Part II
Fold-out chart from Peter Apian, Cosmographia, 1584. This is one of the earliest published maps to include North America. Image credit: Whipple Library.
I have learnt valuable study skills, advanced my self-discipline and met some fascinating people.
Former Part II student
The Part II course in History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) gives students an insight into the global development of science and medicine since antiquity, and into their philosophical structure and presuppositions. It addresses questions about the nature of scientific knowledge, and critically examines the social authority given to scientific expertise. It thus provides essential intellectual resources for understanding some of the most important aspects of modern society and culture.
This is a full-time Part II course in the Natural Sciences Tripos. We also offer a Major Subject and three Minor Subjects as part of the NST Part II course in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, and single-paper options for the Classics, History, HSPS and PBS Triposes.
Course structure
Students have a choice of three papers out of six, write and present on a primary source essay, and write a dissertation. Each examination paper counts for 20%, the primary source essay for 15%, the primary source presentation for 5%, and the dissertation for 20% of the overall mark. This means that 40% of the mark is based on coursework.
The papers
Students choose from the following list of papers. Any combination of papers will provide a very broad exposure to the field of history and philosophy of science and medicine and will fully meet the course aims and objectives.
- Paper 1: Early Science and Medicine
- Paper 2: Modern Science and Society
- Paper 3: Modern Medicine and Life Sciences
- Paper 4: Philosophy and Scientific Practice
- Paper 5: Epistemology and Metaphysics of Science
- Paper 6: Ethics and Politics of Science, Technology and Medicine
Primary sources
All students write one extended essay (up to 4,000 words) focused on an assigned primary source. During Michaelmas Term there will be six series of primary source seminars, each made up of four seminars. Students should attend two series of seminars. They then choose one source on which to write their essay.
Primary source presentation
In weeks 3 to 4 of Lent Term they will also be asked to deliver results from their primary source essay in a 10-minute presentation.
Dissertation
This part of the course gives students the chance to explore in depth a topic that really interests them. The dissertation is a substantial piece of original work (up to 8,000 words). Students make short, formative presentations on their dissertation work in dissertation seminars in Lent Term.
Supervisions and writing support
All papers are supported by supervisions; we recommend that students write 6–8 supervision essays per paper.
We provide optional tailored study skills sessions and one-to-one writing support for those who feel this may be of benefit.
Pass rates
Pass rates for HPS Part II are close to 100%, and every year a significant proportion of the students receive a first class degree.