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Integrated Science: Registered Students

students studying in libraryIt is expected that iSci graduates will be qualified to fully appreciate the type and range of scientific information and analyses required to solve complex problems. They will have a broad understanding of science along with specialist knowledge in their chosen field. They will also have well developed scientific and life-long learning skills. They will know how to ask questions; how to acquire, critically evaluate and analyze data; and how to communicate their research findings to others.

Our students will be ideally prepared to be future scientific leaders.

Expandable List

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.

 

Official McMaster Transcripts will contain one grade for an entire ISCI course (e.g. ISCI 1A24), and can be requested from the Office of the Registrar, your official university transcript.

In addition to an official transcript, an iSci Transcript Supplement – program transcript, may also be requested:

Please email sis@mcmaster.ca indicating iSci Transcript Supplement in the title of the email. Please include the following details: Last Name, First Name, Student Number, Graduating Year, and your McMaster email address.

Please note: * Transcripts may take 3-4 weeks to process during peak times of enrollment. Thank you you for your patience.

Inquiring about generating an iSci Transcript Supplement for your midterm/ interim grades?

Given that ISCI 1A24A/B, 2A18 A/B, 3A12 A/B and 4A12 A/B (whichever pertains to you in a given year) are multi-term courses (A/B), final grades are not available until the conclusion of the winter academic term. The grades at the conclusion of the fall term are In Progress (IP) and can’t be transposed to an official transcript supplement file to accompany your official university transcript.

You may wish to generate an unofficial transcript to view grades from other (non-iSci) courses at the conclusion of the fall term.

If you are required to submit interim and in progress grades for applications, or other reasons, we recommend downloading your Avenue2Learn gradebooks with the current marks as they appear.

If any committees or groups external to the university require the program to verify beyond this your academic progress to date, please have them contact us directly (sis@mcmaster.ca).

 

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.

Each concentration also has an associated Course Planning Sheet. The course planning sheets offer suggestions of course scheduling only. Students are encouraged to consult with departmental undergraduate advisors for advice about course selection and specific concentration requirements prior to registration. Please note that these planning sheets are not specific to the current academic year. Please check the Master timetable to determine when courses are offered when planning your schedule.

If you have questions specific to a department other than iSci, refer to the Faculty of Science Department Contacts list.

Explore the following Concentrations:

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.

Subject Topic Resource
Biology Multiple Topics Read Online Manual
Chemistry Multiple Topics: see the link to a series of Chemistry Modules provided by the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology First Year Resources – Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University
Math Multiple Topics Read Online Manual
Physics Multiple Topics Read Online Manual- Physics Practice Problems
Physics Multiple Topics Read Online Manual- Physics Review Manual