What is Integrated Science?

  • Integrated Science provides students with a unique opportunity to learn how to combine information from multiple fields of study – both inside and outside science –to address real-world problems.
  • Integrating knowledge enables us to approach issues in novel ways, allows for more respectful and productive discourse, and adds depth to our thinking. Skills learned to be immediately employable such as how to interact with stakeholders, communicate findings, synthesize evidence and navigate the science-policy interface.
  • The ability to integrate knowledge is increasingly becoming a necessity not only in the workforce, but in society more broadly.

What can I do with an Integrated Science degree?

Employment\Careers
Integrated Science  provides students with a broad based science education. Integrated Science prepares students for employment post-graduation by emphasizing training in employable skills inaccessible in most other programs (e.g., managing meetings with government partners, translating technical knowledge for non-experts).  Some career fields are Consulting, Finance, Government, Health, High Tech, High Tech Industries, Knowledge Broker, Data Science, Science Communication, Medical Industry, Non-Governmental Organizations, Non-Profit Sector, Research, Business, Media, Education, Agriculture, Laboratory work, Environmental sectors, Teaching, Dentistry, Medicine, Law and more.

Graduate Studies
Many Carleton Honours students pursue graduate studies either in Canada or abroad. Our undergraduate programs are excellent preparation for master’s and doctoral programs. If you think you may be interested in pursuing advanced studies, be sure to investigate programs early in order to ensure you have the relevant requirements.

Professional Programs
Many professional programs, including teaching, medicine, business, and law encourage well-rounded applicants from a variety of backgrounds to apply. A degree in Integrated Science provides a strong foundation for such training.

What science can I specialize in?

Students in Integrated Science are required to declare a field of specialization in the Sciences as a minor, and can opt to complete two minors not only in an additional Science field, but also in a non-Science discipline (e.g., Business, Media Production and Design, Law). No other program in the Faculty of Science offers the level of flexibility that Integrated Science provides. Students achieve the necessary foundational knowledge in their respective fields of specialization, but because their Integrated Science peers may declare specializations in other fields, each student’s educational experience is enriched through exposure to different perspectives from their peers. Problem- and project-based learning opportunities are provided in many Integrated Science courses, which facilitates real-world applications of knowledge and enables peer-to-peer learning.

Is co-op available in Integrated Science?

Yes, please see the co-op website for more information.  https://carleton.ca/co-op/

What are “capstone” projects?

Capstone projects differ from other courses in several respects. They are full credit courses, offered in fall to winter, (September to April) or spring and summer, (May to August). The purpose of a thesis is to make a contribution to the existing body of knowledge in the field of your science area of focus i.e. from your minor program or in an area of interdisciplinary science. It is different from an essay that you would write for a course that summarizes published research. There are no required lectures, seminars, textbooks, tests, etc. Instead, the course consists of an ongoing series of meetings between you and your Honours thesis supervisor, during which you talk about each phase of your project. For ISAP 4906, 4907, 4908,  this would include selecting a topic, designing your study, carrying out experiments, collecting your data, analyzing your data, and writing up your results, all while spending several hours a week in the lab or field. You will produce a written thesis.

Please refer to the  undergraduate calendar to view the Capstone courses.  https://calendar.carleton.ca/undergrad/courses/ISAP/

Is there an Honours component to this program?

Yes, Carleton’s Integrated Science program is available as a four-year Honours Bachelor of Science degree program, (20 credits) or a three-year Bachelor of Science degree, (15 credits).