Bachelor of Science in Science Technology and Society

What is Science, Technology, and Society?

The Science, Technology, and Society (STS) degree at South Dakota Mines combines rigorous science coursework with a firm grounding in the social sciences, humanities, and liberal arts.

STS students at Mines learn to connect scientific and technological innovations to real-world problems in order to analyze the societal impact of those innovations.

The degree offers two tracks - environment and sustainability or policy and law.

What do science, technology, and society graduates do?

The Science, Technology, and Society at Mines program prepares students for admission to law school or graduate school as well as careers and placement in public policy, science communications, and writing, environmental sciences, science and technology business, education, accelerated teacher certification programs, the military, or law enforcement.

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology was founded in 1885 to provide instruction in the region’s primary industry, which was mining. And now it includes so much more.

Over the years, South Dakota Mines evolved into a leading science and engineering university and is committed to excellence in science and engineering academics and research. We are working to develop the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers through STEM bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. We are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and all undergraduate engineering programs are also accredited through ABET.

We offer a rigorous academic experience at a reasonable cost, with small class sizes, dedicated faculty, cutting-edge research, and many student programs and organizations. By the time they graduate, 75-80% of our students have had hands-on, real-world experiences through internships, cooperative education, or research projects. Our graduate and undergraduate students have research opportunities in areas such as energy and environmental systems, underground science and engineering, and materials and manufacturing. A few research examples include energy storage, cold spray technology, biomedical applications, and even disrupting criminal networks.

You are always welcome to visit our beautiful campus, but in case you can’t make it in person, we offer a virtual tour on our website. We are nestled in the eastern slope of the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Whether you prefer exploring the city or pursuing outdoor adventures, Rapid City and the Black Hills offer many options for you.

South Dakota Mines has been named one of the best engineering schools in the country for return on investment by College Factual for several years. In addition to rankings, there are many reasons to attend South Dakota Mines – great location, maximum value, personal attention and so much more.