Integrated Science

  • Overview

    The Honours Integrated Science program (iSci) is the latest addition to McMaster’s suite of elite, limited-enrolment (max. 60 students/year) undergraduate programs targeted toward highly motivated, high-achieving students. iSci is an interdisciplinary, research-based science program that focuses on the development of self-directed learning skills in a supportive and collaborative environment.

    Why Integrated Science at McMaster?

    The iSci program is one of a kind – the only four year Honours Level program in all of North America that combines the core science disciplines into one degree program. iSci is the country’s most innovative undergraduate program, blending content from across many scientific disciplines. Students learn in a variety of situations – from formal lectures and tutorials to inquiry-based team and individual research projects that include hands-on laboratories and fieldwork.

  • Admission Details

    OUAC Application Code: MIS

  • Admission Requirements

    Target Enrollment: 60 students

    Notes: Admission to Integrated Science requires the submission of a Supplementary Application, due Feb. 1, 2012.

    Web Links

    Homepage: www.science.mcmaster.ca/isci

    iSci on Facebook

    Program Brochure

  • 1st Year Courses

    Total: 30 Units Required:

    Electives: 6 units Note: The unit value of a particular course is indicated by the last digit of the course code (e.g. 1A03 = 3 units).

    Beyond 1st Year

    Honours Bachelor of Integrated Science Since integrated Science (iSci) is a direct entry program, students admitted to iSci are considered to be specializing in Integrated Science from first year to the end of the program.

  • Careers or Options Beyond The Program

    This program opens doors to a wide range of future options. This program will prepare students for post-graduate work through the application of problem-based learning within the classroom, the provision of many practical laboratory and field experiences, and the development of scienctific communication skills. A few post graduate options include:

    • Medical school
    • Law school
    • Graduate programs such as an M.Sc. and Ph.D
    • Research,
    • Innovative industry careers
    • Teacher’s College
    • Consulting

Schedule

Typical Timetable

  • Facilities

    We make our home in the H.G. Thode Science & Engineering Library. We have dedicated teaching and study spaces in the Thode Interactive Knowledge (ThInK) classroom and student space in our very own iStudy.

  • Experiential Learning

    Due to the unique structure of this program, there are currently no co-op/Internships opportunities, however, there are various experiential learning opportunities such as field trips, guest lectures and lab sessions.

  • Program Statistics

    Unavailable at this time.

Profiles & Alumni

  • Adam Pantaleo – Exploring Chemistry at the Nanoscale Adam Pantaleo was awarded an NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award in his first year of iSci. Adam conducted research at McMaster in the Department of Chemistry working alongside Dr. Peter Kruse. Adam spent his summer studying nanoscale patterns that form during the electropolishing of certain metals. Electropolishing, or electrochemical polishing, is used to polish metal surfaces using electrically charged solutions of electrolytes.It has many applications in metal finishing. Adam assisted Dr. Kruse in determining if this process can be used on a variety of metals andin a range of conditions.
  • Julianne Bagg – Archaeological field school in Greece Julianne Bagg travelled to Greece in 2010 to study at the Priniatikos Pyrgos archeological field school for the month of August. Priniatikos Pyrgos, an archeological harbour site located on the Gulf of Mirabello in east Crete, is home to artifacts from the Late Bronze Age, Hellenistic and Byzantine times and has been occupied since the Late Neolithic period (the fifth millennium BCE). Julianne spent five weeks at the field school learning about archeological fieldwork and archeological issues such as pottery, drawing, Geographic Information System (GIS), human osteology and paeleobotany and soaking up the Greek sun. She had the chance to work closely with an experienced archeologist in her own trench as well as attend seminars led by some of the members of the team.
  • Prateek Gupta – The Next 36 Prateek Gupta is a student in one of McMaster’s most innovative programs. Now he has been named one of the country’s most innovative undergraduates. Gupta, in his second year of the Integrated Science Program (iSci) at McMaster, has been accepted into “The Next 36”, a national program designed to launch the careers of 36 of Canada’s most promising students. The initiative will give Gupta and three team members $50,000 and guidance from some of Canada’s top business leaders to develop an application for a mobile device as well as a $25,000 scholarship to participate in the program’s summer Entrepreneurship Institute.