Life Sciences Concentration
This concentration is geared towards students interested in working in medical and health promotion fields.
Other Concentrations
Catalog Year: 2023-2024
Banner Code: LA-BS-INTS-LIFS
The Bachelor of Science in Integrative Studies brings together research, theory and practice across numerous disciplines. Integrative studies majors select a multidisciplinary concentration or work with student services staff to develop their own concentration, uniquely suited to their academic and career goals. Integrative studies majors explore new topics and experiences while gaining the knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce. Required coursework is offered in small classes with ample room for discussion, collaborative learning, and experiential learning, including in-community projects, volunteer opportunities, field work, internships and work with faculty on research that directly engages current social and global challenges.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: minimum 120
This is a Green Leaf program.
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Students pursuing a BS in Integrative Studies must complete a minimum of 30 credits of (INTS) coursework, with at least 15 credits at the 300 and 400 levels.
Integrative studies students complete INTS 391 Understanding Integrative Studies and INTS 491 Senior Capstone and choose a concentration from the options below. Before registering, students should see an advisor to help plan their degree program to meet Mason requirements. The advisor also can help students choose electives or a minor.
Required Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTS 391 | Understanding Integrative Studies | 1 |
| INTS 491 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credits | 4 | |
Concentration in the Major
A concentration is the equivalent of a major in a traditional degree program. Concentration coursework combines integrative studies (INTS) classes with coursework from other Mason units (departments, schools, and colleges). While fulfilling the concentration requirements, students are also responsible for completing a minimum of 30 credits of INTS coursework. Any INTS courses required for the concentration will apply. Students must present a minimum GPA of 2.00 in courses applied to the concentration.
Concentration in Life Sciences (LIFS)
Prepares students for work and graduate study in medical and health promotion fields. Focus areas include Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Pre-Physician Assistant, Pre-Pharmacy, and Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Optometry, Pre-Veterinary
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTS 410 | Contemporary Health: Intersections in Science and Society (Mason Core) | 4 |
| PHIL 309 | Bioethics (Mason Core) | 3 |
| or PHIL 344 | Ethical Issues in Global Health | |
| Choose one course from the following | 3 | |
| Humans, Disease, and Death (Mason Core) | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Sociology of Health, Illness, and Disability | ||
| Gender, Health, and Culture in the United States | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
| Total Credits | 10 | |
Emphasis
Students must complete one of the following emphases.
Pre-Occupational Therapy Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ATEP 201 | Medical and Scientific Terminology | 3 |
| or HAP 202 | Medical Terminology | |
| BIOL 124 & BIOL 125 | Human Anatomy and Physiology and Human Anatomy and Physiology |
8 |
| or | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II |
||
| PSYC 100 | Basic Concepts in Psychology (Mason Core) | 3 |
| PSYC 211 | Lifespan Development (Mason Core) | 3 |
| BIOL 213 | Cell Structure and Function | 4 |
| PSYC 325 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| ONE SOCI course | 3 | |
| STAT 250 | Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) | 3-4 |
| or BIOL 214 | Biostatistics for Biology Majors | |
| PHYS 243 & PHYS 244 | College Physics I (Mason Core) and College Physics I Lab (Mason Core) |
4 |
| PHYS 245 & PHYS 246 | College Physics II (Mason Core) and College Physics II Lab (Mason Core) |
4 |
| Total Credits | 38-39 | |
Pre-Medical Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 124 & BIOL 125 | Human Anatomy and Physiology and Human Anatomy and Physiology |
8 |
| or | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II |
||
| BIOL 213 | Cell Structure and Function | 4 |
| BIOL 311 | General Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 483 | General Biochemistry | 4 |
| or CHEM 463 | General Biochemistry I | |
| CHEM 211 & CHEM 213 | General Chemistry I (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (Mason Core) |
4 |
| CHEM 212 & CHEM 214 | General Chemistry II (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory II (Mason Core) |
4 |
| CHEM 313 & CHEM 315 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I |
5 |
| CHEM 314 & CHEM 318 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II |
5 |
| STAT 250 | Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) | 3-4 |
| or BIOL 214 | Biostatistics for Biology Majors | |
| PHYS 243 & PHYS 244 | College Physics I (Mason Core) and College Physics I Lab (Mason Core) |
4 |
| PHYS 245 & PHYS 246 | College Physics II (Mason Core) and College Physics II Lab (Mason Core) |
4 |
| PSYC 100 | Basic Concepts in Psychology (Mason Core) | 3 |
| SOCI 101 | Introductory Sociology (Mason Core) | 3 |
| MATH 113 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core) | 4 |
| Total Credits | 59-60 | |
Pre-Dental Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 124 & BIOL 125 | Human Anatomy and Physiology and Human Anatomy and Physiology |
8 |
| or | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II |
||
| BIOL 213 | Cell Structure and Function | 4 |
| BIOL 483 | General Biochemistry | 4 |
| or CHEM 463 | General Biochemistry I | |
| BIOL 311 | General Genetics | 4 |
| CHEM 211 & CHEM 213 | General Chemistry I (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (Mason Core) |
4 |
| CHEM 212 & CHEM 214 | General Chemistry II (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory II (Mason Core) |
4 |
| CHEM 313 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 315 | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 2 |
| CHEM 314 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 318 | Organic Chemistry Lab II | 2 |
| PHYS 243 & PHYS 244 | College Physics I (Mason Core) and College Physics I Lab (Mason Core) |
4 |
| PHYS 245 & PHYS 246 | College Physics II (Mason Core) and College Physics II Lab (Mason Core) |
4 |
| STAT 250 | Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) | 3-4 |
| or BIOL 214 | Biostatistics for Biology Majors | |
| PSYC 100 | Basic Concepts in Psychology (Mason Core) | 3 |
| SOCI 101 | Introductory Sociology (Mason Core) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 55-56 | |
Pre-Pharmacy Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 124 & BIOL 125 | Human Anatomy and Physiology and Human Anatomy and Physiology |
8 |
| or | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II |
||
| BIOL 213 | Cell Structure and Function | 4 |
| BIOL 305 | Biology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| BIOL 306 | Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 311 | General Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 483 | General Biochemistry | 4 |
| or CHEM 463 | General Biochemistry I | |
| CHEM 211 & CHEM 213 | General Chemistry I (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (Mason Core) |
4 |
| CHEM 212 & CHEM 214 | General Chemistry II (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory II (Mason Core) |
4 |
| CHEM 313 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 315 | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 2 |
| CHEM 314 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 318 | Organic Chemistry Lab II | 2 |
| ECON 100 | Economics for the Citizen (Mason Core) | 3 |
| MATH 113 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core) | 4 |
| STAT 250 | Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) | 3-4 |
| or BIOL 214 | Biostatistics for Biology Majors | |
| COMM 100 | Public Speaking (Mason Core) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 55-56 | |
Pre-Physical Therapy Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 102 & BIOL 103 & BIOL 105 | Introductory Biology I-Survey of Biodiversity and Ecology (Mason Core) and Introductory Biology II-Survey of Cell and Molecular Biology (Mason Core) and Introductory Biology II Laboratory (Mason Core) |
8 |
| or | ||
| Cell Structure and Function and General Genetics |
||
| BIOL 124 & BIOL 125 | Human Anatomy and Physiology and Human Anatomy and Physiology |
8 |
| or | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II |
||
| PSYC 100 | Basic Concepts in Psychology (Mason Core) | 3 |
| STAT 250 | Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) | 3-4 |
| or BIOL 214 | Biostatistics for Biology Majors | |
| CHEM 103 | Chemical Science in a Modern Society (Mason Core) | 4 |
| or CHEM 211 & CHEM 213 | General Chemistry I (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (Mason Core) |
|
| CHEM 104 | Chemistry for Changing Times (Mason Core) | 4 |
| or CHEM 212 & CHEM 214 | General Chemistry II (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory II (Mason Core) |
|
| PHYS 243 & PHYS 244 | College Physics I (Mason Core) and College Physics I Lab (Mason Core) |
4 |
| PHYS 245 & PHYS 246 | College Physics II (Mason Core) and College Physics II Lab (Mason Core) |
4 |
| PSYC 211 | Lifespan Development (Mason Core) | 3 |
| or PSYC 325 | Psychopathology | |
| Total Credits | 41-42 | |
Pre-Physician's Assistant Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ATEP 201 | Medical and Scientific Terminology | 3 |
| or HAP 202 | Medical Terminology | |
| BIOL 124 & BIOL 125 | Human Anatomy and Physiology and Human Anatomy and Physiology |
8 |
| or | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II |
||
| BIOL 213 | Cell Structure and Function | 4 |
| BIOL 305 | Biology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| BIOL 306 | Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 211 & CHEM 213 | General Chemistry I (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (Mason Core) |
4 |
| CHEM 212 & CHEM 214 | General Chemistry II (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory II (Mason Core) |
4 |
| CHEM 313 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 315 | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 2 |
| CHEM 463 | General Biochemistry I | 4 |
| or BIOL 483 | General Biochemistry | |
| PSYC 100 | Basic Concepts in Psychology (Mason Core) | 3 |
| PSYC 211 | Lifespan Development (Mason Core) | 3 |
| or PSYC 325 | Psychopathology | |
| STAT 250 | Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) | 3-4 |
| or BIOL 214 | Biostatistics for Biology Majors | |
| Total Credits | 45-46 | |
Pre-Optometry Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 124 & BIOL 125 | Human Anatomy and Physiology and Human Anatomy and Physiology |
8 |
| or | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II |
||
| BIOL 213 | Cell Structure and Function | 4 |
| BIOL 305 | Biology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| BIOL 306 | Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 311 | General Genetics | 4 |
| CHEM 211 & CHEM 213 | General Chemistry I (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (Mason Core) |
4 |
| CHEM 212 & CHEM 214 | General Chemistry II (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory II (Mason Core) |
4 |
| CHEM 313 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 315 | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 2 |
| CHEM 314 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 318 | Organic Chemistry Lab II | 2 |
| MATH 113 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core) | 4 |
| PHYS 243 & PHYS 244 | College Physics I (Mason Core) and College Physics I Lab (Mason Core) |
4 |
| PHYS 245 & PHYS 246 | College Physics II (Mason Core) and College Physics II Lab (Mason Core) |
4 |
| STAT 250 | Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) | 3-4 |
| or BIOL 214 | Biostatistics for Biology Majors | |
| PSYC 100 | Basic Concepts in Psychology (Mason Core) | 3 |
| PSYC 211 | Lifespan Development (Mason Core) | 3 |
| or PSYC 325 | Psychopathology | |
| Total Credits | 59-60 | |
Pre-Veterinary Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 213 | Cell Structure and Function | 4 |
| BIOL 311 | General Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 483 | General Biochemistry | 4 |
| or CHEM 463 | General Biochemistry I | |
| CHEM 211 & CHEM 213 | General Chemistry I (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (Mason Core) |
4 |
| CHEM 212 & CHEM 214 | General Chemistry II (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory II (Mason Core) |
4 |
| CHEM 313 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 315 | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 2 |
| CHEM 314 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 318 | Organic Chemistry Lab II | 2 |
| MATH 113 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core) | 4 |
| PHYS 243 & PHYS 244 | College Physics I (Mason Core) and College Physics I Lab (Mason Core) |
4 |
| PHYS 245 & PHYS 246 | College Physics II (Mason Core) and College Physics II Lab (Mason Core) |
4 |
| STAT 250 | Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) | 3-4 |
| or BIOL 214 | Biostatistics for Biology Majors | |
| Total Credits | 45-46 | |
Additional Electives
Any remaining credits may be completed with electives to bring the degree total to 120
