Integrated Science
Michael Kerckhove, Coordinator (Math)
The Integrated Sciences minor is designed for the student interested in an interdisciplinary approach to science. The over-arching theme is exploring the richness of types of problems that may be approached using a combination of sciences rather than one alone. Research experience is the cornerstone of the minor. Coursework for the minor falls chronologically into three categories. In their first two years, students will typically take the introductory Integrated Quantitative Science (IQS) courses and the IQS Research Training Seminar. The introductory IQS classes are structured around a common theme that allows students to study a topic in depth from the perspective of material in the five introductory math/science courses. Students not enrolled in IQS during the freshman year may qualify for the minor by taking the first course in the major in each of the five disciplines as listed below and then enrolling in the Research Training Seminar. This seminar focuses on how interdisciplinary research programs are constructed and the types of problems that can be addressed using this approach.
During their junior and senior years, students will take two interdisciplinary courses that focus on a topic from at least 2 different disciplinary perspectives. A list of approved courses appears below, though students are encouraged to check with the coordinator for updates. The third component of the minor is the Senior Research Seminar. This is a literature-based course (journal club), for seniors only, that allows students to knit together their own research experiences with an in depth study of scientific papers describing current interdisciplinary research.
The Integrated Science Minor
- Introductory IQS Sequence (Students who do not complete the Introductory IQS sequence may substitute the introductory courses in the five disciplines comprising the major: BIOL 199, CHEM 141, PHYS 131, CMSC 150, and MATH 211.)
- BIOL/MATH 190 Integrated Science/Math/Computer Science 1-2 with Laboratory
- CHEM/PHYS 191 Integrated Science/Math/Computer Science 3-4 with Laboratory
- IDST 284 IQS Research Training Seminar
- IDST 484 Senior Integrated Science Seminar
- Two units, (one of which must be in addition to courses completed for a major or other minor), chosen from:
- BIOL 316 Biological Imaging
- BIOL 335 Structural Biology
- BIOL 336 Eco-epidemiology
- BIOL 351 Special Topics: Bioinformatics
- BIOL 351 Special Topics: Epigenetics
- BIOL 351 Special Topics: Genomics
- BIOL 351 Special Topics: Biostatistics and Experimental Design
- CHEM 311 Theoretical and Computational Chemistry
- MATH 304 Mathematical Models in Biology and Medicine
- PHYS 203 Systems Biology
- PHYS 215 Computational Methods in Physics
- or another approved elective
- An undergraduate research project in any science, math, or computer science area of significant length that culminates in a written report or poster presentation, chosen from:
- 1 unit in
- BIOL 350 Undergraduate Research
- CHEM 320 Introduction to Research
- PHYS 381-382 Research
- CMSC 340 Directed Independent Study
- MATH 340 Directed Independent Study
- or a fulltime summer research experience of at least 8 weeks.
Students are expected to fulfill all prerequisites necessary for courses within the minor. Prerequisites do not count toward the minor unless otherwise noted.