FAQ

Are SCD courses offered both online and in class?
Yes, the four core courses, SCD 201, SCD 301, SCD 401, and SCD 403 are each offered two times per calendar year, once online and once in class. Please refer to the course package which can be found in Forms for more info.

What are the differences between the Certificate and Post-Baccalaureate Diploma Programs?
For those with a limited financial, time and/or labour budget, the SCD Certificate is the better choice. It requires 19 credits, with four credits being electives, and can be completed in two to three SFU semesters. For students who are uncertain about whether to take the PBD or the Certificate, we recommend keeping both doors open by: (a) taking SCD 201-3 first, (b) completing the required SCD courses and no more than one elective; then, (c) re-evaluating their needs at that time, and (d) switching to the Certificate program if it proves a better fit at that point. More information can be found in the Certificate/Diploma Comparison Chart which can be found on the Forms page.

What are the pre-approved electives I can take for the certificate?
You can find a list of these electives in the pre-approved electives document which can be found on the Forms page.

Can you take SCD 201 and SCD 301 at the same time?
Yes.

Can I combine two 3-credit lower division pre-approved electives that I’ve taken during my undergraduate studies to cover the required 4 credits for the certificate?
Yes: students in the Certificate may take lower division courses as electives. Students in the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma may not count lower division courses.

Are the students who enroll in Sustainable Community Development solely undergraduates?
No. Both the certificate and diploma programs enroll students of varying backgrounds and ages. It is common for undergraduates to complement their bachelor’s degree with the certificate, however it is even more common for professionals, retired individuals or other interested citizens to take the Certificate, Diploma or one of the Professional Programs as a form of career ‘upgrade’ or out of personal interests. We find this is a unique characteristic of our program and the range of interests, ages and backgrounds creates a dynamic learning environment. Many students who have not started their career yet have commented on the benefit of learning alongside professionals with real-world experience and knowledge, and many professionals coming back to school have commented on the benefit of learning alongside students who have sincere enthusiasm and an academic work ethic.

As a grad student, can I take SCD courses under the Western Deans Agreement?
Graduate students, including those from other universities, are welcome to take SCD undergraduate courses, providing there is room left after the undergraduate students register. However, this requires advance planning on the part of the grad student because undergraduate courses are not organized in the same fashion as graduate ones.

Please see the memo to Grad Students about the WDA process and deadlines.

How many courses should you take in the first semester if you are returning to university after a long hiatus?
Please visit the library link for mature students here.

What areas of study do most undergraduate students taking the certificate or diploma come from?
We see students from a range of disciplines enter our programs and we are open to all. In the past, we have accepted students with majors in Geography, Business, Economics, Communication, Canadian Studies, History, Political Science, General Studies. Sustainable Community Development is inter-disciplinary in nature so if your area of study is not listed here, it will still likely relate!

How much group work will I have to do?
All SCD courses, including the online equivalents, are founded on group work. Class sizes are smaller (under 30 students) and are run as seminars with a facilitator rather than a professor. The idea is to learn with and from each other as we are all members of various communities and each have a wealth of experience to share. Even if you think you are “just a student” with limited work and volunteer experience, we guarantee you have valuable knowledge and insights to share with fellow SCD students.

What kind of skills will I acquire after this program? Will I be qualified as a planner?
You will not receive a formal planning qualification however you will gain many community-engagement skills, including research and interviewing. You will also learn first hand about the dynamics of community organization as distinct from corporate organization. There are many opportunities to work directly with community groups by engaging in research on their behalf, or interviewing them on their experiences. In the upper division courses, you will create a business plan for a social enterprise (an organization that has a mission other than making a profit) and you will write a grant proposal – two skill sets that are not traditionally offered in other social science programs.

What sort of work can I pursue with a certificate or diploma in Sustainable Community Development?
The field of sustainable community development is very diverse. Our graduates work in the non-profit sector, including co-operatives,
community-based organizations and social enterprises, in consulting, and at all levels of government. One required course for the PDB is the practicum (SCD 404). You may also take this as an elective in the Certificate. This course, as well as the project work in other courses, can open the doorway to employment. Other graduates use their SCD education as a stepping stone to graduate and professional study in a variety of fields, including planning and public policy.

Who are the course facilitators? Are they professors?
Some course facilitators are professors who hold Masters and Ph.Ds in related fields. However many are practitioners too, bringing their professional experiences to the classroom and contributing with real-world examples. You will also be exposed to many guest speakers in SCD courses, all of which are involved in SCD in some form, be it a representative from a credit union, the founder of a co-operative, or a policy maker (to name just a few). Guest speakers bring depth and context to the SCD learning environment.

What is the difference between SCD and Urban Studies?
Urban Studies is a relatively new Graduate program at SFU - the program offers the Master of Urban Studies and the Graduate Diploma in Urban Studies. You can find out more about the program by visiting www.sfu.ca/urban/.

What does it cost?
SFU tuition is based per unit. The The Certificate in Sustainable Community Development is 19 units and the Post Baccalaureate Diploma is 30 units.
The per unit fees are the same for courses taken in-class or by distance education. However, in addition to unit course fees, mandatory supplementary course fees may be assessed for individual courses in addition to basic tuition and are deemed necessary for successful completion of the course. Mandatory supplementary course fees cover additional costs associated with, for example, special costs/handling involved in distance education courses.
You can find additional information on tuition and student fees here.

Additional Questions?
Email us at: scdadmin@sfu.ca