1st & 2nd year @ Surrey

Explore Science courses at SFU Surrey

It can be tough to figure out what courses to take in your first or second year of university – especially if you’re undecided about your program. To help make these decisions a little easier, we’ve compiled some course timetables specifically for our Surrey campus by program. You can complete a full first year at SFU Surrey and – depending on your program and course load – second- and third-year courses, too.

1st Year at Surrey

You’ve accepted your offer, and now your next big decisions are all about enrolling in classes. What should you take, and when? We’ve got some tips to help guide you through enrolling in your first-year courses.

  • During the first week of enrollment, Science students get priority for enrollment in program-required Science courses.
  • Some courses may require prerequisites, which are offered in specific terms, so it's important to check that you're taking courses in the right order or the right term.
    • If you have not completed Chemistry 12 (min. 73% or better) or Physics 12 (min. 60% or better), you may need to complete the SFU equivalent course - if required for your program.
  • Math is required for every Science program, and we recommend taking it in your very first term.
  • In Surrey, physics is taught in a studio laboratory that links theory with practice. You’ll work in collaborative groups in a technology-rich environment, which helps you retain what you’ve learned better. If you prefer a traditional lecture-only format, consider enrolling in physics courses at the Burnaby campus.

Sample Fall 2024 Science@Surrey Timetables

The following course timetables will help you plan your year. Note: If you have AP and IP transfer credits, those credits may alter these recommendations.

We advise you to begin your studies with 3 to 4 courses in your first term, although you may take up to 5. Before enrolling in your first Fall term, book a meeting with the Surrey Science Advisor to discuss your goals and course requirements.

For Students Interested in Actuarial Science (ACMA)

Fall Spring
CMPT 120-3 BUS 251-3
ECON 103-4 or 105-4 can be taken in any order CMPT 125-3
MATH 150-4 or 151-3 MATH 152-3
ACMA 101-3 Burnaby campus evening course MATH 232-3
  STAT 270-3

For Students Interested in Behavourial Neuroscience (BNEU)

Fall Spring 
BISC 101-4 BPK 142-3
CHEM 121-4 if 73%+ in Chemistry 12, CHEM 111 if not CHEM 122-2 if 121 taken in Fall
MATH 154-3 MATH 155-3
PHYS 100-3 (if no Physics 12 with 60%+) PHYS 101-3
PSYC 100-3 or PSYC 102-3 PSYC 100-3 or PSYC 102-3

For Students Interested in Biological Sciences (BISC) or Molecular Biology & Biochemistry (MBB)

Fall Spring
BISC 101-4 BISC 102-4
CHEM 121-4 if 73%+ in Chemistry 12, CHEM 111 if not CHEM 122-2 if 121 taken in Fall (+ CHEM 126-2 for MBB majors)
MATH 154-3 MATH 155-3 recommended for MBB majors
PHYS 100-3 if no Physics 12 with 60%+ PHYS 101-3 
PHYS 140-4 if not taking 100 PHYS 141-4 recommended if MBB major and 140 taken in Fall
CMPT 120-3 for MBB majors CMPT 120-3 for MBB majors
  STAT 201-3

For Students Interested in Biological Physics (BIPH)

Fall Spring
BISC 101-4 BISC 102-4
CHEM 121-4 if 73%+ in Chemistry 12, CHEM 111 if not CHEM 122-2 if CHEM 121 taken in Fall
CMPT 120-3 recommended, not required CMPT 120-3 recommended, not required
MATH 150-4 or 151-3 MATH 152-3
PHYS 140-4 PHYS 141-4

For Students Interested in Biomedical Physiology (BIF) or Kinesiology (KIN)

Fall Spring
BISC 101-4 BISC 102-4 for BIPH only
CHEM 121-4 if 73% in Chemistry 12, CHEM 111 if not CHEM 122-2 if 121 taken in Fall
BPK 110-3 for KIN only, offering dependent BPK 142-3
MATH 154-3 MATH 155-3
PHYS 100-3 if no Physics 12 with 60%+ PHYS 101-3
PHYS 140-4 PHYS 141-4 if 140 taken in Fall

For Students Interested in Chemistry (CHEM) or Chemical Physics (CHPH)

Fall Spring
CHEM 121-4 if 73%+ in Chemistry 12, CHEM 111 if not CHEM 122-2 and 126-2 if 121 taken in Fall
CMPT 120-3 not required CHEM, recommended for CHPH MATH 152-3
MATH 150-4 or 151-3 MATH 232-3
PHYS 140-4 PHYS 141-4

For Students Interested in Earth Sciences (EASC)

Fall Spring
EASC 101-3 EASC 101-3 if not taken in Fall
CHEM 121-4 if 73%+ in Chemistry 12, CHEM 111 if not CHEM 122-2 and 126-2 if 121 taken in Fall 
MATH 150-4 or 151-3 MATH 152-3
PHYS 140-4 PHYS 141-4
  STAT 201-3 or 270-3

FOR UNDECIDED STUDENTS

Fall Spring
BISC 101-4 BISC 102-4
  BPK 142-3
CHEM 121-4 if 73%+ in Chemistry 12 or CHEM 111-4 if not CHEM 122-2 (and 126-2) if CHEM 121 taken in Fall
MATH 150-4 or 151-3 or 154-3 strongly recommended MATH 152-3 or 155-3
PHYS 100-3 if no Physics 12 with 60%+ PHYS 101-3
PHYS 140-4 if not taking 100 PHYS 141-4 if 140 taken in Fall
EASC 101-3 EASC 101-3 if not taken in Fall

FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN GENERAL SCIENCE DOUBLE MINOR

Fall Spring
BISC 101-4 BISC 102-4 if 101 not taken in Fall
CHEM 121-4 (if 73%+ in Chemistry 12) or CHEM 111-4 CHEM 122-2 and 126-2 if CHEM 121 taken in Fall
EASC 101-3 EASC 101-3 if not taken in Fall
BPK 110-3 or 140-3, offering dependent BPK 142-3 if BPK options not taken in Fall
MATH 150-4 or 151-3 or 154-3 MATH 152-3 or 155-3
PHYS 100-3 if no Physics 12 with 60%+ PHYS 101-3 if 100 taken in Fall
PHYS 140-4 if not taking 100 PHYS 141-4 if 140 taken in Fall

FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN PHYSICS (PHYS) OR APPLIED PHYSICS (APPH)

Fall Spring
CHEM 121-4 (if 73%+ in Chemistry 12) or CHEM 111-4 CHEM 122-2 and 126-2 if CHEM 121 taken in Fall
MATH 150-4 or MATH 151-3 MATH 152-3
PHYS 140-4 PHYS 141-4
  MATH 232-3

FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN MATHEMATICS (MATH), MATHEMATICS & COMPUTING SCIENCE (MACM) OPERATIONS RESEARCH (ORES) OR APPLIED MATHEMATICS (APMA)

Fall Spring
CMPT 120-3 or 130-3 CMPT 125-3 or 135-3
MACM 101-3 for MACM, MATH, & ORES only MACM 201-3 for MACM, MATH, & ORES only
MATH 150-4 or 151-3 MATH 152-3
Science not PHYS 100/BISC 100/CHEM 110/111 APMA & MATH only MATH 232-3
  STAT 270-3

FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN STATISTICS OR DATA SCIENCE

Fall Spring
MATH 150-4 or 151-3 BUS 272-3 for DATA only
CMPT 120-3 MATH 152-3
STAT 180-1 Burnaby campus evening course for STAT only CMPT 125-3
DATA 180-1 Burnaby campus evening course for DATA only MATH 232-3
MACM 101-3 for DATA only MACM 201-3 for DATA only

If you don't see course examples for your area of interest, please contact Nadia Williams, Surrey Science Advisor, for more advice.

2nd year at Surrey

There are fewer second-year course options at Surrey than first-year, so you’ll need to consider this when planning your year - you may want to take some courses at the Burnaby campus. We recommend planning for one hour of travel time between all campuses.

If you're in a Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Mathematics and Computing Science (MACM), or Operations Research program, you may be able to complete most of your second-year courses - and even some third- and fourth-year courses - at Surrey. Check Math's course timetables for the latest Surrey course information.

Examples of 200-level Science courses available at Surrey campus:

  • MATH 232-3 Applied Linear Algebra
  • MATH 251-3 Calculus III
  • MACM 201-3 Discrete Mathematics II
  • STAT 201-3 Statistics for the Life Sciences
  • STAT 270-3 Introduction to Probability and Statistics

Select third- and fourth-year MATH courses are also available.

Have questions?

Nadia Williams, Surrey Science Advisor and Recruiter

science_advisor@sfu.ca (preferred)
778.782.7486
Advising webpage

Contact Nadia if:

  • You're a Surrey Science student,
  • An Undeclared Science student over 60 units,
  • In or interested in the General Science Double Minor program,
  • Or a transfer student from another SFU Faculty