Best institutions to study History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
A program that focuses on the historical evolution of scientific theories, science applications and technologies, and the scientific, medical, and technological disciplines, as well as the philosophy of science and its historical socio-economic context.
19 U.S. institutions graduated 207 History and Philosophy of Science and Technology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 54.0104, a specialization of History (CIP 54.01), and leads most directly to the Historians occupation (BLS SOC 19-3093).
About History and Philosophy of Science and Technology programs
A program that focuses on the historical evolution of scientific theories, science applications and technologies, and the scientific, medical, and technological disciplines, as well as the philosophy of science and its historical socio-economic context. Includes instruction in the concepts and methods of philosophical inquiry; historiography of science; history of science, medicine, and technology; and research methods in the history of the scientific and engineering disciplines, including mathematics.
See also: 30.1501 - Science, Technology and Society., 51.3205 - History of Medicine.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The History and Philosophy of Science and Technology program delves into the historical evolution of scientific theories, technologies, and their socio-economic contexts. It is designed for students interested in understanding how science and technology have shaped human history and society. This program is ideal for those who are passionate about critical inquiry and the philosophical underpinnings of scientific practices.
Students will gain skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and research methods. Coursework covers the historiography of science, the history of science, medicine, and technology, as well as philosophical inquiry, equipping graduates with a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between science and society.
Credentials awarded
What History and Philosophy of Science and Technology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree115 graduates / yr · 12 institutions56%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship35 graduates / yr · 10 institutions17%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year30 graduates / yr · 2 institutions15%
- Master's degree27 graduates / yr · 7 institutions13%
Graduates over time
History and Philosophy of Science and Technology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 186 |
| 2013 | 185 |
| 2014 | 203 |
| 2015 | 192 |
| 2016 | 186 |
| 2017 | 193 |
| 2018 | 179 |
| 2019 | 185 |
| 2020 | 185 |
| 2021 | 222 |
| 2022 | 240 |
| 2023 | 217 |
| 2024 | 213 |
| 2025 | 207 |
Top 19 institutions for History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 73 | 98% | $15,013 | $53,468 |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 28 | 67% | — | $27,341 |
| 3 | Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 19 | 94% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 17 | 85% | — | $29,591 |
| 5 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 14 | 97% | $22,055 | $48,555 |
| 6 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 11 | 98% | $13,729 | $45,363 |
| 7 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor's | 8 | 65% | — | $28,277 |
| 8 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 96% | $13,333 | $46,616 |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 6 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 10 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OKPublicDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 5 | 75% | — | $39,604 |
| 11 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicDoctoral | 4 | 80% | — | $31,880 |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 4 | 90% | — | $35,959 |
| 13 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster's | 3 | 85% | — | $26,635 |
| 14 | The University of Montana Missoula, MTPublicBachelor's | 3 | 48% | — | $28,508 |
| 15 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 89% | — | $34,495 |
| 16 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 88% | $29,023 | $39,636 |
| 17 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 87% | $27,976 | — |
| 18 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicDoctoral | 1 | 70% | — | $34,589 |
| 19 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor's | 1 | 85% | — | $26,261 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader History field (CIP 54.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 18 states
Where History and Philosophy of Science and Technology graduates come from. Each state links to all History programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1 | 73 | Harvard University73 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 31 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus17 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 28 | Grand Valley State University28 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 19 | Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus19 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 11 | Princeton University11 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 8 | University of Utah8 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 6 | University of Chicago6 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 6 | Johns Hopkins University6 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 5 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus5 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 4 | Indiana University - Bloomington4 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 4 | University of Wisconsin - Madison4 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 3 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities3 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 3 | The University of Montana3 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 2 | The University of Texas at Austin2 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 1 | New York University1 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | Case Western Reserve University1 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 1 | Oregon State University1 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 1 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3093, Historians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as historians, postsecondary history teachers, and managers in various fields. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 2.2% and around 300 annual openings. The median wage for historians is approximately $74,050, typically requiring a master's degree for advanced positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 54.0104
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Historiansprimary SOC 19-3093 | $76,750 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~300 | Master's degree |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
History Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1125 | $83,820 | -0.2% Little or no change | ~1,700 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
- Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
- Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy.
- Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as via storage media or the Internet.
- Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
- Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.
Tools and technology used
Other History specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under History (CIP 54.01).
- HistoryCIP 54.010126,654 graduates / yr1,333 institutions
- Public/CIP 54.0105
Applied History 892 graduates / yr51 institutions - HistoryCIP 54.0199542 graduates / yr44 institutions
- Military HistoryCIP 54.0108287 graduates / yr11 institutions
- American History (United States)CIP 54.0102partial data268 graduates / yr6 institutions
- European HistoryCIP 54.0103partial data9 graduates / yr3 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Asian History54.0106
- Canadian History54.0107
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or a Doctor's degree in this field.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, writing, research methods, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can become a historian, postsecondary history teacher, or work in various managerial roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.2% and around 300 openings each year.
What is the CIP code for History and Philosophy of Science and Technology?+
History and Philosophy of Science and Technology is CIP 54.0104 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within History (CIP 54.01). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the historical evolution of scientific theories, science applications and technologies, and the scientific, medical, and technological disciplines, as well as the philosophy of science and its historical socio-economic context. Includes instruction in the concepts and methods of philosophical inquiry; historiography of science; history of science, medicine, and technology; and research methods in the history of the scientific and engineering disciplines, including mathematics.
How many institutions offer History and Philosophy of Science and Technology programs?+
19 U.S. institutions reported History and Philosophy of Science and Technology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 18 states, awarding 207 credentials in the year. That is 0.7% of all History graduates.
How much do History and Philosophy of Science and Technology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Historians occupation, which History and Philosophy of Science and Technology most directly leads to, pays a median of $76,750 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader History field report median earnings of $34,589 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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