- An in depth exploration program where you can experience everything from environmental science to bioinformatics to physics to imaging science.
- Design a first-year project to explore how science can be applied to modern-day challenges. Recent topics included climate change, concussions in sports, and travel to Mars.
- Learn to conduct research using real-world instrumentation and lab skills.
- Course work completed in the exploration program is applied to your new program of study.
Do you know that you love science or math, and you know that you want a career in a related discipline but are not sure which area is your favorite, or how to choose a major that will get you to your career goals? You're not alone. Many prospective students love science and math, but may not have enough information to decide about a major before starting college. For example, do you know the differences between degrees in biotechnology and biochemistry or applied math and computational math? The science exploration option allows students to investigate the various majors in the College of Science and options for multidisciplinary science/math and careers before deciding on a program of study. Students who choose their major within the first year will not lose time toward the completion of their degree.
You will work as a member of a team on a laboratory-based project that requires you to apply many disciplines in the College of Science – and you will gain experience in all of those areas, helping you to find a career path that is right for you. Over two semesters, you will not only learn about the different majors available to you in the college, but you will also learn to work together to solve multidisciplinary problems as part of a team, how to manage a project from start to finish, and develop leadership skills. Together with your team, you will present your year's work at the annual Imagine RIT event in April.
Plan of study
The science exploration option is a yearlong sequence of courses built around a single project aimed at designing, building, and conducting multidisciplinary research to answer a question that is too complex for a single discipline to conquer. The question will be presented to you on the first day of class. This approach to multidisciplinary technical education emphasizes real-world, hands-on problem solving by student-led teams. It offers participating students a degree of autonomy and responsibility rarely found in first-year curricula.
As a result of this course sequence, students in the science exploration option develop an appreciation for specific fields that interest them, while simultaneously learning about other College of Science majors.