What better place to study the far-reaching consequences of science and technology than at a liberal arts college in a world-renowned technical university?
Georgia Tech’s Ph.D. in the History and Sociology of Technology and Science (HSTS) prepares you to address pressing questions on the impacts of science and technology — past and present — on our communities, countries, and the planet.
Faculty and students explore how digital tools affect education, energy transitions alter the environment, and medical technologies move around the globe. We examine how colonialism impacts science, social movements begin and end, and agricultural breakthroughs feed the world.
Through rigorous research and careful analysis, we develop new understandings of the past and present to shape possibilities for a better future.

Four Core Research Areas

Science, Technology, and Medicine

Politics, Power, and Inequality

Social Justice and Social Change

Communities, Places, and the Environment
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All full-time Ph.D. students
receive funding packages with a stipend and tuition waiver.
Attend one of Forbes New Ivies and the
#1 Best Value Public University
by Princeton Review and Niche.
Earn a Master of Science in History and Sociology along the way.
At Georgia Tech’s School of History and Sociology, you’ll be surrounded by expert colleagues not only in the humanities and social sciences but also in engineering, computing, artificial intelligence, and other emerging fields.
We work and study in the economic and cultural hub of the Southeast, where Atlanta’s rich history in civil rights and the arts combined with its blossoming reputation as an innovation leader make it an ideal place to address global and local challenges.
Where do our graduates go?
Ph.D. graduates leave the program with advanced research, writing, and communication skills. They establish themselves as experts in their fields, contributing valuable knowledge toward understanding the past, analyzing the present, and advocating for a better future. Our alumni stand out and thrive in academia, think tanks, public agencies, and private business, and you can find them in positions such as:
- Assistant Professor of Sociology, Peking University, Beijing
- Associate Professor of History, Penn State University
- Dean of Libraries, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Director, Georgia Tech Office of Minority Educational Development (OMED)
- Founding Director, Science Gallery Bengaluru
- Historian, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office of History
- Research Assistant Professor, Center for Global Strategies and Planning, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
- Science Policy Analyst, National Science Foundation
Dive deeper into our alumni stories to see more. The Ivan Allen College alumni community spans from Atlanta to Washington, Europe, Africa, Asia, and beyond, connecting you to a network of support around the globe.
Take the next step in your career and apply for Georgia Tech’s Ph.D. in the History and Sociology of Technology and Science today!
The admissions deadline for the Ph.D. in the History and Sociology of Technology and Science is Feb. 15. Students seeking financial assistance must submit their materials no later than Jan. 10. Apply via the Graduate Admissions website or contact Helen Anne Curry, director of graduate studies, for more information.
