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Interdisciplinary Chemical Sciences
Major
University of Michigan - Department of Chemistry
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The Interdisciplinary Chemical Sciences (ICS) major allows students the flexibility to supplement
a core study of chemistry with courses in complementary fields. This major can be an effective
preparation for graduate study in the sciences, for graduate studies in an interdisciplinary area
that might benefit from a strong science background, for medical, law, and business schools, or
for direct entry into the job market. Because students pursuing the ICS degree have a wide
variety of career goals, advising from a chemistry departmental advisor is especially important.
Interdisciplinary Chemical Sciences: General principles
The Interdisciplinary Chemical Sciences major allows students substantial flexibility to define the
thematic focus of their study. This flexibility comes with a responsibility: each student must
work with a chemistry departmental advisor to select the proper upper level chemistry classes
and define a cognate course plan when declaring the ICS major. The plan defined when a
student declares the major need not be final. In fact, it is quite likely it will evolve as the student
learns more and understands better where they want to go with their degree. However,
changes must be discussed in advance with a chemistry departmental advisor and approved by
the advisor.
To help with this process and to illustrate the range of options available within this major, we
have provided a few examples of major and cognate plans. Each is meant to illustrate how
students focusing in a particular area might best prepare themselves for the future. These are
only examples. Even within the areas described, we expect that a student would define his or
her own plan differently.
A departmental advisor will be designated to help students design a coherent plan and to
oversee the development and completion of this plan. Additional dedicated advisors will be
designated as required by the size of the program.
