First-Year Focus
Welcome, First-Year Students! Have you decided to join the Integrated Science Program? Read on for more information!
What is ISP?
The Integrated Science Program (ISP) is a major and a community. Since 1976, some of the brightest science students have been part of the Integrated Science Program and undertaken a challenging, customized, accelerated advanced curriculum that integrates mathematics with the sciences. We believe the most effective way to prepare for a career in one science is to be immersed in all of them.
ISP students are involved in a full spectrum of scientific research at Northwestern. ISP students are often able to find a lab or research group early on in their undergraduate career.
ISP Curriculum
The recommended course sequence for ISP allows for the major to be completed in three years, and it also accommodates additional majors over four years. The ISP curriculum in year one is relatively fixed, and there is increased flexibility in subsequent years. Many students choose to pursue an additional major(s) in addition to ISP. Should you choose to pursue an additional major or add a minor, you should generally still follow the first year Math, Physics, and Chemistry sequences as indicated. Double major students please see this page to learn more about how your schedule may vary, and be sure to also work with your other major advisors to help determine your course plan.
First-Year Seminar
ISP students who are in WCAS will take a First-Year Seminar in the Fall Quarter. You will take one writing seminar in the Winter or the Spring Quarter. Because your other first year courses are fixed, you will need to choose first year seminars that fit into your schedule. If you are pursuing ISP and you are in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (MEAS), please find more information here.
Placement Exams
All ISP students are required to take the chemistry and math placement exams. AP/IB scores are not used to automatically place you into courses. We also encourage you to take the biology placement exam.
AP And Transferred College Credits
One or two units of credit are awarded for good performance on most AP exams and for some courses taken at universities prior to high school completion. University credit obtained this way in humanities and social sciences may or may not translate into credit for the College of Arts & Sciences distribution requirements. The most current information is available on the WCAS or McCormick websites.
Credit in sciences typically does not exempt a student from an ISP course. Rather, the Northwestern placement exams are used to determine any exemptions. In math, students can occasionally be exempted from a course on the basis of work beyond AP Calculus. You would need to consult with the Math Director of Undergraduate Studies and ISP Director.
Advising
All ISP students receive advising and consultation from the ISP Director. The ISP administrator is also available to offer support. If you have further questions about our major and courses, please contact us at ispadmin@u.northwestern.edu.