Integrated Sciences and Math Major Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Integrated Sciences and Math (ISM) is designed primarily as a second major for students in the CLAES School of Education interested in teaching science or math at the middle school level. The program is tailored to meet the New Jersey certification requirements for middle school science or math teachers and to facilitate the timely completion of the dual graduation requirements for education majors in the School of Education and the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This program is not designed to prepare students for further study in science or math disciplines at the graduate or professional level, or to teach science or math at the high school level.

Although placed in GEMS for administrative purposes, the Integrated Sciences and Math major is truly interdisciplinary in nature, both in its curriculum and faculty. ISM Faculty Advisors are Dr. Jonathan Husch (GEMS Chair), Dr. Sylvia Bulgar (Teacher Education; education advisor to ISM majors with a Mathematics concentration), Dr. Alex Grushow (Chemistry and Physics Chair; advisor to ISM majors with a Physical Sciences concentration), Dr. Peter Hester (Teacher Education; education advisor to ISM majors with an Earth, Life, or Physical Sciences concentration), Dr. Jonathan Karp (Biology; advisor to ISM majors with a Life Sciences concentration), Dr. Charles Schwartz (Mathematics Chair; advisor to ISM majors with a Mathematics concentration), and Dr. Reed Schwimmer (GEMS; advisor to ISM majors with an Earth Sciences concentration).

PLEASE NOTE: Some of the following requirements for the Integrated Sciences and Math Major may be satisfied by taking similar coursework through Rider Approved Study Abroad Programs. Please contact your academic advisor, the GEMS department chair, and/or Rider's Center for International Education (CIE) for further information.

SUBJECT
AREA		 COURSE NUMBER COURSE NAME CREDITS

Integrated Sciences (7 Credits)
  ISM-100 Introduction to the Integrated Sciences and Math
 4
  ISM-410 Seminar in the Integrated Sciences and Math 3

Inquiry-Based Science Courses (8 Credits) Select two courses (with labs), one each from two categories (A, B, or C) that are not the selected area of concentration (see below):

Category A. Life Sciences (4 Credits) Select one course from the following:
  BIO-110 Life Science: Inquiry Approach 4
  BIO-250 Field Natural History 4

Category B. Earth Sciences (4 Credits) Select one course from the following:
  GEO-100+102 Earth Systems Science and Earth Materials and Processes Lab 4
  MAR-120+121 Oceanography and Inquiry-Based Introductory Oceanography Lab 4

Category C. Physical Sciences (4 Credits) Select one course from the following:
  CHE-118 Exploration of Chemical Principles 4
  PHY-105 Matter, Forces, and Energy: An Exploration of Physics Concepts 4

General Mathematics (15-16 Credits) Select four courses from the following; MTH-210 and MTH-230 are required; MTH-211 and MTH-212 cannot be applied toward both these General Mathematics requirements and those of the Mathematics Concentration (see below):
  MTH-102 Elements of Finite Mathematics (inquiry section if offered) 3
  MTH-105 Algebra and Trigonometry 4
  MTH-210 Calculus I (REQUIRED) 4
  MTH-230 Discrete Mathematics (REQUIRED) 4

Concentration Area Select one area of concentration from either Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences, or Mathematics:

Area A. Life Sciences (20 Credits) Select five courses (with labs) from the following; BIO-115 and BIO-116 are required; one of the three electives must be at 300-level:
  BIO-115 Principles of Biology: Evolution, Diversity, and Biology of Animals (REQUIRED) 4
  BIO-116 Principles of Biology: Evolution, Diversity, and Biology of Plants (REQUIRED) 4
  BIO-117 Principles of Biology: Evolution, Diversity, and Biology of Cells 4
  BIO-265 Genetics 4
  BIO-272+272L Introduction to Marine Biology and Lab 4
  BIO-305 Vertebrate Physiology 4
  BIO-315 Medical Microbiology 4
  BIO-321 Environmental Microbiology 4
  BIO-340 Evolutionary Biology 4
  BIO-350 General Ecology 4
  BIO-370 Immunology 4
  BIO-372 Behavior of Marine Organisms: An Evolutionary Approach 4
  BNS-310 Neurobiology 4
  BNS-375 Neuroethology 4
  MAR-325 Marine Vertebrates: Fish to Mammals 4

Area B. Earth Sciences (19-20 Credits) Select five courses (with labs) from the following; GEO-100, GEO-102, MAR-120, and MAR-121 are required:
  ENV-200 Statistical and Computer Applications in the Natural Sciences 4
  ENV-220 Weather and Climate Change 3
  GEO-100+102 Earth Systems Science and Earth Materials and Processes Lab (REQUIRED) 4
  GEO-407 Hydrology and Water Resources 4
  MAR-120+121 Oceanography and Inquiry-Based Introductory Oceanography Lab (REQUIRED) 4
  MAR-210 Marine Life Through Time 4
  MAR-380/580 The Learning and Teaching of marine sciences1 4

Area C. Physical Sciences (20 Credits) CHE-120, CHE-121, CHE-122, CHE-123, and PHY-200 are required; select either CHE-211, CHE-213, and PHY-105, or CHE-118 and PHY-201:
  CHE-118 Exploration of Chemical Principles (with PHY-201) 4
  CHE-120+121 Principles of Chemistry and Lab (REQUIRED) 4
  CHE-122+123 Introduction to Chemical Systems and Quantitative Methods Lab (REQUIRED) 4
  CHE-211+213 Organic Chemistry I and Lab (with PHY-105) 4
  PHY-105 Matter, Forces, and Energy: An Exploration of Physics Concepts (with CHE-211 and CHE-213) 4
  PHY-200 General Physics I and Lab (REQUIRED) 4
  PHY-201 General Physics II and Lab (with CHE-118) 4

Area D. Mathematics (18-20 Credits) Select six courses from the following; MTH-211, MTH-212, and MTH-240 are required; MTH-211 and MTH-212 cannot be applied toward both these Mathematics Concentration requirements and those of the General Mathematics requirement (see above):
  MTH-211 Calculus II (REQUIRED) 4
  MTH-212 Calculus III (REQUIRED) 4
  MTH-240 Linear Algebra (REQUIRED) 3
  MTH-250 Differential Equations 3
  MTH-308 Advanced Calculus 3
  MTH-315 Modern Geometry 3
  MTH-340 Probability and Statistical Analysis I 3
  MTH-341 Probability and Statistical Analysis II 3
  MTH-401 Modern Algebra 3
  MTH-410 Complex Analysis 3
  MTH-420 Number Theory 3
  MTH-430 Introduction to Topology 3
  MTH-440 Real Analysis 3

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED: 49-51 (In addition to CLAES core requirements)

1MAR-380/580, The Learning and Teaching of marine sciences, is taught on a rotating basis during the Summer I or Summer II terms. MAR-580 can be used for graduate credit.


HONORS PROGRAM IN INTEGRATED SCIENCES AND MATH

Graduation with Honors in Integrated Sciences and Math is awarded in recognition of majors who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability. Enrollment in the program is by invitation of the GEMS faculty. Eligibility requirements include a minimum GPA of 3.5 in courses required for the major and the satisfactory completion of a three- or four-credit Independent Research and Study course. In addition, an honors candidate must maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.0.

 

 


Disclaimer:  The course information provided above is from the 2010-2011 Academic Catalog and is updated annually as new editions are released.  Prior editions of the catalog are also available online.  The catalog under which the student enters serves as the official record of admission, academic, and graduation requirements.  It is the student’s individual responsibility to be aware of the current graduation requirements for his or her particular degree program.  While the University makes reasonable efforts to keep website material current and correct, this information is subject to the University's academic policy committees, relevant accreditation organizations, and (in some instances) state and federal laws and regulations.