Student FAQs

Students transitioning into the new School for the Future of Innovation in Society FAQ

 Fall 2015

With the creation of the new School for the Future of Innovation in Society (SFIS), six graduate programs will transition into the new School from other units:

• Applied Ethics and the Professions - MA – Biomedical and Health Ethics
• Applied Ethics and the Professions - MA – Science, Technology and Ethics
• Global Technology and Development - MS (campus based and online students)
• Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology - PhD
• Master of Science and Technology Policy – MSTP
• Responsible Innovation in Science, Engineering and Society – Graduate Certificate

We know you may have questions. Answers to frequently asked questions are included below.

If you have additional questions, contact your graduate advisor (andra.williams@asu.edu) or send an email to sfis@asu.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the degree programs become part of the School for the Future of Innovation in Society?

The transition is effective for Fall 2015.  The official “rollover” occurs on August 17th.

Will the requirements for my degree program change?

All curriculum requirements for all programs will remain the same.

Will there be changes to accelerated bachelor’s plus master’s programs?

The Accelerated 4+1 degree program between the Master of Science and Technology Policy and undergraduates in the School of Social Transformation will continue as originally created.

Will my tuition and fees change?

There will be no changes to the tuition rates.  All students will be subject to the tuition and fees as provided in the current information on the ASU website at https://catalog.asu.edu/tuitionandfees/.  Students in the MSTP program will have a 50% reduction in the Program Fee from previous years.  The MSTP Program Fee is assessed on top of regular ASU tuition and fees.

I am a WICHE WRGP student. Will my tuition and fees remain the same?

All current and future WICHE WRGP students will continue to follow the same tuition and fees scales as in past years.  If you are a resident from one of the Western States, you can apply to the Graduate Education Office for approval to pay tuition at the resident rate.

Will programs move to a different campus or a different school?

Students in some programs who have previously been listed in other locations (Downtown, Polytechnic) in the ASU system will now notice that their “Location” or “Campus” shows as “TEMPE.” Online degree students will remain “ONLINE.”

What college will my diploma list if I graduate in Fall 2015 or beyond? 

Beginning with fall 2015 commencement ceremonies diplomas will list the School for the Future of Innovation in Society.

Why is the new School for the Future of Innovation in Society being created?  Why is my degree program moving to the new school?

The new School was created to capitalize on a growing body of teaching, research, and outreach at ASU around the influence of science, technology and innovation in how we live our lives and make decisions about the future we want to create for society. SFIS will serve as a core for systematic study and informed critique of innovation, with collaborations across ASU and with external academic, government, and nongovernmental organizations. The degree programs moving into the new School will be the initial offerings of SFIS to educate new generations of informed citizens and skilled, productive workers as part of a larger social fabric – local, regional, national, global – that informs our wants and needs about the futures we will want to inhabit.

I have already graduated from my degree program before the transition. How will this change affect me?

All graduates from the six degree programs will be welcomed to the School for the Future of Innovation in Society alumni family.

Who is the director of the School for the Future of Innovation in Society?

Dr. David Guston is a professor, the Director of the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Director of the Center for Nanotechnology in Society, and co-director of the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes at Arizona State University.  Guston is widely published and cited on research and development policy, technology assessment, public participation in science and technology, and the politics of science policy.