Integrated Life Sciences
About the Integrated Life Sciences program
The Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) Program at the University of Maryland is a holistic biological sciences-focused and accelerated curriculum for talented STEM students.
ILS includes a significant research requirement, a two-year commitment of coursework, a student-driven service-learning experience and an emphasis on student wellness in an encouraging residential environment. Their living-learning community, which is located in the air-conditioned LaPlata Hall and is a requirement for all first-year ILS students fosters collaboration, nourishes relationships between students and offers accessible staff and faculty to mentor and guide each cohort. ILS strives to assist students to achieve their unique goals and launch their careers beyond the classroom. Student interests include research, medicine (human and veterinary), public health, dentistry, academic and graduate degrees including Ph.D.s and MD/Ph.D.s.
Several recent national initiatives (e.g., BIO 2010, Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians, and Vision and Change) have called for the transformation of undergraduate education in the life sciences. The College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences has partnered with the Honors College to create the ILS program, which offers nationally recognized innovations in the multidisciplinary training of the life sciences in accordance with these recommendations.
“After being admitted to the Honors College at Maryland, I decided to review each program’s website in addition to speaking with current UMD students. I considered each program’s unique focus, their requirements and ultimately the outcome of their previous students. In the end, I decided to choose the Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) Honors Program for its strong community and demonstrated success in preparing students for graduate and professional school. ILS was an amazing choice for me since its tight-knit community allowed me to form strong bonds with my classmates and professors, which proved to be very rewarding both personally and professionally.”
Brian Florenzo