Curriculum
The programme of History and Philosophy of Science (120 EC) usually takes two years to complete and consists of four parts:
| Mandatory courses | 37.5 EC |
|---|---|
| Primary electives | min. 22.5 EC |
| Secondary electives | max. 22.5 EC |
| Research Project | 37.5 EC or 52.5 EC |
Mandatory courses
In the first year of the programme you will take all mandatory courses.
Primary electives
Students are expected to choose at least 22.5 EC from the list of primary electives (see drop-down below), which cover a wide range of topics in the history and philosophy of science, mathematics, medicine, social sciences and humanities. Please note that not all courses are offered every year.
Secondary electives
The secondary electives are meant to broaden your interests and skills. You can gain work experience in industry by performing an internship on a specific research theme, or, with a profile, direct your career towards education, communication or management or simply take extra courses that match your interest.
What can you choose?
Extra courses (max. 22.5 EC)
Secondary optional courses can be any course at master’s level (including not yet chosen courses from the list of primary electives). It is worth thinking about the skills you need for your thesis research, for example digital history, Latin, logic, paleography, or a course from a scientific field that you intend to study. You can look at courses from, for example, master’s programmes in Philosophy; Science Education & Communication; History, Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Studies; Science and Business Management; Innovation Sciences; etc.
The bachelor’s courses Living Pasts (BETA-B3LH); Geschiedenis en Filosofie van de Biologie (B-B3GESB05); Geschiedenis van de Wiskunde (WISB382); Historical and Ethical Reflections (ECB2HER); and Contemporary Economics in Historical Perspective (ECB2GED) and Making Modern Science (BETA-B3MMS) are also eligible as secondary elective, as long as the total amount of bachelor level credits in your curriculum does not exceed 15 EC.
It is possible to include relevant courses from other universities, after consulting the study advisor and the Board of Examiners.
Profile (30 EC)
Research Project
The second year is devoted to your own Research Project, resulting in a master’s thesis according to the rules and methods current in the field. The thesis should demonstrate that you are able to produce new scholarly knowledge and insights, and can share the results with fellow researchers in a coherent way. It is based on independent research, refers to relevant literature, assesses earlier work on a chosen topic and contributes to scholarly debate.
Extra opportunities
Want to go abroad for part of your programme?
If you want to go abroad, it's important to let your programme coordinator know in advance. The curriculum is generally very packed, so it requires timely planning. If you have a general idea of what you want to do, please first discuss it with your programme coordinator to see if it fits into your programme.