Gateway Programs
The Faculty of Science Level 1 Gateway programs provide students with a wide range of Level 2 program options. At the end of Level 1, students rank order and apply to up to four Honours programs. Gateway students’ complete courses in Level 1 that reflect the admission requirements of the Level 2 program(s) they are considering, complimented by electives.
We offer the following Level 1 Gateway programs:

Chemical & Physical Sciences Chemical & Physical Sciences Program Recommendations
Everything we know is either matter or energy. Understanding the ways in which matter and energy behave and interact is critical to understanding the universe at every level – from the submicroscopic constituents of matter to the macroscopic behaviour of galaxies and star clusters. This understanding comes through a mix of mathematical description, computational modeling, and experimental investigations. These techniques are covered in the Chemical & Physical Sciences Gateway.

Environmental & Earth Sciences Environmental & Earth Sciences Program Recommendations
Human life and society depend critically on environmental resources we all too often take for granted: air, water, soil and the mineral and organic resources of the earth. With increasing attention to global warming and climate change, there have been dramatically more scientific research and employment opportunities in this area. The Environmental & Earth Sciences Gateway provides problem-based and inquiry learning experiences that will challenge you to think independently and apply the knowledge you gain.

Life Sciences Life Sciences Program Recommendations
An understanding of the tapestry of life comes not from a single discipline, but is woven from all of the Life Sciences: biochemistry, cell biology, genomics, developmental biology, neurobiology, psychology, ecology, and earth sciences. The avalanche of information available from these fields allows scientists to look at biological systems in unprecedented detail. The key is to integrate knowledge across disciplines in order to understand organisms and their place in the ecosystem. The Life Sciences Gateway program offers problem-based and inquiry learning experiences that will challenge you to think independently, and to apply the knowledge you gain.

Mathematics & Statistics Mathematics & Statistics Program Recommendations
Mathematics and Statistics study patterns underlying diverse phenomena such as the weather, human and animal populations, stock markets, the form of a molecule, or the structure of the space and the time. Using mathematics, we discover subtle and sometimes unexpected features of these phenomena; as well , we can predict their behaviour, which is an extremely important component of our understanding of the world and the space that surrounds us. Statistics can help us make sense of large data sets and complex systems in areas such as astronomy, genomics, social networks, climate simulation, and medicine. Statisticians examine the patterns which arise in data with the goal of distinguishing true patterns from chance effects. The Mathematics & Statistics Gateway introduces students to the foundational tools and ideas of mathematics and statistics.
For more information about Level 1 programs, please visit the McMaster Undergraduate Calendar and the McMaster Academic Planner (M.A.P.).
For instruction on how to apply to the Level 2 programs of your choice, see the Level 2 Program Selection section of this website.
NOTE: Before selecting courses, it is very important that students review the admission requirements for each of the Level 2 programs that they are considering. Most students continue in a program from the same area of study (for example, an Environmental & Earth Sciences 1 student might select Honours Environmental Sciences or Honours Earth & Environmental Sciences for Level 2). Some students discover a new area of interest and change their original direction (for example, a Mathematics & Statistics 1 student may opt to move into Honours Physics).
Direct Entry Programs
In contrast to the Level 1 Gateway programs, students enter directly into these programs and the first-year curriculum is a set of prescribed, required courses that must be completed before advancing to Level 2 of the program.
The Faculty offers the following Level 1 Direct-Entry programs (and degrees):

Honours Integrated Science Watch iSci Presentation
The Honours Integrated Science (iSci) program is the country’s most innovative undergraduate science program, blending content from across the science disciplines, while focusing on the foundations of chemistry, earth science, life science, mathematics, and physics. Our students learn in a variety of situations – from formal lectures and tutorials to inquiry-based team and individual research projects that involve hands-on laboratories and fieldwork. iSci is an interdisciplinary, research-based science program that focuses on the development of self-directed learning skills in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Honours Kinesiology Watch Kin Presentation
McMaster’s Honours Kinesiology program involves the discovery, communication, and application of knowledge through the multi-disciplinary study of human movement, exercise, and the relationships between physical activity and health. Our Kinesiology program aims to inspire a passion for lifelong learning and discovery and strive to prepare our students to become leaders and valued members of society.

Medical Radiation Sciences Watch MedRad Presentation
Medical Radiation Sciences (MRSc) encompasses the health professions that employ various forms of radiation in diagnostic and therapeutic care of patients. The attainment of both an Advanced Diploma and Bachelor of Medical Radiation Sciences degree is achieved through a fully integrated program offered jointly through Mohawk College and McMaster University. The MRSc program promotes skills in its graduates to prepare them for lifelong, self-directed learning, critical thinking, and to become an integral part of the health care team. After completing their first year, students are streamed into one of three professional specializations: ultrasonography, radiography, or radiation therapy.
For more information about Level 1 programs, please visit the McMaster Undergraduate Calendar and the McMaster Academic Planner (M.A.P.).