FAQs

Yes, if you have wide-ranging interests in science and have a curious mind. You should be interested in learning skills, not just "facts." You should enjoy the process of problem-solving, and not be obsessed with "getting the right answer." You should be energetic and hard-working, eager to take on challenges, and able to manage your time effectively. You should be willing to work cooperatively with other students, as team work is an important component of the program.

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Within the Integrated Science core courses (SCIE 1506 and 1507) subjects are coordinated to create a more interdisciplinary experience and most material is taught by the same group of Integrated Science professors. Core subject material is augmented with lectures, in class activities, field trips and labs designed to show how different subjects contribute to understanding and finding solutions to real world science problems.

An integrated Humanities class, Ethics in Science helps you explore linkages between science and society, such as the ethical implications of scientific research and knowledge.

Class size is small (70-80 students) in the Integrated Science core, and so Integrated Science students have more opportunity to develop close friendships and interpersonal and teamwork skills. Courses outside the core (Chemistry, Math and Physics) are taken with other BSc students.

Yes, Integrated Science places emphasis on developing the practical skills needed in science (lab, field, computational) as well as research skills not normally taught at the first-year level (experimental design, data collection and analysis). Overall, you get more individualized skills-oriented instruction, practice, and feedback in Integrated Science than in a regular first-year program.

Class activities are also designed to help you develop many essential and transferrable skills that are needed in science (and in many other fields). These include quantitative problem-solving, the competence to critically assess arguments and draw conclusions, the ability to apply what you have learned to a new or novel situation, and the skills needed to work collaboratively as a team, to communicate clearly in written or oral form, and to manage time effectively.

You get to experience first-hand many concepts and techniques through field trips to places like Conrad Beach, Peggy's Cove, Chebucto Head, Portuguese Cove, and Horton Bluff. You learn to identify plants and animals, to understand ecosystems and landscapes, and to interpret geological formations while observing them in the natural world.

You learn statistical and computer skills in a relevant, applied setting by analysing data you collect on field trips and in the laboratory. You learn to write scientific papers by getting detailed instructor feedback on your edits and revisions. You gain lots of practice giving oral presentations. Most importantly, you learn about scientific research by doing it, conducting research as part of a small team under the supervision of a Dalhousie scientist.

Yes, you can explore your interests while satisfying the first-year requirements for almost all majors in the Faculty of Science. The breadth and interdisciplinary approach in Integrated Science provides Integrated Science students with an excellent foundation as they move on to second year.  

No, there are many other reasons why Integrated Science is a good way to start university:

• First, having a broad and integrated background in science is beneficial in many fields of science, especially the more interdisciplinary ones, like Biochemistry, Neuroscience, and Ocean Sciences.
• Second, the skills that Integrated Science students learn can be directly applied in later university courses, honours research, co-op programs, and professional programs.
• Third, Integrated Science students work closely with classmates who are high achievers, like themselves.
• Fourth, Integrated Science students are in smaller classes, have more contact with professors, and can more quickly become a part of the university academic and research community. Integrated Science students become well known as individuals by their Integrated Science profs
• Finally, Integrated Science satisfies the following credit requirements for a BSc: 6 credits in each of Social Science (DISP Psychology), Math/Stats (DISP Statistics + one term of Calculus), Writing (Ethics in Science + DISP Writing in Science), 15+ credits in Life Science/Physical Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science and optionally Physics), 3 of the 6 required credits in Languages/Humanities (Ethics in Science)

Yes, Integrated Science can be an excellent start for students considering a career in Medicine, particularly if they have an interest in medical or health research. Integrated Science includes the basic first-year sciences needed as a foundation for medical studies, AND an introduction to research and research methods.

Medical practitioners and other health professionals also require many of the general skills that Integrated Science students work through the year to build: working as a team to solve a problem, synthesizing complex and quantitative information to solve problems, thinking critically, working with computers and technology, and communicating effectively.

Students in the Medical Sciences program may also enrol in Integrated Science. Speak with an advisor (Dr. Julie Jordan) to see if this is the right choice for you.

Working as a small group (2 to 4 students), you will conduct a research project under the supervision of a research project supervisor in a Dalhousie lab. You will collect your own data, analyze it, and present your findings as a formal scientific paper. At the end of the year, you will also give an oral presentation in a conference-type setting, to your peers and to the group of professors who supervised the various projects. Many students say this is the highlight of their year.

You will be well-prepared to select a science major in your second year, and to later pursue an honours degree or co-op program. You will have opportunities through the year to learn about the different programs and to hear from upper year students who did Integrated Science in their first year.

You must meet the same minimum grade requirements as for the regular BSc. In fact, your acceptance into Integrated Science is contingent upon being accepted into the 4 year BSc program at Dalhousie or the University of King's College. There are a limited number of seats in the Integrated Science program, and so students who are accepted usually have grades above 90%. Students must have taken Grade 12 Precalculus (or Calculus), English and Chemistry, and Grade 12 Biology and/or Physics are recommended.

You will study first-year university Calculus in Integrated Science, for one or both terms, and must therefore have either Calculus or Pre-Calculus. You need to feel comfortable with algebraic manipulations including fractional exponents. You should be very familiar with the coordinate geometry of lines, circles and parabolas. You should know about the trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions, as well as the more abstract notion of "function" and related concepts like domain, range and, especially, composition and inverse.

To assess your preparation and to determine which calculus course would be the best fit for you, take the Math Self-Assessment here.

You must apply to be accepted into the BSc program at Dalhousie University or the University of King's College and complete the supplementary DISP application. For application instructions, see 'How to apply to the Integrated Science Program'.

Yes. If you have already applied, or been accepted into the regular BSc program, just fill out and submit the online Supplemental Integrated Science Application Form here www.dal.ca/ISapplication. You will need to send a copy of your high school transcripts to the Integrated Science office (disp@dal.ca).

First, you will be notified by Dalhousie University that you have been accepted into the BSc program or the University of King's College that you have been accepted to the Undeclared Science Program. Later you will receive e-mail notification as to whether you have been accepted, wait-listed or not accepted into the Integrated Science program.

If you need to find out about your Integrated Science application immediately, please contact disp@dal.ca.

Yes. Students who have applied to the Undeclared Bachelor of Science at the University of King's College can apply to DISP by submitting the supplementary application. Please note that it is not possible to do the Integrated Science program and the King's Foundation Year Program. For questions about applications to the University of King's College, please contact admissions@ukings.ca. 

Yes, you should claim your Dal username, also called your NetID, which you will need for e-mail, access to course Brightspace sites, and use of Dalhousie computer labs. Go to my.dal.ca, click 'New User? ' and follow the instructions. Click 'Activate my NetID' and follow the instructions. You should have your username before coming to class on the first day.

To assess your Math skills, take the on-line Math diagnostic test[SW1] . The results will not be used to prevent you from enrolling in any first year math course, but will tell you if you need to work on any math skills before starting first year.

 [SW1]It looks like the diagnostic isn’t up to date. Or maybe it’s the link that’s old.