iSci Assessment is designed to be aligned with the research-based, innovative learning methods developed for the program. Assessed activities will be varied and challenging, and will allow students to demonstrate the full range of competencies gained during the course.

Assignments for project work vary but will include writing, oral presentation or the creation of materials for a specified audience. This gives students the opportunity to experience the professional processes of writing research papers and proposals, creating funding bids and communicating scientific information to non-specialists.

For timetables (course schedules) each academic year, please refer to Mosaic and your course outlines for ISCI 1A24, 2A18, 3A12, and 4A12.

Attendance is expected at ALL iConS, laboratories and tutorials.

• C01 traditionally reflects iConS classes. Class content will change from week to week. iConS are called C01 in the Master Course Timetable found on the McMaster website.
• T01 traditionally refers to a tutorial slot. These slots may sometimes be tutorials, but will also be iCons. None of these tutorial sessions are optional.
• L01 & L02 are lab sections. On each Wednesday and Friday, you will need to attend one of the lab sections. You will be placed into the appropriate lab section and don’t need to choose this yourself. The Friday lab is scheduled for six hours but will not run this long each week. Labs typically last about three hours but some weeks you will go on field trips and others you will have project presentations during this time.

When you first register on Mosaic, you will not be able to pick a lab section. When Mosaic closes in June/July you will be put into a lab section for you based on your elective choices.

Electives cannot conflict with ISCI 1A24. Please do not schedule an elective class when you are expected to be in ISCI 1A24 class time. If you have any trouble scheduling your elective courses, please contact Academic Program Advisor or Administrator.

Honours Integrated Science Transcript Supplements (‘iSci Transcripts’)

 It is common for iSci students to request a formal breakdown of course component grades for ISCI 1A24, 2A18, 3A12, 4A12. This breakdown might be needed for applications, scholarship opportunities, and other reasons for which formal grades are required.

The file which provides this breakdown, while commonly referred to as an “iSci Transcript”, is officially called by McMaster University a “Transcript Supplement.”

To request an institutionally verified copy of your iSci Transcript Supplement, which will accompany and be attached to your official McMaster transcript, students in the program (as well as alumni) can make a request through the Office of the Registrar’s transcript request service page: https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/services/transcripts/#tab-10. On this service page, you will see a variety of service options.

For your reference, this is an example of what an iSci Transcript Supplement file looks like:

Please note that your concentration will appear on the official McMaster transcript, and not on this accompanying page.

Important Dates:

Students can request their official McMaster transcript and accompanying Transcript Supplement at any time of year, but timing of your request will impact the version you receive.

The newest version for a given academic year will not be available until June 1^st. Given that ISCI 1A24A/B, 2A18 A/B, 3A12 A/B and 4A12 A/B are multi-term courses (A/B), final grades are not available until the conclusion of the course/ the conclusion of the winter academic term. Grades at the conclusion of the fall term are therefore formally noted on transcripts as In Progress (IP).

Requesting any time before June 1 will provide the file from the year prior.

For example:

• You can request a formal copy of your Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 Transcript Supplement as of June 1, 2024.
• You can request a formal copy of your Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 Transcript Supplement as of June 1, 2025.

For informal copies of grades, and mid-year grades, students are asked to refer to other sources such as Avenue2Learn.

For all other questions, please contact: sis@mcmaster.ca

McMaster Honours Integrated Science equivalency letter to accompany Transcript, Class of 2024

Starting in Level II, students have the option of pursuing a Concentration, which combines iSci with the equivalent of a combined honours in another scientific discipline. Please click on the links below to learn more about the specific requirements associated with these Concentration.

If you have questions specific to a department other than iSci, please contact the academic advisor for the respective home department within the Faculty of Science.

Effective in 2024, all iSci concentrations will adhere to and will be posted within the Academic Calendar.

Explore the following Concentrations:

• Biology Concentration
• Chemical Biology Concentration
• Chemistry Concentration
• Earth & Environmental Sciences Concentration
• Environmental Sciences Concentration
• Mathematics & Statistics Concentration
• Medical & Biological Physics Concentration
• Physics Concentration
• Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour Concentration
• Sustainable Chemistry

Note: The Biochemistry Concentration is no longer available. Admission was last available in September 2022.

The iSci progam at McMaster has developed a formal exchange program with the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. The University of Leicester ranks 13th in “The Guardian’s University Guide 2014” for UK educational institutions. It offers a wide range of courses; however the iSci exchange is specific to the innovative Natural Sciences Program (formerly known as Interdisciplinary Science).

Although natural sciences is a common program in the UK, Natural Sciences at the University of Leicester is the first program of its kind in the UK and has been running since 2005. Learning is guided by problem-based modules, each of which leads students to investigate an interdisciplinary area of science. In addition to core modules, students can also choose from a variety of specialized streams, such as science and sustainability, mathematical modelling and management, to widen their experience.

iSci students entering Level III who have successfully completed ISCI 2A18 with a cumulative average of at least 6.0 can choose to apply to a one- or two-semester exchange in Leicester. Students will be able to select Natural Sciences modules, completing two core modules (research projects) per term, tailoring the course to suit their own areas of interest.

Learn more about the Natural Sciences Program, you can learn more at the University of Leicester’s The Centre for Interdisciplinary Science. For more information about the University of Leicester, please visit their website.

Leicester is a well-connected, vibrant city in the UK Midlands, within easy reach of major airports, rail and motorways. Explore the city of Leicester.

The iTeach team has put together resources in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math for you to use to prepare for September. We recommend that you read through them all in order to give yourself the most comfortable start in iSci. The materials help outline what we count as high school review and having it fresh in your mind will help you in your iSci classes and projects. If the materials identify that there are particular areas you did not cover in High School or that you realize you do not fully understand, make a note of them and we will help you when you arrive.

If you did not complete one of the science subjects at the grade 12 level (Biology, Chemistry, or Physics) you must go through that subject’s Summer Top-up material fully before September 1.