ADVISING FAQs

WQB are courses required for your degree, to ensure a well-rounded education. You can have a look on the WQB website for your information about what WQB is.

Geography majors have breadth exemptions.

If you are pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) with a Major in Geography, Human Geography or Urban Worlds, you may use any  Geography course labelled B-Sci to fulfill a B-Sci requirement.

If you are pursuing a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Physical Geography or Geographic Information Science, you may use any  Geography course labelled B-Soc to fulfill a B-Soc requirement and any Geography course labelled B-Hum to fulfill a B-Hum requirement.

If you are a student in the multidisciplinary Bachelor of Environment (BEnv) Global Environmental Systems (GES) program, any breadth-designated Geography course you take may be used to fulfill the corresponding breadth requirement (e.g. B-Sci, B-Soc or B-Hum).

To look at what WQB courses are available, you can go here.

The courses on the APR is based on Senate approval and the SFU Academic Calendar. If a course is created after your requirement term (the term you declared your major, minor or certificate) the course may not be included on your APR. It is best to look at our checklists in Plan Your Degree for a better look at what courses you can take. These are updated regularly for you.

As soon as possible! The requirements may change from when you started the credential until you decide to declare. To keep the requirements you want, declare as soon as possible. Once you are ready to declare, email us at geogadv@sfu.ca (include your student ID number) or pop-in during our advising hours and we can discuss this with you.

Normally, if you are a current student, at least a 2.0 GPA. However, we encourage taking 1-2 introductory courses in the major to ensure you want to change. If you want recommendations and want to make a plan, email us at geogadv@sfu.ca (please include your student ID number) or pop-in during our advising hours and we can work together.

Normally, if you are a current student, at least a 2.0 GPA. We do ask you take 1-2 courses in the certificate or minor before declaration to ensure you are serious about completion. You can email geogadv@sfu.ca and include your student number for clarification of your specific requirements.

If you are outside of SFU and want to complete an Urban Studies or Geographic Information Science (GIS) Certificate, you will need to apply to admissions.

You can declare a minor or certificate by emailing geogadv@sfu.ca with your student number, or see us in our drop-in advising hours.

If you don't have the prerequisite for a Geography course, you will need to fill out the prerequisite waiver form. Please allow up to 10 business days for processing. Advisors will contact you if you are successful or not.

We do not accept prerequisite waivers for GEOG 304: Geography of Wine.

Yes! Many of our students participate in Co-operative Education (Co-op) for paid work experience. Co-op provides structured support in the job search, along with connections to a wide network of employers.

While work terms generally take place in the second or third year, interested students are encouraged to connect with a Co-op Advisor in their second year of study, before reaching 80 units. Transfer students need to apply within their first year at SFU. 

Yes! Many of our students do an honours semester at the end of their studies. Honours is available for all of our majors.

You will need to find a Geography professor who would be open to supervising you. Once you have a supervisor, please contact geogadv@sfu.ca for an honours worksheet that you will fill out with your supervisor. You will then submit it to the Geography advisors who will enroll you.