History of science majors will study courses including: the origins of scientific thought, great scientists, the history of astronomy and cosmology, technological and social change, ancient and medieval science, history of physics, chemistry and biology, culture and belief, ecology and the Darwinian Revolution. Graduate and post-graduate students will further explore these topics with comprehensive and in-depth research and studies including: anthropology, diseases and medicine, bioethics and law, and classical and Islamic sciences.
History of science degree programs are widely available at education institutions across the U.S. and online. Harvard University's Department of History of Science, located on its Cambridge campus, offers programs from the undergraduate to the post-doctoral levels. University of California, Berkeley's Office for History of Science and Technology promotes research, intellectual exchange and public engagement in the history of science and technology.
Doctoral, post-doctoral students and historians have the opportunity to conduct research and share their theories and findings on the history of science to a broader audience through grants, awards and prizes. These are bestowed upon awardees by institutions such as the History of Science Society. The Sarton Medal is the society's highest honor and recognizes scholars for lifetime scholarly achievement. The Pfizer Award is given in recognition of an outstanding book in the history of science. The Joseph H. Hazen Education Prize honors outstanding teaching of the subject.
Historians with academic qualifications in the field generally work for academic institutions, museums, government agencies, libraries and archives, historical societies, medical research institutions, historic preservation programs and nonprofit organizations. Some are self-employed and, once they have established a reputation for authority in the field, work as consultants in areas such as providing professional witness services to law firms.