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Undergraduate Studies
General Information 23
General Information
Student Academic Resources
3200 Maggie Benston Student Services Centre,
9 am – 7:30 pm Monday to Thursday, 9 am – 4:30 pm
Friday, (604) 291-4356 Tel, (604) 291-4969 Fax,
acadvice@sfu.ca E-mail, www.reg.sfu.ca
Academic Advising
Student Academic Resources provides academic
advice for newly admitted and continuing first and
second year students who have not declared a
specialization (a term used to describe a major,
minor, double major, joint major or an honors
program – see below). Academic advisors, both
professionals and student peers, assist students with
course selection and program planning in any of our
five faculties (Applied Sciences, Arts, Business
Administration, Education and Science).
Special advisors are also available to assist students
in academic difficulty. These advisors are trained to
provide assistance to students about policies related
to academic standing and continuance, withdrawing
from courses, readmission after being required to
withdraw due to poor academic performance and
applications for retroactive withdrawals.
Academic Records, Registration and
Administrative Services
Through its affiliation with the Office of the Registrar,
Student Academic Resources also provides students
with various other administrative services including
the following.
Student documents
official and unofficial transcripts of academic record
letters of confirmation of registration
letters of permission to take courses at another
institution
ID/Library cards
need to undertake in the first four levels. (See the
Definitions section following.)
Honors Program
An honors degree requires completion of at least 132
credit hours, completion of an honors program and
completion of approximately 48-50 credit hours of
credit in specified upper division courses in the
honors subject or field, normally taken in the upper
divisions. Different honors programs have varying
credit hour requirements in the lower division courses.
(See faculty and departmental requirements.)
Joint Honors Program
A joint honors degree requires completion of at least
132 credit hours of credit and completion of a specific
joint honors program, which would normally consist of
a total of at least 50 credit hours of credit in upper
division courses taken in two or more disciplines, as
specified. Different joint honors programs have
varying credit hour requirements in the lower division
courses. (See faculty and departmental
requirements.)
Major Program
A general degree requires at least 120 credit hours
and, normally, completion of a major program. A
major program requires approximately 28 to 30 credit
hours of credit in upper division courses as specified
in the major subject or field. Varying credit hour
requirements are needed in the lower division
courses for different major programs. (See faculty and
departmental requirements. With special approval,
two minors may be substituted for a major on the
bachelor of education degree. The bachelor of
general studies degree has broad requirements.)
Changes to personal student data
Joint Major Program
changes of address and/or telephone numbers
changes to names
changes to immigration status
A general degree may be obtained by completion of
120 credit hours of credit and completion of a joint
major program. The specific joint major requires at
least 30 credit hours of credit in upper division
courses taken in two or more disciplines, as specified.
Credit hour requirements in the lower division courses
vary for different joint major programs. (See faculty
and departmental requirements.)
Course outlines for lower division courses (all credit
courses numbered 001 to 299) and for all evening
courses are available for pick up on the lower level of
the Maggie Benston Student Services Centre, 0100.
Programs of Study
Double Major Program
Simon Fraser University offers three main types of
undergraduate programs: honors programs leading to
an honors degree, general programs leading to a
general degree, and an extended minor degree.
Most departments offer all of these types of
programs.
A general degree may include completion of two
major programs. The student must complete the
following.
To be granted a degree, a student must satisfy certain
requirements which ensure a depth of study and a
coherent combination of courses. These
requirements, called a degree program, are
expressed in terms of the number of credit hours in
lower and upper division courses to be taken in and
outside the subject(s) of concentration. Depending on
the extent of concentration in a subject area, a degree
program may offer an honors program, a major
program, a minor program, or certain combinations.
Students are encouraged to sample a wide range of
courses before focusing on a particular area of
concentration, but normally must commit themselves
to their area(s) before entering the second half of the
degree program. Students should be aware of any
prerequisite studies for their programs that they may
• the lower division requirements for each of the major
subjects selected
• at least 28 hours of upper division courses as
specified in each of the two subjects in which the
majors are to be claimed
• any other requirements of the particular
departments concerned
• the requirements of the faculty in which the student
will receive the degree
This permits study for two majors within a single
faculty or across faculties. The bachelor’s degree
awarded will be determined according to the faculty
for which all requirements have been met or, if the
requirements of more than one faculty have been
met, then from which one of the faculties the student
selects. (See Major-Minor Program following.)
Minor Program
A minor requires completion of at least 14 to 18 upper
division credit hours as specified in the subject
concerned. To qualify for a specific minor, at least
seven credit hours of the upper division credit used
toward the minor must have been completed through
Simon Fraser University courses. A minor program
also requires meeting any stipulated lower division
requirements and may be used toward meeting the
requirements of a degree program.
Extended Minor Program
This program consists of the lower division
requirements for a major, and the upper division
requirements for a minor. A student must have their
program approved by the extended minor program
advisor.
Major – Minor Program
A general degree may include the completion of a
major program and of a minor program. The student
must complete at least 28 hours of upper division
courses as specified in the major subject and at least
14 to 18 hours of upper division courses as specified
in the minor subject. The same upper division course
may not be used for formal credit in both the major
and the minor. The student must complete the lower
division requirements for the major subject selected,
all other requirements of the major department, the
lower and upper division requirements for the minor
selected, and the requirements of the faculty in which
the student will receive the degree. This permits the
undertaking of a major and of a minor within a single
faculty or across faculties.
Double Major and Major – Minor
Programs
Credit Value of Courses
In order to give sufficient weight to both majors in a
double major program, the student may not apply the
same upper division course for formal credit in both
majors. Similarly, a student in a major-minor program
may not use the same upper division course for
formal credit in both the major and the minor. Also, a
student undertaking a program consisting of more
than one minor may not use the same upper division
courses for credit toward more than one minor.
Where one course fulfills the content requirements of
two related areas, additional replacement credits in
upper division work satisfactory to one of the
departments or program committees must be taken in
order to fulfill the overall credit requirements for the
double major or major-minor program.
For lower division requirements, one course could
fulfill both content and credit requirements as a
prerequisite, but no course can carry double credit
value toward the total needed for a degree. In a
number of combinations possible in the bachelor of
arts or bachelor of general studies degree, certain
constraints exist on the use of both lower and upper
division courses.
Degree Requirements
Students are cautioned to refer carefully to overall
requirements of the faculties for degree requirements,
as the requirements for a specific degree must be
fulfilled. If in doubt, seek advice from Student
Academic Resources. Some departments require
specific prerequisite courses for entry to some upper
division courses, and some faculties require
24 General Information
completion of a minimum number of upper division
courses taken in the upper divisions of study to fulfill
degree conditions. Some faculties require completion
of a minimum number of credits within the faculty to
qualify for a degree. In some instances, therefore, a
student seeking a double major or a major-minor
involving subjects in more than one faculty may need
more than 120 credit hours to fulfill the requirements
of the general degree.
be the equivalent of one full year or more of university
study (30 or more credit hours). Credit applied to one
diploma may not be applied to another Simon Fraser
University certificate, diploma or degree, and vice
versa. A first university degree or the equivalent is
normally a prerequisite, but, if stipulated, mature
applicants whose experience makes them particularly
suited to a program may also be admitted.
Changing Programs
Certificate Program
A student who elected to take a double major or a
major-minor program may change his/her decision
and graduate with a major only, provided that the
normal requirements for the major and requirements
of the faculty concerned have been fulfilled.
Notification of such changes must be filed with the
departments concerned and the Office of the
Registrar.
Second Bachelor’s Degrees
A student who already holds a bachelor’s degree (or
degrees) may complete a second or subsequent
bachelor’s degree at the University, subject to the
following conditions and regulations.
Normal admission policies apply to all applicants for
further bachelor’s degrees. First bachelor’s degrees
from certain jurisdictions may qualify the applicant to
proceed to a first bachelor’s degree only. For more
information, please contact the admissions office,
Office of the Registrar.
The basic requirement for any further degree shall not
be less than 60 credit hours of credit for a general
degree, and not less than 72 credit hours of credit for
an honors degree.
Of the minimum 60 credit hours required for a further
general degree, not less than 44-45 credit hours must
be upper division credit. Of the minimum 72 credit
hours required for a further honors degree, not less
than 60 credit hours must be upper division credit.
The department or program in which the further
degree is being taken has the right to require
completion of prerequisite lower division courses in
addition to the minimum conditions specified above.
General University regulations covering a first
bachelor’s degree apply to further bachelor’s degrees
unless otherwise stated or clearly implied. These
include, but are not limited to:
• minimum CGPA and minimum GPA calculated on
the basis of all upper division courses taken at
Simon Fraser University required for graduation
• maximum number of transfer credit hours that may
be counted toward minor/major/honors programs
General faculty and departmental regulations apply,
including completion of any group requirements not
completed in a previous degree.
A student may not enrol in a further bachelor’s degree
program in a subject in which she/he already holds a
degree. A student who has a minor (or equivalent) in
a particular subject may enrol in a further degree with
a major or honors program in that subject.
Credit earned towards a previous degree or diploma
may not be used toward the further bachelor’s
degree. However, recognition may be given for the
content of such previous work. In such cases,
students will be required to obtain credit in
appropriate courses in lieu of those for which
exemption or advance standing has been granted.
Post Baccalaureate
Diploma Program
A diploma program should, in general, consist of
regular upper division university courses; graduate
courses may be included. The study program should
A certificate program should consist mainly of regular
lower division courses. Upper division courses may
be included. The study program should be the
equivalent of between one half and one full year of
university study (18 to 30 credit hours). See the
Continuing Studies Office for further information
regarding individual certificate programs. Credits
applied to one certificate may be applied also to major
programs or minor programs or to a bachelor’s
degree under the normal regulations governing these
programs, but may not be applied to another Simon
Fraser University certificate or diploma.
Conditionally Approved
This category identifies a student who will be
approved for entry to a specialization upon
satisfactory completion of some stated condition(s).
Use of this category is at the discretion of a
department and will usually be limited to those cases
where the student has very limited deficiencies and is
taking immediate action to remove them. In granting
conditional approval, the department or signing
authority will set out to the student, in writing, the
condition(s) that must be satisfied for approved entry
to the specialization. Students who satisfy the
condition(s) will be advised that they have been
approved for entry to the specialization. Students who
have tried unsuccessfully to complete the condition(s)
may be advised that their conditional approval has
been withdrawn, or, at the discretion of the academic
department, the student may be conditionally
approved for an additional semester (or semesters).
Academic advising for conditionally approved
students is the responsibility of the department
offering the particular specialization(s).
Approved
Co-operative Education
A co-operative education program consists of four or
five work terms to be completed while doing regular
academic terms. See “Co-operative Education” on
page 212.
Obligation to Declare Majors,
Minors or Other Areas of
Specialization
Students are expected to obtain formal approval to
enter an area of specialization by the time they have
earned 60 credits. ‘Specialization’ is a term used to
cover programs such as majors, minors, double
majors, honors, minors, extended minors, etc., and
‘department’ refers to the faculty or department or
school or unit responsible for a program. There are
some other programs (e.g., post baccalaureate
diplomas, certificates) which may have some
additional instruction regarding procedure since the
students in these programs fall outside the usual flow
of credit hours.
With regard to the area of specialization, students will
be classified according to the following categories:
Undecided, Intended, Conditionally Approved,
Approved or Undeclared.
Undeclared
This category will be used for any student who, prior
to the successful completion of the 61st credit hour,
has not recorded an intended specialization or who
has not been granted conditionally approved or
approved entry to a specialization. ‘Undeclared’ will
not be recorded for any student who has successfully
completed 61 or more credit hours.
Academic advising for undeclared students is the
responsibility of Student Academic Resources.
Intended
This category identifies the specialization(s) the
student aspires to enter later in his/her studies at this
University. This declaration may be made at the
discretion of the student up to the 60th successfully
completed credit hour but, at the discretion of the
department responsible for the specialization, a
student may be removed from this designation. A
student so removed would require approval from the
department to reinstate the ‘intended’ designation.
Intended specialization(s) will not be recorded for any
student who has successfully completed 61 or more
credit hours.
This category identifies the specialization of a student
who has been formally approved by the department
or signing authority for that specialization and may be
granted at the discretion of a department or signing
authority.
Academic advising for approved students is the
responsibility of the department offering the approved
specialization(s).
Undecided
This category will be automatically recorded for any
student who, upon the successful completion of the
61st (or higher) credit hour, has neither an approved
nor conditionally approved specialization. A student
who transfers to the University and in the first
semester exceeds 61 credit hours may have one
semester to obtain approved or conditionally
approved status. At the discretion of a faculty, option
A or option B will be applied to resolve the student’s
status.
Option A
In the event that undecided status is applied to a
student’s record (i.e. there is no approved or
conditionally approved program recorded), all
references to degree/diploma objectives and faculty
affiliation will be removed from the student’s record.
Academic advising for undecided students so
designated under option A is the responsibility of
Student Academic Resources, but undecided
students will be encouraged to approach a
department directly, to discuss requirements for
conditional or approved entry to a program or
specialization.
Option B
In the event that undecided status is applied to a
student’s record (i.e. there is no approved or
conditionally approved program recorded) the existing
degree/diploma objectives and faculty affiliation will
be retained but the student will be required to discuss
his/her program objectives with the appropriate
faculty advisor before further registrations are
permitted with this status. The faculty advisor may
allow the student to proceed with undecided status. If,
in the opinion of the faculty advisor, the student’s
program objectives are unacceptable or unrealistic,
the faculty advisor may have the degree/diploma
objectives and faculty affiliation removed from the
student’s record, and the student may be referred to
the Student Academic Resources office for further
advising.
Academic advising for undecided students
designated under option B with degree/diploma
General Information 25
objectives and faculty affiliation is the responsibility of
the appropriate faculty advisor. Academic Advising for
undecided students with no degree/diploma
objectives or faculty affiliation is the responsibility of
Student Academic Resources.
Graduation Requirements
Each candidate for a degree, certificate or diploma
must formally apply to graduate. Details on deadlines
and how to initiate the graduation process are
contained in the Course Timetable and Exam
Schedule published each semester. (See also the
requirements as noted in the individual faculty
sections.)
General Degree
For students enrolled at the University before fall
1991, the minimum requirement for graduation in a
general degree program is a graduation grade point
average of 2.00 calculated on the entire required 120
credit hours used for degree credit, or on the 60 credit
hours of the final four levels for courses used for
degree credit, including the normal 45 credit hours in
upper division courses. The average is computed by
dividing the total number of grade points earned by
the total number of credit hours assigned for those
courses, excluding duplicate courses. A GPA of not
less than 2.00 is required in courses comprising the
major studies.
The minimum requirements for graduation changed
for students who enrolled at the University beginning
in fall 1991 or thereafter. These students must
achieve both a minimum cumulative grade point
average (CGPA) of 2.00 and a minimum grade point
average (GPA) of 2.00 calculated on all upper division
courses. This GPA is calculated by dividing the total
number of grade points earned in upper division
courses by the total number of semester credit hours
assigned for those courses, counting only the higher
grade in courses that have been duplicated.
Individual faculties and departments may, with senate
approval, maintain their own supplementary
graduation requirements; therefore, students are
advised to check individual faculty and departmental
listings in case these have a higher minimum GPA or
other additional requirements for graduation.
Honors Degree
For students enrolled in the University before fall
1991, the minimum requirement for graduation in an
honors degree program is a graduation grade point
average of 3.00. If the graduation grade point average
is 3.50 or higher, the designation ‘first class’ will apply.
The average is calculated on the entire required 132
credit hours in courses passed and used for credit
toward the degree, or on the required final 60 credit
hours of 300 and 400 division courses taken and
used for credit toward the degree, with the exception
of duplicate courses.
The minimum requirement for graduation in an honors
program changed for students who enrolled in the
University beginning in fall 1991 or thereafter. These
students must achieve both a minimum CGPA of 3.00
and a minimum GPA of 3.00 calculated on all upper
division courses taken at the University. This GPA is
calculated by dividing the total number of grade points
earned in upper division courses by the total number
of semester credit hours assigned for those courses,
counting only the higher grade in courses that have
been duplicated. If a student has both an upper
division CGPA and a CGPA of 3.50 or higher, the
designation ‘first class’ applies.
Individual faculties and departments may, with senate
approval, maintain their own supplementary
graduation requirements; therefore, students are
advised to check individual faculty and departmental
listings in case these have a higher minimum GPA or
other additional requirements for graduation.
Convocation
Convocation is held in June and October annually.
Students who fulfill their degree requirements during
the fall or spring semesters may attend the June
ceremony. Graduates of the summer semester
convocate in October. For specific dates, see
“Academic Calendar of Events” on page 7.
Application for Graduation/Granting of
Degree, Certificate or Diploma
wishing to become a regular student at Simon Fraser
University must reapply and meet any admission
requirements in effect at that time.
Academic Year
Trimester
Simon Fraser University offers three full regular
semesters of study within the twelve month calendar
year.
Semester
Following senate approval, each student who has
been awarded a degree, certificate or diploma will
receive a letter of confirmation from the registrar.
The calendar year is divided into three academic
terms of sixteen weeks each, called ‘semesters.’ Each
semester has its own registration and final
examinations. All academic courses in this Calendar
are one semester long or fall into one of the shorter
sessions, such as intersession or summer session.
Students may enter at the beginning of any semester
and attend one, two or three semesters within a
calendar year. By attending continuously, it is possible
for a student who entered from BC high school grade
12 (or equivalent) into the fall 1997 semester to
graduate with a bachelor’s degree at the end of the
spring 2000 semester. Semesters are referred to by
numbers or by names:
Convocation Procedure
Example 1998
In late April, an information package is sent to each
graduand who has been awarded a degree by senate
in the previous fall semester, or who has applied for
graduation in the current spring semester. Graduands
who apply for summer semester graduation are sent
information in late August.
Semester 2
summer, May to August, summer 1998 (1998-2)
Each candidate for a degree, certificate, diploma, or
co-operative education must formally apply for
graduation. Details on how to initiate the graduation
process are contained in the Course Timetable and
Exam Schedule published each semester. See
“Academic Calendar of Events” on page 7 for
deadlines to apply for or to cancel applications to
graduate.
Notification of Award by Senate
Definitions
Students
Simon Fraser University does not classify students as
either full time or part time although there are varying
course load requirements for many types of financial
aid. For further information, see “Financial Assistance
and Awards” on page 48.
Qualifying Student
See the see “Graduate General Regulations” on
page 295.
Regular Student
A regular student is one proceeding to a degree,
diploma or certificate in any faculty. A regular student
may already hold one or more bachelor’s degrees.
Special Audit Student
Students who do not apply for admission to the
University under the general admission regulations
but who wish to audit credit courses may be given
entry as special audit students. Special application
procedures apply; see “Continuing Studies” on
page 210 for complete information.
Special Student
A student already holding a first degree may, as a
special student, register in undergraduate courses
only. Credit for these courses may not be applied
toward completion of any certificate, diploma,
undergraduate or graduate credential at Simon Fraser
University. First time applicants wishing to enrol as
special students and students holding a first degree
who have previously attended Simon Fraser
University should see “Admission and Readmission”
on page 27 Admission and Readmission section.
Visiting and Exchange Students
A visiting student is one who, as a bona fide student
of another accredited institution, is permitted to take
courses for credit only toward a degree, certificate or
diploma at the home institution. Applicants who wish
to become visiting students must meet all
requirements for regular admission. In addition,
students must submit a letter of permission from the
registrar of the home institution. A visiting student
Semester 1
spring, January to April, spring 1998 (1998-1)
Semester 3
fall, September to December, fall 1998 (1998-3)
To increase the accessibility of the summer program
(May-August) to teachers and other members of the
community, the summer semester has been enriched
by two, two-month sessions, namely intersession
(May-June) and summer session (July-August).
These programs are offered in addition to the regular
four month summer semester.
The following illustrates an academic year at SFU.
fall semester: September – December
spring semester: January – April
summer semester: May – August
intersession: May – June
summer session: July – August
Levels
Undergraduates in Canada are traditionally classified
as first year (Freshman), second year (Sophomore),
third year (Junior), or fourth year (Senior) students.
Since ‘year’ does not apply to the trimester system,
the student’s progression is expressed in terms of
levels. ‘Level’ refers to the status of a student’s
program. Each level would normally equal one
semester’s work with a full course load; a typical four
year bachelor’s degree program consists of eight
levels. The first four (i.e., the first 60 credit hours of
credit) are lower divisions. Levels 5 and above are
upper divisions. The term ‘level’ is not used for
graduate programs.
Usually students in levels 1 and 2 take 100 series
courses; those in levels 3 and 4 take 200 series
courses; those beyond level 4 take 300 and 400
series courses.
Courses
Subject
A subject (or ‘discipline’) is a body of knowledge with
arbitrary boundary lines, e.g. philosophy, chemistry or
psychology. For convenience, professors of a subject
are usually grouped together in a department.
Prerequisite
A prerequisite is a requirement needed to register in a
course.
26 General Information
Corequisite
Credit Courses
A corequisite is a course to be taken at the same time
as another course.
These courses carry credit hours of credit and count
toward the total required for a degree, certificate or
diploma, subject to the regulations governing the
credential.
Division
‘Division’ relates to undergraduate courses: those
numbered 001 to 299 inclusive are lower division
courses; those numbered 300 to 499 are upper
division courses. Graduate courses are numbered in
the 500 to 999 series. In certain instances, upper
division courses may be taken in the lower divisions
and lower division courses in the upper divisions.
Refer to specific regulations pertaining to
requirements for degrees, certificates or diplomas.
Numbering of Courses
Credit Hours
Credit hours are assigned to each course; most
courses have three credit hours. A normal course
load for a student in full attendance in a semester is
15 credit hours. Credit hours are also called semester
hours, credits, hours or credit hours of credit.
Requirements for credentials (e.g., degrees, diplomas
and certificates) are partially expressed as credit
hours of credit.
Each subject is divided into courses usually offered in
semester length units, e.g., GEOG 212-3, Geography
of Natural Hazards. Each course is identified by a
subject name followed by a course number, the
number of credit hours of credit, and the course title,
e.g. ENGL 103-3, Introduction to Drama. The first
course number digit represents the level of the
course; the fourth digit indicates the credit hours of
credit. For example, ENGL 103-3 is a first level course
offering three credit hours of credit.
The credit hour weight is shown for each course as
follows.
Lectures, Tutorials and Laboratories
Distance Education Courses
Although there are variations among departments,
instruction in lower division courses combines a large
lecture section with small tutorial groups. The large
lecture enables as many students as possible to hear
the very best teachers. The small tutorial groups
provide more personal instruction and an opportunity
for discussion of readings and lecture material. A
typical course consists of two lectures and one
tutorial a week. Notable exceptions are the sciences
and languages, where a laboratory may be involved.
Subject: Mathematics (MATH)
Course Number: 232
Credit hours: 3
Credit-Free Courses
Four Year General Degree Program
Lower
Levels
Upper
Levels
Credit
Hours
Traditional
Terms
1
15
2
15
1st year/
freshman
3
15
4
15
5
15
6
15
7
15
8
15
2nd year/
sophomore
3rd year/
junior
4th year/
senior
Total 120 credit hours
Four Year Honors Degree Program
These courses carry no credit and do not count
toward a degree, certificate or diploma. At times, they
are termed ‘non-credit courses.’
Many courses are available as distance education
courses. The majority of these are print-based. Some
may also have audio and/or video support.
Increasingly, educational technologies (e.g. computer
conferencing) are being incorporated as courses are
developed and revised. The program parallels the
campus semester system of the University, with the
same sixteen week period for course completion.
Level
Lower
Levels
Upper
Levels
Level
Credit
Hours
Traditional
Terms
1
15
2
15
1st year/
freshman
3
15
4
15
5
18
6
18
7
18
8
18
2nd year/
sophomore
Total 132 credit hours
3rd year/
junior
4th year/
senior