Race/History of Science

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Race is a social construct. So why have scientists spent centuries trying to quantify, measure, and categorize people by race? From early anthropometry to the Human Genome Project, this course examines the production and embedding of race into scientific knowledge since the 18th century. Designed for students interested in the history of science and the production of scientific knowledge or those curious about the origins of scientific racism and racial inequality, this course is also well-suited for students pursuing careers in the health professions. By focusing on historical discourses on the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge of race, students will be able to: Understand how race, racism, and racial inequality are embedded in scientific knowledge Outline the various methodologies different fields of science have used to group people into races Carefully evaluate scientific technologies for racial biases This is an upper level undergraduate and graduate seminar.