies—for courses in the proposed program

in each row. Label each column heading with a course prefix and number. Indicate

required courses with an asterisk (*). Indicate with an X in the corresponding table cell

for any student outcomes that will be met by the courses included. All students should

acquire the program knowledge and competencies regardless of the electives selected.

Modify the table as necessary to provide the requested information for the proposed

program.

ATTACHMENT I 8

AAC Form 2.8 – New Baccalaureate Degree Minor (Last Revised 05/2019 )

Program Courses that Address the Outcomes

Individual Student Outcome (Same as in the text of the proposal)

IS 201*

HUM*

200 HUM

375 POLS 407

or HIST

379

ENGL

300 SOC

351 or

461

PSYC

451 or

461

Students will demonstrate professional written

and oral communication skills.

X X X X X X X

Students will understand and appreciate the

connections between science, technology and

real-world problems.

X X X X X X X

Students will understand scientific

applications in societal context.

X X X X X X X

Students will demonstrate leadership skills

and the ability to work both independently and

in teams.

X X X X X X X

Students will demonstrate interest in and

ability to contribute expertise in their

workplaces and in their communities.

X X X X X X X

Modify the table as necessary to include all student outcomes. Outcomes in this table are to

be the same ones identified in the text.

Students will achieve these learning outcomes through consistent class participation, informal

writing, short essays, team projects (both oral and written), case studies, and final projects.

Specifically, students will gain an understanding of the environmental impact of scientific and

engineering initiatives over time; be exposed to multiple perspectives on contemporary and historical

issues through interdisciplinary approaches; examine the relationship between humans, the natural

environment, and scientific innovation and thought; learn how to relate scientific information to

general audiences in both oral and written form; and develop a deeper knowledge, skills, values, and

sense of agency about their responsibility to the larger society.

10. What instructional approaches and technologies will instructors use to teach courses in the

minor? This refers to the instructional technologies and approaches used to teach courses and

NOT the technology applications and approaches expected of students.

Standard instructional approaches and technologies will be used to teach the courses in this minor.

11. Delivery Location Note: The accreditation requirements of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) require Board approval for a

university to offer programs off-campus and through distance delivery.

A. Complete the following charts to indicate if the university seeks authorization to deliver

the entire program on campus, at any off campus location (e.g., UC Sioux Falls, Capital

University Center, Black Hills State University-Rapid City, etc.) or deliver the entire

program through distance technology (e.g., as an online program)?

Yes/No Intended Start Date

On campus Yes Fall

2

020

Yes/No If Yes, list location(s) Intended Start Date

Off campus No Choose an item. Choose

an item.

ATTACHMENT I 9

AAC Form 2.8 – New Baccalaureate Degree Minor (Last Revised 05/2019 )

Yes/No If Yes, identify delivery methods Delivery methods are defined in AAC

Guideline 5.5.

Intended Start Date

Distance Delivery

(online/other distance

delivery methods)

No Choose an item. Choose

an item.

Does another BOR

institution already

have authorization to

offer the program

online?

No If yes, identify institutions:

B. Complete the following chart to indicate if the university seeks authorization to deliver

more than 50% but less than 100% of the minor through distance learning (e.g., as an

online program)? This question responds to HLC definitions for distance delivery.

Yes/No If Yes, identify delivery methods Intended Start Date

Distance Delivery

(online/other distance

delivery methods)

No Choose an item. Choose

an item.

12. Does the University request any exceptions to any Board policy for this minor? Explain

any requests for exceptions to Board Policy. If not requesting any exceptions, enter “None.”

None

13. Cost, Budget, and Resources: Explain the amount and source(s) of any one-time and

continuing investments in personnel, professional development, release time, time

redirected from other assignments, instructional technology & software, other operations

and maintenance, facilities, etc., needed to implement the proposed minor. Address off-

campus or distance delivery separately.

SDSMT does not require any additional resources to offer this minor.

14. New Course Approval: New courses required to implement the new minor may receive

approval in conjunction with program approval or receive approval separately. Please

check the appropriate statement (place an “X” in the appropriate box).

☐ YES,

the university is seeking approval of new courses related to the proposed program in

conjunction with program approval. All New Course Request forms are included as

Appendix C and match those described in section 7.

☒ NO,

the university is not seeking approval of all new courses related to the proposed

program in conjunction with program approval; the institution will submit new course

approval requests separately or at a later date in accordance with Academic Affairs

Guidelines.

ATTACHMENT I 10