Integrated Science and Technology (BS)

Summary

Integrated Science and Engineering (ISAT) is a project-based, flexible major connecting disciplines with industry to offer a program adaptable to students. The major includes targeted options designed to meet specific industry needs. The major is ideal for students with a broad STEM background, prior work experience, and/or diverse interests.

The major offers foundational knowledge to enhance career progression, humanistic knowledge to identify and respond to ethical issues in the field, and meta-knowledge to understand career paths and acquire skills for life-long learning. This knowledge blending within ISAT provides flexibility for students to achieve success in applied STEM fields. The major culminates in an interdisciplinary, two-semester, real-world capstone experience that challenges students to apply their STEM and humanistic knowledge.

The degree matches well with any Associate of Science (AS) degree in a STEM-related discipline. 

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major Credits

64

Total Credits

120

Locations

Mankato

Normandale

Mesabi Range

Edina

Career Cluster

Interdisciplinary Studies

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Program Requirements

Prerequisites to the Major

Students intending to study Integrated Science and Engineering should have completed coursework at the 100 and 200 levels in an area of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or other related-technical areas sufficient to enroll in upper-division courses in that area. For information on admission requirements, please contact the ISAT Pathways Specialist.

Major Common Core

Collection, analysis, and presentation of work connecting humanistic and technical knowledge with degree and career objectives. As students move through the ISAT 301, 302, 401, 402 portfolio sequence, each 1-credit course will build and expand upon work from the previously-completed portfolio courses. Requires admission to ISAT program.

Prerequisites: Admission to ISAT program.

Collection, analysis, and presentation of work connecting humanistic and technical knowledge with degree and career objectives. As students move through the ISAT 301, 302, 401, 402 portfolio sequence, each 1-credit course will build and expand upon work from the previously-completed portfolio courses. Requires admission to ISAT program.

Prerequisites: Admission to ISAT program.

Collection, analysis, and presentation of work connecting humanistic and technical knowledge with degree and career objectives. As students move through the ISAT 301, 302, 401, 402 portfolio sequence, each 1-credit course will build and expand upon work from the previously-completed portfolio courses. Requires admission to ISAT program.

Prerequisites: Admission to ISAT program.

Collection, analysis, and presentation of work connecting humanistic and technical knowledge with degree and career objectives. As students move through the ISAT 301, 302, 401, 402 portfolio sequence, each 1-credit course will build and expand upon work from the previously-completed portfolio courses. Requires admission to ISAT program.

Prerequisites: Admission to ISAT program.

Capstone

Project - Total 6 credits

Capstone project ideation, research, and proposal development. Projects are undertaken in mixed groups across disciplines: communications, science, and technology, who work together to propose and complete a project. Student groups determine project topic based on interest and expertise. The total combined credits for ISAT 480 and ISAT 490 should be six credits. Requires admission to ISAT program.

Prerequisites: ISAT 302, Admission to ISAT program.

Capstone project execution and completion. Projects are undertaken in mixed groups across disciplines, communications, science, and technology, who work together to complete a project. Student groups determine project topic based on interest and expertise. The total combined credits for ISAT 480 and ISAT 490 should be six credits. Requires admission to ISAT program.

Prerequisites: ISAT 302, Admission to ISAT program.

Major Restricted Electives

Technical Area 1 (STEM-related) Choose 15-21 credits from a STEM-related area/discipline as approved by the ISAT advisor.
Technical Area 2 Choose 9-15 credits from a technical area of STEM, business, or related area/discipline approved by the ISAT advisor. This area must come from an area/discipline distinct from Technical Area 1.
HASS (Humanities, Arts, and Social Science) Area 1 (Foundation: Theory and Knowledge) - Choose 9-12 credits from an area/discipline related to understanding the human condition, understanding, mindset, welfare, values, and/or dignity, as approved by the ISAT advisor.
HASS Area 2 (Application) - Choose 12-15 credits from an area/discipline that applies humanistic theory and knowledge to professional settings, communities, and society, as approved by the ISAT advisor.
Technical Areas 1 and 2 must total a minimum of 30 credits. Technical Area 1 must relate to an U.S. Government STEM-designated area. STEM refers to majors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
HASS Areas 1 and 2 must total a minimum of 24 credits. HASS refers to Humanities, Arts, and Social Science, broadly defined, and courses are chosen in consultation with the ISAT Advisor.
At least half the credits in each area must be at the 300/400 level.

Policies

Admission to Major is granted by the department of Integrated Engineering and MinnPoly and is open to any student in "academic good standing".  Applications are submitted to the MinnPoly Pathways Specialist.

Upper-Division Courses: Completion of 30 credits is required before taking upper-division courses in the major.

Areas of Concentration: Students seeking the ISAT degree will choose two technical areas and two humanistic areas (one applied and one theory) in consultation with their ISAT advisor.  A faculty member in each area should be selected to help them arrange and oversee coursework, as well as determine an overall focus area.

Additional Requirements: All Major Common Core and Major Restricted Elective courses require a C- or higher. The Major Common Core and  Major Restricted Elective GPA must be at least a 2.5.