- Do you have a forensic science program?
- If I study criminology can I go on to law school?
- How do I apply for admission to Simon Fraser University?
- Where do I get the SFU Calendar?
- Is there housing on campus?
- How do I find out about financial aid?
- How do I apply for admission to the School of Criminology?
- Will I receive credit at SFU for courses taken elsewhere?
- Can I take upper division Criminology courses if I’m not in the program?
- I am a Criminology Major/Minor but I can’t get into any CRIM courses?
- I want to register in a course but I don’t have one of the prerequisites?
- Can I take Criminology courses by correspondence?
- Once I’m an SFU student can I take a course somewhere else?
- I think I’m ready to graduate. How can I make sure I’m eligible?
- How do I apply to graduate?
- Can I come back and take more courses once I’ve graduated?
- I still have questions. Who should I contact?
Do you have a forensic science program?
The School of Criminology does not have a forensic science program. We do offer two courses in forensics, CRIM 355-3 (The Forensic Sciences) and CRIM 402-3 “Biological Explanations of Crime” as part of our upper division (normally third and fourth year) offerings, and as such are open only to students who have completed all lower division requirements for, and been admitted to, an approved Major/Minor program in the School of Criminology.
If I study Criminology, can I go on to law school?
Law schools welcome applications from anyone who holds a bachelor’s degree, in any discipline, from a recognized Canadian university or foreign equivalent, or who has completed at least three years toward that degree. Admission is decided on a competitive basis by evaluating each applicant’s GPA and LSAT (Law School Admission Test) score. Weighting of the GPA and LSAT score is different for each law school. Some schools also consider extra-curricular activities, community involvement, work experience and personal characteristics of the applicant. Admission decisions are normally made by an Admissions Committee consisting of both faculty members and student representatives, and the Committee may be called upon to review over 1,000 applications for placement in the first year of the LL.B.
Students interested in legal study should make the most of their undergraduate education. While no single curricular path is the ideal preparation for law school, you should choose courses that sharpen analytical reasoning and writing skills. Law schools prefer students who can think critically, reason logically, who speak and write well, and who have some understanding of what shapes human experiences. Your undergraduate degree should be filled with broad, diverse and challenging courses. You can acquire attributes in any number of courses, whether in the humanities, the social sciences, philosophy or the natural sciences. Some law schools may place greater emphasis on certain backgrounds than others; therefore, you should consult with the individual schools for additional information. Research the programs and requirements of individual law schools. Obtain a copy of the LSAT Registration and Information Book, and law school calendars, write to the school’s admission office for further information, and talk to a representative of the school.
How do I apply for admission to SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY?
For information on university admission procedures, online applications and contact information visit the SFU Student Services Student Recruitment web site at www.reg.sfu.ca/ps/admissions.html.
Where do I get the SFU calendar?
As well as providing general information about Simon Fraser University the Calendar contains course descriptions, program requirements and sets out admission procedures, deadlines and fees. The Calendar is available for viewing/downloading from the Office of the Registrar's website where information about how to obtain a copy of the Calendar by mail is also available.
Living on campus can be a rewarding experience. Residence provides a supportive environment, where students can develop new friendships, some of which will last a lifetime, and extend learning and personal growth beyond the walls of the classroom. Simon Fraser University Residences house approximately 1250 students. Students interested in living on campus can choose from several types of accommodation. The deadlines for applications are available on the Web at www.sfu.ca/residences; however, because demand is heavy and because there is some priority based on date of receipt of applications, it is recommended that you apply early (it is NOT necessary to wait for confirmation of acceptance to the University). Please note that there is a $20.00 non-refundable application-processing fee required.
Our Off-Campus Housing Department keeps listings of privately offered accommodation in the communities surrounding the University. If you are interested, you can view the listings at their website, www.sfu.ca/residences/offcampus.html. You may contact Residence & Housing via email at housing@sfu.ca
How do I find out about financial aid?
Students are eligible for a variety of financial assistance programs including entrance or continuing scholarships, bursaries, awards and loans. Please refer to the Financial Assistance web site at www.reg.sfu.ca/FA.
How do I apply for admission to the School of Criminology?
Students are eligible to apply in person to the Undergraduate Advisor for entry into these programs provided they have been granted admission to the university, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.25, and have successfully completed, and received grades for, at least 60 credit hours, which must include via SFU or transfer credit (with a C- or better in each) all lower division courses in Group A (Crim), Group B (Interdisciplinary) and Group C (Elective).
Will I receive credit at SFU for courses taken elsewhere?
Transfer credits are granted to students on admission on the basis of work done at another accredited post-secondary institution; reducing the total number of credits which must be taken at SFU for a degree. Normally, the total transfer credit may not exceed 60 semester hours, and may not include more than 15 hours credit as upper division work. Normally no credit will be awarded for work experience and/or course work taken from a non-degree granting institution. Credit earned towards a previous degree may not be used toward a further degree. The official statement of transfer arrangements negotiated by post-secondary institutions in B.C. (B.C. Transfer Guide) may be viewed on the Internet at www.bccat.bc.ca. Since evaluation of transfer credit is a function of the Office of Admissions, all queries regarding transfer credit should be directed to the Office of Admissions, Office of the Registrar, Simon Fraser University, 888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, telephone (778) 782-3697, Internet www.reg.sfu.ca
Can I take upper division Criminology courses if I am not in the program?
While there is no restriction on access to lower division (100/200 level) Criminology courses, subject to satisfaction of course prerequisite(s), if any, all upper division (300/400 level) Criminology courses, including those offered through Distance Education have registration restrictions in place. To be eligible to register in 300/400 level Criminology students must have an approved upper division program in Criminology, i.e. Major, Joint Major, Minor. Demand for space in upper division courses always exceeds the spaces available in many of the courses – particularly the limited enrollment seminars – and it is simply not possible for the School to waive the registration restrictions in place. The earliest all non-approved students will be considered for registration in 300/400 level Criminology is Week 2 of the semester. Non-approved Criminology students may apply for 300/400 level Criminology courses with space available beginning the first day of Week 2 of the semester, provided they have the appropriate CGPA and course prerequisites (or a course waiver form signed by the Director of the Undergraduate Studies Program). Course waiver forms are available through the School of Criminology's General Office, ASSC1 10125.
I am a Criminology major/minor but I can't get into any Crim courses
The majority of upper division (300/400 level) Criminology courses are three-hour seminars with limited enrollment and which require a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.55 for registration. The balance of our upper division offerings consist of lecture/tutorial and Distance Education courses, for which a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.25 is required. Depending upon your goSFU Release Date it may be that a number of courses have filled by the time your turn at registration comes. It is important that you keep trying, particularly through the first week of the term, since registration statistics show that during this period space becomes available in many upper division Criminology courses that had filled early in the registration process. Further, at the time registration takes place a semester is under way for which final grades are not yet known. You should certainly try again later in the process if your CGPA increased when that semester ended and student records were amended to reflect just-completed credit hours and recalculated grade point averages.
In the meantime, to increase your options prior to visiting the goSFU registration System again, compile a complete list of alternative course choices. Register for what is available from among your choices and remember that the registration System will remain available to you through to the first week of classes, in order for you to make changes to your original selections. During the second and third weeks of classes students will be considered for registration in 300/400 level Criminology with space available. Beginning the first day of Week 2 of the semester, approved and non-approved Criminology students will be considered for the available spaces provided they have the appropriate CGPA and course prerequisite (or a course waiver form signed by the Director of Undergraduate Studies Program). Course waiver forms are available through the School of Criminology's General Office, ASSC1 10125.
Upper Division: Criminology Majors may complete up to twelve (12) credit hours in non-Criminology This works particularly well for students Majoring in Criminology and Minoring in, for example, Psychology or Sociology.
Additional Electives: Many students are unaware that only 48 of the “second 60” of the 120 credit hours required for the degree must be upper division (300/400 level). The remaining twelve (12) hours (called the “Additional Electives”) required for the Major in Criminology can be ANY level (including 100 and/or 200 level!) and in ANY subject.
The availability of General Elective courses increase a student’s options when her/his first choice of upper division Criminology courses is not immediately available, since it affords the student an opportunity to go back and select an introductory course in an area of general interest or to complete a course in partial fulfillment of requirements for a Minor subject.
I want to register in a course but I don't have one of the pre-requisites
Many Criminology courses, particularly those at the 300 and 400 level, have prerequisites in place, usually because the instructor teaching the course feels that a certain grounding in the course’s subject matter is necessary in order for students to be able to derive maximum benefit from it. However, from time to time a student may have achieved the equal of the stated prerequisite through completion of another course at SFU or another post-secondary institution. Students seeking to enter a Criminology course without one of the course’s prerequisites must complete a Prerequisite Waiver Request form, available by contacting the Criminology General Office, ASSC 1 10125 or telephone (778) 780-3213. The form, with up-to-date Unofficial Record attached, is to be submitted to the Undergraduate Advisor for approval at least one week in advance of your scheduled registration date. If approved the prerequisite waiver will be entered on the registration system enabling the student to pass the overnight Prerequisite Check following her/his registration. (Note that if the course is full by the time the student’s registration date arrives the Prerequisite Waiver will remain in place, enabling later attempts at registration by the student.)
Can I take Criminology courses by correspondence?
Students seeking degree credit on a full or part-time basis through distance education are governed by the same regulations, have the same privileges and follow the same admission and registration procedures as on-campus students. Courses are offered each semester during the same time period as regular on-campus courses, i.e. September-December, January-April, May-August. Each student who takes a distance education course receives a complete learning package containing lecture notes and required assignments. The course may also include a supplementary reading guide, audio and/or videotapes, and slides. Most courses also have required textbooks. Some courses may use the Knowledge Network to televise support materials, while others may have optional or mandatory computer components. An increasing number of courses are being designed to include Web-based delivery methods.
Each course is assigned a tutor-marker who is responsible for grading assignments and assisting students with their course work. All tutor-markers have scheduled office hours for telephone consultation. Some courses require a final exam. For students who are unable to attend the scheduled final exam on campus, arrangements must be made with the Distance Education office to have the exam proctored in a location convenient to the student.
For further information and a list of courses currently being offered through distance education, please call the Centre for Distance Education at (778) 782-3524; write to the Centre for Distance Education, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby BC, V5A 1S6; or visit their web site at www.sfu.ca.cde.
Once I'm an SFU student, can I take a course somewhere else?
Once admitted to Simon Fraser University, if you at any point wish to take academic work at another institution for credit toward your program at SFU you must obtain permission in advance from your major department and from the dean of the department’s faculty. A form for this purpose may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. When approval has been granted, the Office of the Registrar will issue a formal LOP (Letter of Permission). Coursework taken in this fashion is subject to the University’s transfer credit policies and limits (a limit of 60 credit hours, of which not more than 15 credit hours may count toward upper division requirements, and a final grade of “C” or higher in each course).
I think I'm ready to graduate. How can I make sure I'm eligible?
All students should take the opportunity at periodic intervals throughout their program to check with their academic advisor(s) to ensure that they are “on track” for the degree. It is vital that before you register for what you expect will be your last semester you have the academic advisor in your Major department and if applicable, your Minor department, look over your SFU Unofficial Record to ensure that all Faculty/Department requirements for your program(s) will have been met upon conclusion of that semester. In Criminology, students may request a “Transcript Check” by completing the Transcript Check Request form obtainable from the Criminology General Office, attaching an up-to-date copy of their Unofficial Record and dropping it off at the General Office for our Academic Advisor. Please allow one week for an official response which may be picked up at the Criminology General Office, ASSC1 10125.
It is a student’s responsibility to indicate intent to graduate. You will not be contacted and asked if you wish to apply to graduate. When you access the goSFU system in order to register for what will be your last semester at the University, signal your intent via the appropriate menu option on the system. The Office of the Registrar will follow up by sending you an application for graduation, showing your credential and program information, which you should ensure is correct. Return your application in person or by mail to the Office of the Registrar, with a cheque for the graduation fee, in accordance with the deadline established by the Office of the Registrar and set out in the Registration Tabloid as well as the University Calendar. You may also pay by Visa or MasterCard. Do not mail cash. The graduation fee is $35 for a degree and $20 for each certificate or diploma. Once you have paid the fee the Office of the Registrar will send your record to your department and faculty for their review and recommendation. Note that a final recommendation will not be made until your grades for the final semester have been reviewed. Therefore you are advised to clear up any Deferred final grades as quickly as possible in order that your graduation is not delayed until a subsequent semester.
As soon as it can be confirmed that all degree/program requirements have been met a recommendation for your graduation will be sent to the University Senate and you will be sent a letter of congratulation immediately after the Senate meeting. You will subsequently receive from the Office of the Registrar information concerning the appropriate Convocation Ceremony (there are two, and depending upon the semester in which you completed graduation requirements you will be invited to the ceremony held at the beginning of June or October). Information for each convocation is also available at www.reg.sfu.ca/convocation.
Can I come back and take more courses once I've graduated?
Certainly, but NOT on your old file! Once Senate has conferred your degree your file is sealed. If you subsequently apply for readmission to SFU you will be treated as a new student on a new program and cannot improve or expand your original degree by retaking courses to improve your graduation GPA (Grade Point Average), by adding a Minor or by converting the Major you graduated with to an Honours.
Given the above, if you are unsure as to how to proceed don’t hesitate to discuss the matter with our academic advisor. For instance, if you have an offer of employment dependent upon your graduation with a Bachelor of Arts degree but wish to retain the option of coming back at some point and perhaps doing an Honours in Criminology it may be possible for you to obtain a letter from the School verifying that you have completed all requirements for the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology and would be recommended for graduation were you to apply. At any point thereafter you have the option of reactivating your file and returning to SFU as a continuing student or, if your plans have changed and you wish to leave the degree program as is, contact the Office of the Registrar and make application to graduate in accordance with their deadline for the appropriate semester.
I still have questions. Who should I contact?
For further information please contact our Undergraduate Advisor as follows:
Philip Jong, Senior Undergraduate Advisor
School of Criminology
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
Direct Telephone: (778) 782-3645
FAX: (778) 782-4040
Email: philjong@sfu.ca