Integrated Science & Technology: Career Guide to JMU Majors

Career Guide

Overview

The Integrated Science and Technology major is housed in the School of Integrated Sciences within the College of Integrated Science & Engineering.

Concentrations/Strategic Sectors

Applied Biotechnology
Energy
Engineering/Manufacturing
Environment
Information/Knowledge Management
Telecommunications

Admission and Progression Standards

Visit the Major Snapshots site to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major.

Description of Major

Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT) is a program in the School of Integrated Sciences which is a part of CISE. The concentrations are as follows: Applied Biotechnology Energy Production Systems Environment Information/Knowledge Management Telecommunications, Networking, and Security The School of Integrated Sciences also offers minors in Materials Science, Environmental Information Systems, Science Technology and Society, and Environmental Management.

More About the Field

During the freshman and sophomore years, the ISAT program provides a basic science and mathematics curriculum foundation. Students are introduced to science, its methods and applications, and are provided the analytical skills to understand issues in contemporary science and technology. In the junior year, students pursue a core group of classes called strategic sectors.

These sectors, developed from national critical technologies lists, represent areas of current strategic importance in the world economy. The strategic sectors are as follows: Energy, Environment, Information/Knowledge Management, Applied Biotechnology, Production Systems, and Telecommunications, Networking and Security. A concentration is offered in each sector. The concentration is a 12 hour sequence of courses capped by a six hour senior capstone project.

The Energy sector provides students with a broad understanding of the principal aspects of energy supply and use, with an emphasis on sustainable energy development and increased efficiency. In the Environment sector, students learn an appreciation and understanding of the nature of environmental concerns in today’s society, especially in the areas of energy, production systems, industry, and resource management. Information and Knowledge Management acquaints students with the central role that information and knowledge management has in technology and society. The Production Systems sector deals with design and engineering functions in a manufacturing enterprise. The Applied Biotechnology sector provides students with the understanding of the interdependent roles of science and technology by focusing on advances in the life sciences in the past 20 years. Telecommunications, Networking, and Security provides instruction and examples in the design, development, and management of telecommunications systems and security for those systems. An overview of the regulatory issues encountered in the telecommunications industry includes regulation of emerging services and technologies, First Amendment issues, ownership and distribution of new information forms, and limitations and uses of technology.

Complementary Majors and Minors

The ISAT major is considered too demanding to be paired with another major but minors that could complement this major include Art, Chemistry, Computer Information Systems, Economics, Environmental Information Systems, Geographic Science, Geology, Computer Science, Logic and Reasoning, Materials Science, Mathematics, Robotics, Statistics, Physics, or Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication.

Characteristics of Successful Students

The successful ISAT student is characterized by a general interest in science and math, without an intense interest in a particular field of science, or in math. ISAT students enjoy learning about and using the computer as a problem solving tool. They have good interpersonal skills and enjoy solving problems in groups. Their interests tend to be broad rather than narrowly defined.

Careers

Many graduates choose typical career paths associated with this major. However, some graduates choose unrelated careers that utilize skills and experiences developed during their years in college. Keep in mind, that some fields will require graduate study or further training. The listing below offers examples of possible career paths and is not meant to be comprehensive.

Alternative Energy Consultant
Applications Developer
Artificial Intelligence Technologist
Biological Weapons Trainer
Biotechnologist
Business Security Consultant
Communication Systems
Computer Simulation Specialist
Computer Software Developer
Database Administrator
Defense Program Analyst
Developer
Energy Industry Analyst
Energy-Efficiency Consultant
Energy Engineer
Environmental Consultant
Environmental Protection
Expert Systems Developer
Forensic Scientist
Global Forecast Analyst
Global Project Manager
Graphic Arts Technologist
Health System Analyst
Information Technology Tech
Laboratory Technician
Laser Engineer
Manufacturing Engineer
Manufacturing/ Production Manager
Market Analyst
Materials Scientist
Medical Imaging Assistant
Peace Corps Worker
Patent Classifier
Pollution Control Technologist
Production Control Supervisor
Project Controls Engineer
Quality Assurance Technologist
Quality Control Technician
Quality Engineer
Recycling Product Developer
Renewable Energy Specialist
Research Scientist
Robotics Researcher
Satellite Laser Imagining Specialist
Scientific Sales and Marketing
Security Specialist
Software Development Specialist
Stream Restoration Specialist
Sustainability Specialists
Systems Administrator
Technical Consultant
Technology Instruction Designer
Technology Manager
Telecommunication Technician
Waste Management Specialist
Web Developer

Who Employs Graduates?

Agricultural Industries, Biotechnology Firms, Chemical Companies, Colleges/Universities, Consulting Firms, Energy Companies, Engineering Firms, Environmental Agencies, Federal and State Government Laboratories, Food Companies, Hospitals, Medical Centers, Manufacturing Companies, Pharmaceutical Companies, Pollution Control Agencies, Private Research Firms, and Telecommunication Companies.

Internships and Experiential Opportunities

The ISAT student coordinator and faculty assist students in finding appropriate internships that complement their academic studies. The ISAT curriculum also includes laboratory investigations, independent projects, cooperative learning groups, and off‑campus experiences in addition to classroom discussions.

View our list of internship coordinators for each major.

Career Profiles

Additional Resources to Research Careers

Handshake: view new internships and jobs that employers are looking to hire JMU students from your major
Career Outcomes: see where alumni worked or studied right after graduating.
GoinGlobal: learn more about employment opportunities overseas as well as H1B visa information for international Dukes pursuing jobs in the U.S.
O*NET: browse occupational profiles to learn about thousands of different careers, pulling data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
CareerOneStop: explore thousands of different careers by looking at career profiles
Utilize the LinkedIn Alumni tool to see what others have done with their majors and what their career paths look like. Reach out to alumni via LinkedIn and conduct an informational interview.

Copyright

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission from the JMU University Career Center. Content for each major has been written/reviewed by faculty in the respective department and is revised each year. Requests to update content can be submitted to career@jmu.edu.