HPSC10002 Science, Philosophy and Society
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- No final exam: all coursework
- About 3 class hours a week
Is HPSC10002 hard?
HPSC10002: Easier. Makes it easier: No final exam, First-year subject. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
What science is, what makes knowledge scientific, and why people trust or doubt experts.
After it you can
- Explain the main ideas from philosophy and sociology of science
- Tell scientific claims apart from non-scientific ones
- Build a clear argument about science's place in society
What you need first
None
What it leads to
How it’s assessed
Quizzes 20%, Assignments 25%, Reports and essays 55%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 5 students on StudentVIP (2014–2025)
- Each week takes a different topic (astrology, string theory, forensics, intelligent design), so it can feel fragmented. A 2025 reviewer stressed it is mainly a philosophy subject: theoretical, wordy arguments.
- Several smaller tasks (reading summaries, short papers) let you build marks before an open-ended final essay, which some found hard to pull together.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate HPSC10002
Quick answers
- When is HPSC10002 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking HPSC10002?
- No prerequisites.
- Does HPSC10002 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Quizzes 20%, Assignments 25%, Reports and essays 55%.
- Is HPSC10002 hard?
- From 5 student reviews on StudentVIP: Each week takes a different topic (astrology, string theory, forensics, intelligent design), so it can feel fragmented. A 2025 reviewer stressed it is mainly a philosophy subject: theoretical, wordy arguments.
- What do students say about HPSC10002?
- Each week takes a different topic (astrology, string theory, forensics, intelligent design), so it can feel fragmented. A 2025 reviewer stressed it is mainly a philosophy subject: theoretical, wordy arguments. Several smaller tasks (reading summaries, short papers) let you build marks before an open-ended final essay, which some found hard to pull together.
- How many class hours a week does HPSC10002 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take HPSC10002 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- What can I take after HPSC10002?
- 1 subjects need it first, for example POLS20034.
- Can I rate HPSC10002?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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