Why study Integrated Science at Dal?

Get comfortable with hands-on science

If you love science, the Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP) is for you. You’ll get a well-rounded understanding of a variety of scientific disciplines and how they're linked together. Integrated Science is not a degree program; it’s a foundation-building year in the sciences. After finishing Integrated Science in your first year, you’ll join other Bachelor of Science (BSc) students in second-year courses and continue through to graduation, majoring in a field of your choice.

What will I learn?

Integrated Science is a good choice if you're interested in many sciences and unsure which area you’d like to focus on. The interdisciplinary nature of the program also ensures you get skills in field work, lab work and the process of conducting scientific research.

The core of the Integrated Science program is composed of Integrated Science I and II, which are equivalent to two terms of Biology and Psychology and one term of Earth Sciences and Statistics. Along with Ethics in Science, students will fulfill the writing requirements for BSc students. Students will also register for co-requisite courses in Chemistry and Calculus which are taken alongside other BSc students.

Integrated Science students learn on and off campus through group work, hands-on field trips, lab experiments and computer-based exercises. Most students who enroll in Integrated Science in their first year at Dalhousie also end up completing an honours degree in science.  

Sample courses:

• Integrated Science I
• Integrated Science II
• Ethics in Science
   

Visit the Academic Calendar to view degree options and course details.

Careers and future study

After finishing the one-year Integrated Science program, which serves as the first year of your BSc degree, you’ll choose a major and take second-year courses with other BSc students.

Through Integrated Science, you’ll develop a large suite of transferrable skills, including research methods, laboratory and field techniques, teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, numeric and statistical techniques, planning, organization, and written and oral communication skills. You may find yourself in any of the following careers:

• psychologist
• physiotherapist
• academic researcher
• pharmacist
• teacher
   

Integrated Science is also excellent preparation for professional graduate programs, such as Law, Medicine or Dentistry and for further studies in interdisciplinary subjects such as environmental and life sciences.

Admission requirements

Undergraduate admission requirements vary based on your previous education and your intended program of study at Dalhousie. Learn about our admissions requirements, book a campus tour, or connect with an advisor if you have questions about your eligibility for admission.

View admission requirements

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