2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog

Dec 05, 2025

2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Integrated Science Studies, BS (INTSCIST-BS)

CIP Code: 400101

Program Description

A Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Science Studies provides students with a well-rounded and rigorous background across the core scientific disciplines of biology, geology, chemistry, and physics while conveying advanced information that spans the respective concentration areas. The program encourages students to think about the interdisciplinarity of science by emphasizing the fundamental tenets of each discipline, how they interact, how these interactions can be applied towards our understanding of the natural world, and the overall nature of science. Students in the program will gain an in-depth understanding of established scientific hypotheses, theories, and laws while being encouraged to participate in the process themselves as they become actively involved through innovative classrooms and research endeavors.

Agricultural

The Agricultural Science concentration builds off of the strong foundation built by the ISS degree to prepare students for careers and/or graduate and professional programs relating to the field of agriculture. Northwest Ohio is home to a thriving agricultural industry and the Lake Campus is situated in Mercer County, which consistently ranks among the top of the state in total value of agricultural production. Many of the students within this region have an existing interest in agriculture and this concentration will offer a unique opportunity to pursue this field of study through careers or graduate school opportunities related to agronomy and livestock interests.

Environmental, Earth, and Life

The Environmental, Earth, and Life concentration builds off of the strong foundation built by the ISS degree to prepare students for careers and/or graduate and professional programs relating to environmental science, ecology, paleontology, and or organismal biology. The program’s coursework provides student experiences that delve deep into the evolution and ecology of organisms, earth processes over time, environmental restoration, and helps to foster an interdisciplinary approach to scientific inquiry. Northwest Ohio is home to a growing number of environmental science opportunities tied to natural resource conservation efforts and this concentration leverages local expertise with modern interdisciplinary curriculum to prepare students for graduate school in biology, geology, or environmental science with potential professional opportunities in environmental consulting, agency work, or non-governmental organizations.

Pre-Health Professional

The Pre-Health Professional concentration builds off of the strong foundation built by the ISS degree to prepare students for graduate and professional programs in health care fields. The program’s coursework provides student experiences that delve deep into the anatomy and physiology of organisms with particular importance attached to human health implications. Northwest Ohio is home to a growing need for health care professionals in nearly every industry and this concentration leverages an innovative and strong curriculum that prepares students for professional schools ranging from Physician Assistant, Medical, Pharmaceutical, Veterinary, and Optometry.

Program Admission Requirements

2.00 GPA
16 or more semester credit hours
Grade of “C” or higher in one course in the chosen major

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

understand the chemistry of life, cell structure and processes (e.g. mitosis, meiosis, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, communication), central dogma, tree of life, taxonomy, evolution and ecology, earth systems and interconnections (e.g. geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere), earth processes (e.g. plate tectonics, volcanism, erosion, water cycle), rock cycle, geologic time scales, environmental change, and sustainability
integrate scientific principles across diverse fields - spanning environmental science, agriculture, and health - to develop a holistic understanding of how these factors intersect
gain hands-on experience through lab work, field research, internships, and more to apply their knowledge in real world contexts to solve scientific challenges and advance inquiry
develop a comprehensive understanding of crop and livestock systems including crop production, livestock management, soil science, animal physiology and nutrition, as well as production agriculture (agriculture students)
gain the ability to assess the impact of modern agriculture on the world’s ecosystems and environments and evaluate sustainability through an agricultural lens and understand how this contributes to balanced ecosystems (agriculture students)
develop a comprehensive understanding of the Earth’s natural systems and how these systems influence environmental processes, climate, and biodiversity through time (environmental, earth, and life students)
gain the ability to assess the impact of human activities on ecosystems and natural resources and apply scientific principles to develop sustainable management strategies to improve our understanding and interactions with the natural world (environmental, earth, and life students)
develop a comprehensive understanding the intersectionality of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and microbiology to understand mechanisms of human health, disease, and medicine (pre-health professional students)
cultivate an understanding of medical ethics, patient care, and professionalism, emphasizing empathy, communication, cultural competence, and the ethical responsibilities of healthcare providers, to prepare for the complexities of clinical practice and patient interaction (pre-health professional students)

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

demonstrate foundational knowledge and competency in core science disciplines (BIO, EES, CHEM)
demonstrate proficiency in laboratory and/or field skills
demonstrate effective scientific communication skills
demonstrate advanced knowledge and competency in agronomy and animal science (agriculuture students)
demonstrate advanced knowledge and competency in environmental science (environmental, earth, and life students)
demonstrate advanced knowledge and competency in health science (pre-health professional students)

For More Information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core Requirements: 37 Credit Hours

As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 1 Credit Hour

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy one additional credit hour in the Additional Core Courses category.

UVC 1010 - First Year Seminar Credit Hour(s): 1

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100). 
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 4 Credit Hour

Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the required course below.

Required:

STT 1600 - Statistical Concepts Credit Hour(s): 4

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)

Choose an additional Arts and Humanities course (a different prefix from what is chosen above) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 7 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Required:

PSY 1010 - Introduction to Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 1010L - Introduction to Psychology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
Select an additional Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with a different course prefix (not PSY) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 8 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Required:

BIO 1120 - Cells and Genes Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 1120L - Cells & Genes Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 1150 - Organisms and Ecosystems Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 1150L - Organisms & Ecosystems Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0

Additional Core Courses: 5 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 5 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

Required:

CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

One Global Inquiry (GI) course

Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses

One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

Agricultural Concentration: 75 Credit Hours

II. Required Courses: 37 Credit Hours

BIO 2110 - Principles of Molecular and Classical Genetics Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 2200 - Microbiology and the Human Environment Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 2200L - Microbiology of the Human Environment Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 2310 - Evolution and Ecology Credit Hour(s): 4 (IW)
BIO 2310L - Evolution and Ecology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2
EES 2510 - Earth Systems Credit Hour(s): 4
EES 2510L - Earth Systems Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
EES 2550 - Earth History Credit Hour(s): 4
EES 2550L - Earth History Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
PHY 1110 - Principles of Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1110L - Principles of Physics Lab I Credit Hour(s): 1
PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II Credit Hour(s): 1
SM 4000 - Senior Capstone in Integrated Science Studies Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)

III. Other Requirements: 38 Credit Hours

BIO 4070 - Wetlands Biology Credit Hour(s): 4
EES 3180 - Water and the Environment Credit Hour(s): 3
EES 3180L - Water and the Environment Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
FAS 2030 - Introduction to Animal Science Credit Hour(s): 3
FAS 2040 - Introduction to Agronomy Credit Hour(s): 3
FAS 2520 - Soil Science and Survey Credit Hour(s): 3
FAS 2700 - Introduction to Integrated Pest Management Credit Hour(s): 3
FAS 3200 - Sustainable Agriculture Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
FAS 3210 - Nutrient Management Credit Hour(s): 3
FAS 3500 - Animal Nutrition Credit Hour(s): 3
FAS 3510 - Introduction to Animal Health and Physiology Credit Hour(s): 3
FAS 3520 - Livestock Breeding and Reproduction Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 4430 - Geographic Information Systems Credit Hour(s): 4

Environmental, Earth, and Life Concentration: 72 Credit Hours

II. Required Courses: 37 Credit Hours

BIO 2110 - Principles of Molecular and Classical Genetics Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 2200 - Microbiology and the Human Environment Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 2200L - Microbiology of the Human Environment Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 2310 - Evolution and Ecology Credit Hour(s): 4 (IW)
BIO 2310L - Evolution and Ecology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2
EES 2510 - Earth Systems Credit Hour(s): 4
EES 2510L - Earth Systems Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
EES 2550 - Earth History Credit Hour(s): 4
EES 2550L - Earth History Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
PHY 1110 - Principles of Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1110L - Principles of Physics Lab I Credit Hour(s): 1
PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II Credit Hour(s): 1
SM 4000 - Senior Capstone in Integrated Science Studies Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)

III. Other Requirements: 35 Credit Hours

BIO 3150 - Invertebrate Zoology Credit Hour(s): 5
BIO 3150L - Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 4070 - Wetlands Biology Credit Hour(s): 4
EES 3160 - Stratigraphy and Sedimentology Credit Hour(s): 4
EES 3160L - Stratigraphy and Sedimentology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
EES 3180 - Water and the Environment Credit Hour(s): 3
EES 3180L - Water and the Environment Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
EES 4190 - Paleobiology Credit Hour(s): 4
EES 4190L - Paleobiology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
EES 4200 - Global Extinctions and Climate Change Credit Hour(s): 4
EES 4200L - Global Extinctions and Climate Change Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
EES 4420 - Comparative Evolutionary Anatomy Credit Hour(s): 4 (IW)
FAS 2520 - Soil Science and Survey Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 4430 - Geographic Information Systems Credit Hour(s): 4

Pre-Health Professional Concentration: 77 Credit Hours

II. Required Courses: 37 Credit Hours

BIO 2110 - Principles of Molecular and Classical Genetics Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 2200 - Microbiology and the Human Environment Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 2200L - Microbiology of the Human Environment Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 2310 - Evolution and Ecology Credit Hour(s): 4 (IW)
BIO 2310L - Evolution and Ecology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2
EES 2510 - Earth Systems Credit Hour(s): 4
EES 2510L - Earth Systems Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
EES 2550 - Earth History Credit Hour(s): 4
EES 2550L - Earth History Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
PHY 1110 - Principles of Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1110L - Principles of Physics Lab I Credit Hour(s): 1
PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II Credit Hour(s): 1
SM 4000 - Senior Capstone in Integrated Science Studies Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)

III. Other Requirements: 40 Credit Hours

ANT 2100 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credit Hour(s): 4
ANT 2100L - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
ANT 2120 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credit Hour(s): 4
ANT 2120L - Human Anatomy & Physiology II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 3150 - Invertebrate Zoology Credit Hour(s): 5
BIO 3150L - Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BMB 4001 - Fundamentals of Biochemistry Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2110 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2110L - Organic Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 2120 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2120L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2
EES 4420 - Comparative Evolutionary Anatomy Credit Hour(s): 4
(IW)
MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4
PSY 3110 - Abnormal Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 3410 - Lifespan Development Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. General Electives: 6-11 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

General Electives required per concentration:

Agricultural: 8 credit hours
Environmental, Earth, and Life: 11 credit hours
Pre-Health Professional: 6 credit hours

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Graduation Planning Stategy

A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.

These guides are valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and are subject to change. These guides are a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.