Let’s Talk About McMaster Integrated Science (iSci)
When asking students interested in a career in healthcare or medicine what their plans are after graduating high school, the answer is often overwhelmingly “I want to go into science.” Well, the truth is that “science” is pretty diverse. Do they mean they want to pursue a program in physics or biology? Kinesiology or environmental sciences? Chemistry or neuroscience? Although “science” can be a blanket term for plenty of different areas, and it can be difficult to choose just one to focus on as high school wraps up, these students don’t necessarily have to. What if I told you that there’s an undergraduate program that allows them to explore all of the areas science covers; gain many valuable skills and experiences; and pursue plenty of pathways, including medicine/healthcare, after getting their degrees? In this Exploring Undergraduate Programs series post, we will look into McMaster University’s Honours Integrated Science Program covering its background, admissions process, its courses; learning method; and structure, and, finally, the career options students have after graduating.
About McMaster’s Honours Integrated Science Program:
As a partner of McMaster’s lauded Health Science and Engineering faculties, the university’s Faculty of Science branches out into a diverse array of cutting-edge departments and schools including Biology; Mathematics & Statistics; Physics & Astronomy; Kinesiology; Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour; and even Interdisciplinary Science — a school which houses the institution’s acclaimed Life Sciences, Medical Radiation Sciences, and, the one we will be focusing on today, Integrated Science (iSci) programs.
For many, the term integrated science may be unheard of, which is why it is important to break it down before diving into this program. Integrated science can be defined as the interdisciplinary, cumulative form of scientific study that employs all perspectives of individual disciplines such as physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and earth science, and integrates them during all stages of the approach to a complex question or problem. It is on the forefront of innovation, with its applications being used to solve a host of global problems in energy conservation and usage, infection and disease, technology, and much more. Because the need and interest for problem-based research has expanded only in recent decades, there are very few institutions in the country that offer undergraduate integrated science programs, and McMaster University stands out with its unique approaches to interdisciplinary learning.
McMaster’s Honours iSci is a direct-entry, research-focused program that attacks real-life issues from an interdisciplinary perspective through a variety of research projects that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge, and content from common science courses such as biology, chemistry, and physics. Dubbed Canada’s most innovative undergraduate science program, it helps its students understand the connections between scientific disciplines and the relevance of science to modern society. Since its inception in 2009, the program has been exceptional in preparing students to become future scientific leaders in a variety of fields, including research, healthcare, medicine, academia, law, and many more! Therefore, if you are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare or medicine, as this month’s series encompasses, iSci is a great program for you!
Pre-pandemic, McMaster even ran an “iSci Student for a Day” program where prospective students had the opportunity to shadow a student in the integrated science program and see what their typical day would look like. They also were able to meet and talk to some of the professors, ask questions, and start to get an idea of how they enjoyed the program’s content, vibe, and opportunities. Although the program is currently suspended, visit this webpage for updates on its status.
The Admissions Process:
After hearing so much about what a great program this is, it’s time to get down to business and discuss the McMaster Honours Integrated Science program’s admissions process. Similar to programs like it such as McMaster and Queen’s Health Sciences, iSci is known not only for being interdisciplinary, challenging, and putting an emphasis on research, but also for its competitive admissions process. With only 64 spots available, a pretty high cut-off average, and a large number of students applying each year, the program has naturally enlisted a way other than just grades to determine which students actually deserve a spot: through a supplementary application! But before we look into the supplementary application any further, let’s understand the program’s general admission requirements.
If you’re thinking about applying to iSci, it’s crucial that you meet the program’s admission requirements which state that in Grade 12, you must have a minimum high 80’s average in the five required courses including one additional Grade 12 course to total six, and complete the supplementary application. See the prerequisites below.
- English U (ENG4U)
- Two of Biology U (SBI4U), Chemistry U (SCH4U), or Physics U (SPH4U)
- Advanced Functions U (MHF4U)
- Calculus & Vectors U (MCV4U)
- One additional U or M credit to total six courses
- Note: It is highly recommended that prospective students take all three Grade 12 U science courses (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) since a substantial emphasis is placed on each in the program. This combination not only prepares students for the type of coursework they will find in iSci, but also for its very rigorous workload.
Achieving this minimum average with these prerequisite courses along with completing the supplementary application only makes you eligible for consideration into the program. It is said on the McMaster website that, after achieving this average cutoff, “Admission is by selection based upon the Supplementary Application.”
You may be thinking that this sounds a lot like the way McMaster’s Health Sciences and iBioMed programs choose successful applicants, and while they are similar in some aspects, they widely differ in others. Generally, they are the same in the sense that the programs use the supplementary application to give students the chance to share their skills, experiences, thought processes, and other aspects of their life that they would like the admissions committee to know about them and that could not be communicated through the grades they had achieved. However, while the other programs’ supplementary application questions are mainly geared towards determining the student’s level of critical thinking and ability to succeed in their program, iSci focuses on selecting highly-motivated, well-rounded students who are interested in all fields of science, who have strong communication skills, who are excited about scientific research, and who are outside the box-thinkers! Something that recurs often in the web results of iSci’s supplementary application is also that the admissions committee wants applications to communicate why iSci is right for THE STUDENT rather than why the student is right for iSci. This is very important to understand as it can make a big difference in how you portray yourself, your achievements/goals, and your interests to the admissions committee.
Some other, more specific, tips for the McMaster Honours iSci supplementary application that I have gathered from my research is to to convey a real passion for all disciplines of science, a strong willingness to learn, and something unique about yourself because, when it comes to a competitive program like this, most students have the same academic background. A great way to achieve this is to try to include leadership experiences or extracurriculars you did during high school, ONLY if it is relevant to the question.
Coursework and Post-Graduate Pathways:
First-Year Courses, Electives, and Learning Structure:
What truly makes iSci the highly sought-after program it is, however, is its interdisciplinary approach to learning and the variety of content students are exposed to during their four years. To begin, integrated science has a unique compulsory course list that you will not find in other programs. Technically, there is only one compulsory course along with 6 units of electives, but there is much more than meets the eye to the single course. In terms of the 2 elective spaces (one is usually completed each semester), McMaster University offers a massive variety of elective options for students entering their first year. To view the full list of elective options available to students, click here and scroll down to page 9. See the first-year compulsory “course(s)” below.
ISCI 1A24
- Calculus
- Earth Science
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Life Sciences
- Science Literacy
ISCI 1A24 is an innovative 24-unit course that fully integrates all content from every scientific discipline, which is why you see the plethora of scientific areas listed under the course above. It is a year-round course that allows first-year students to learn in a variety of ways and environments such as formal lectures, tutorials, laboratories, field settings and informal working groups. It is also important to note that with this total integration of scientific disciplines comes a very busy schedule and rigorous workload; students in the program often have more in-class hours than students in other science programs and have to work much harder to keep up with their academics. However, many students in the program stress that this is totally manageable with the right time management strategies. To delve deeper into the course, ISCI 1A24 not only integrates the scientific disciplines, but also their respective techniques and methods. Therefore, one way students learn is through various research projects which bring together different ideas, methods, locations, vocabulary, etc. and put everything in a comprehensive context of solving a problem. These research projects are delivered through very interesting thematic modules including “Planetary Exploration,” “Drugs, Doses, and Biodistribution,” “Sustainable Energy in Challenging Environments,” and “Cancer: A Mammalian Plague.” Further, these aim to highlight the interconnections between the areas of scientific knowledge and their relevance to modern society. To learn more about this course, click here to check out its course outline from the 2019–2020 academic year!
To understand more about the program in general, let’s go through its structure, opportunities, and what makes it unique. So, in Integrated Science, students learn through a multitude of ways such as iConS (introductory Concept Seminars) which include both standard lecture experiences and a variety of hands-on work, Invited Speaker Seminars which introduce students to an expert in a scientific field weekly, and a great variety of labs where they are able to learn new techniques and engage in field work. Additionally, at the end of each year of the program, students synthesize their learning by holding an iSci Symposium (an undergraduate research conference) where they can share knowledge and observe how scientists work together. Further, during first-year, 4 interdisciplinary research projects are completed, 6 are completed in second year, 5 in third year, and then, in fourth year, students complete their two-term thesis project which is done in addition to interdisciplinary seminars. This really puts how much of the program is research-based into perspective!
In terms of opportunities made available to students in the program, one very special aspect about iSci is that, in fourth year, students are introduced to broad topics such as applying for grants, going through the graduate and medical school application processes, they are given interview simulations, and even etiquette courses to understand how to conduct themselves in professional settings where first impressions go a long way. There are also many experiential opportunities offered by iSci from second- to fourth-year including an interdisciplinary field camp which goes to Iceland each year and where students have the chance to observe that environment’s ecology, geology, and even its sociology. Also, a student exchange to iSci’s sister program, Natural Science, at the University of Leicester is offered in third year!
Our final part of this section is to discuss what makes iSci particularly unique from other Canadian science programs. Well, one unique aspect of this program is its small enrollment target of 64 students, of which numerous have said this aspect of the program not only provides a tight-knit, supportive community, but it also gives them the opportunity to have more one-on-one time with their professors, network with alumni and upper-years, and, ultimately, have a more fulfilling university experience. Chances like these are invaluable when it comes to asking professors for reference letters or research opportunities, making important connections with students in your planned field, and asking for help from professors; upper-years; and your peers. Get a feel of this community by visiting the website of the program’s student-led organization, iSci Society!
Additionally, another unique feature of the program is that, like McMaster’s other programs such as Health Sciences and Life Sciences, students have the option to specialize into concentrations of their choice and depending on the requirements for pursuit of graduate school after their time in iSci. Concentration options range from Biology; Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour; and Medical & Biological Physics to others such as Earth & Environmental Sciences; Chemical Biology; Mathematics & Statistics, and Physics.
The program even has a custom-designed lab specifically for interdisciplinary science — something very rare in Canada, let alone in the world. Because the lab is used for different areas of science, it has been made very simple to convert from a physics lab which may be needed any given morning, to a chemistry lab with minimal effort by the afternoon. The iSci lab also has a variety of features that make it the first of its kind in the country. To learn more about this state-of-the-art facility, check out a virtual tour here! Another area of campus dedicated to the students of Integrated Science is the third floor of the Thode Library for Science and Engineering!
Post-Graduate Pathways:
Since this entire article is dedicated to explaining a program that is a great option for students interested in a career in healthcare or medicine, it’s time to actually dive into what you can do with your degree from McMaster’s iSci program. To begin, graduates from the program earn a B.Sc. which makes them well-equipped to pursue a career in plenty of fields. However, because of the specific, research-based nature of iSci, graduates also have the knowledge and skill to become scientific leaders. For this reason, many students who have graduated with a degree from McMaster’s Integrated Science program have gone on to pursue areas such as graduate programs, medical school, law school, dental school, pharmacy school, optometry school, veterinary college, combined MD-PhD programs, and much more! Other career options the B.Sc. from iSci well-prepares its graduates for are those in research, academia, policy, development, etc. Therefore, if you’re a student thinking about pursuing a career in healthcare or medicine, iSci is a great way to get you there! For more information about the diverse pathways iSci leads its graduates to, check out this alumni page where you will find students flourishing in fields ranging from law, academia, and medicine, to others like research, education, and geology.
We hope that this overview of McMaster University’s Integrated Science Program has given you the insight you need to decide whether it would be a good fit for you and to begin your journey through its application process. Stay tuned for next week’s Exploring Undergraduate Programs Series post where we will dive into another amazing program bound to set you on the path to a career in healthcare or medicine.
About the Writer: Hassan Hassan is a Grade 11 student from Brampton, ON passionate about writing and STEM. With a strong commitment to helping others, he plans to pursue a career in medicine and enjoys participating in activities related to the field. An interesting fact about him is that he aims to be fluent in French by the time he graduates high school. In his free time, you can expect to find him reading, planning his day, volunteering at his local hospital, or binge-watching The Office.
