The band was formed in 1979 in Philadelphia by Dale Feliciello, Mallory Yago and Michael Zodorozny.

Crash Course in Science were championed by local radio station WXPN DJ Lee Paris.

[4] This was followed by Signals from Pier Thirteen EP in 1981, produced by John Wicks at Third Story Recordings.

Crash Course in Science's music developed a cult following among techno and electro musicians, and the band have been cited as an influence on the 2000s electroclash scene.

[1] In 2009, they reunited for tours, and in 2011, Schematic Records released a Signals from Pier Thirteen re-issue, as well as Near Marineland, an album originally recorded by the band in 1981 before being shelved.