Purpose

The First–year University Transfer Environmental Studies Certificate provides students with the opportunity to explore options and gain success at the first-year level of university studies. Students will gain transfer credits for access into second year of the SFU Bachelor of Environment program majors: Environmental Resource Management and Global Environmental Systems, and the SFU Bachelor of Science Environmental Science major. It prepares students for a diversity of other university or post-secondary programs of their choice. Students who have completed all program requirements must contact the Registrar’s Office to apply for graduation. For second-year transfer agreements with other public, post-secondary colleges, institutes and universities, please see our website: www.vcc.ca.

Students will

• increase readiness for degree-level study
• gain advanced standing into specified university programs through signed articulation (transfer) agreements
• gain transfer credits for access into the second year of the SFU environmental programs: Environmental Resource Management (A), or Global Environment Systems (B), Environmental Science (C), or other post-secondary programs (D)

Duration

The time limit on completion is sixteen months for assured admission to SFU. The time limit on completion is three years for competitive admission to SFU.

The maximum allowable time for students to complete the program is three years.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

1. Incorporate critical thinking into global interdisciplinary processes and decision making.

2. Collaborate with peers by participating in research projects and laboratories.

3. Critically interpret literature and determine the nature and extent of information required.

4. Apply the appropriate presentation style to produce clear and accurate written, verbal, and visual communication for public individuals, professionals in industry/NGOs, scientists, and politicians.

5. Utilize accepted research process and abilities in all professional enquiries, communications, and scholarship.

6. Assimilate scientific and quantitative methodology as well as analytical skills for entrance into second year science courses.

7. Apply problem-solving techniques in biology, math, geography, global environmental change, management, and leadership.

Admission Requirements

Program Requirements

Course Credits (Option A: BEnv - Environmental Resource Management)

Successful completion of a minimum of 35 credits of first-year university transfer courses articulated to SFU courses as per the British Columbia Council on Admission and Transfer Guide (BCCAT) is required for completion of the certificate. Credit distribution in the following courses is required:

Plan of Study Grid

Term One		Credits
BIOL 1100	Biology 1	4
ENGL 1100 or ENGL 1101	English 1 or English	3
GEOG 1100	Introducing Human Geography	3
GEOG 1110	Earth Systems	3
	Credits	13
Term Two
BIOL 1200	Biology 2	4
INDG 1100	First Nations & Indigenous Stu	3
GEOG 2241	Social Geography	3
EVSC 1100	Intro to Environmental Science	3
	Credits	13
Term Three
BIOL 2104	Introduction to Ecology	3
MATH 1111	Introduction to Statistics	3
REMA 1100	Global Change	3
	Credits	9
	Total Credits	35

Course Credits (Option B: BEnv - Global Environmental Systems)

Successful completion of a minimum of 35 credits of first-year university transfer courses articulated to SFU courses as per the British Columbia Council on Admission and Transfer Guide (BCCAT) is required for completion of the certificate. Credit distribution in the following courses is required: 

Plan of Study Grid

Term One		Credits
BIOL 1100	Biology 1	4
ENGL 1100 or ENGL 1101	English 1 or English	3
GEOG 1100	Introducing Human Geography	3
GEOG 1110	Earth Systems	3
	Credits	13
Term Two
BIOL 1200	Biology 2	4
SOCI 1100 or ECON 1200 or INDG 1100	Sociology 1: Introductory Sociology or Macroeconomics or First Nations & Indigenous Stu	3
GEOG 2241	Social Geography	3
EVSC 1100	Intro to Environmental Science	3
	Credits	13
Term Three
BIOL 2104	Introduction to Ecology	3
REMA 1100	Global Change	3
MATH 1111	Introduction to Statistics	3
	Credits	9
	Total Credits	35

Course Credits (Option C: BSc – Environmental Science)

Successful completion of a minimum of 38 credits of first-year university transfer courses articulated to SFU courses as per the British Columbia Council on Admission and Transfer Guide (BCCAT) is required for completion of the certificate. Credit distribution in the following courses is required:

Plan of Study Grid

Term One		Credits
BIOL 1100	Biology 1	4
CHEM 1121	Chemistry 1	4
MATH 1100	Calculus 1	3
PHYS 1100	Physics 1	4
	Credits	15
Term Two
BIOL 1200	Biology 2	4
CHEM 1223	Chemistry 2	4
EVSC 1100	Intro to Environmental Science	3
PHYS 1200	Physics 2	4
	Credits	15
Term Three
ENGL 1100 or ENGL 1101	English 1 or English	3
MATH 1200	Calculus 2	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	36

Option A: SFU Bachelor of Environment (BEnv) Degree Major: Environmental Resource Management Second-Year Transfer

Assured Admission Pathway

Assured admission under this pathway requires completion of the VCC Environmental Studies Certificate with a VCC GPA of 2.75 (calculated based on the best attempt for each course). All credits must be obtained within sixteen months. In addition, for at least two of the terms at VCC students must meet a minimum course load of 12 credits. The following courses must be completed as part of this pathway: MATH 1111 Introduction to Statistics, BIOL 1100 Biology 1, BIOL 1200 Biology 2, BIOL 2104 Introduction to Ecology, ENGL 1100 English 1 or ENGL 1101 English, INDG 1100 First Nations & Indigenous Stu, GEOG 1100 Introducing Human Geography, GEOG 1110 Earth Systems, GEOG 2241 Social Geography, EVSC 1100 Intro to Environmental Science, and REMA 1100 Global Change.

The following core courses must be taken at VCC: 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
BIOL 1100	Biology 1	4
BIOL 1200	Biology 2	4
INDG 1100	First Nations & Indigenous Stu	3
GEOG 1100	Introducing Human Geography	3
GEOG 1110	Earth Systems	3
EVSC 1100	Intro to Environmental Science	3
BIOL 2104	Introduction to Ecology	3
REMA 1100	Global Change	3

Other (non-core) courses in the certificate taken at post-secondary institutions other than VCC may be transferred to VCC and used towards completion of the VCC/SFU pathway certificate, providing those courses transfer independently to SFU and receive the same credit at SFU as does the VCC pathway course.

Competitive Admission Pathway

VCC students who do not meet the assured admission pathway criteria will be considered for entry to the SFU environment programs using the existing college transfer criteria for SFU admission (currently 24 credits of transferable course work plus meeting the GPA set for that term of admission), plus program-specific requirements.

Applicants from both pathways must meet the general SFU English language and quantitative admission requirements.

Option B: SFU Bachelor of Environment (BEnv) Degree Major: Global Environmental Systems Second-Year Transfer

Assured Admission Pathway

Assured admission under this pathway requires completion of the VCC Environmental Studies Certificate with a VCC CGPA of 2.75 (calculated based on the best attempt for each course). All credits must be obtained within sixteen months. In addition, for at least two of the terms at VCC students must meet a minimum course load of 12 credits. The following courses must be completed as part of this pathway:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
MATH 1111	Introduction to Statistics	3
BIOL 1100	Biology 1	4
BIOL 1200	Biology 2	4
BIOL 2104	Introduction to Ecology	3
ENGL 1100	English 1	3
or ENGL 1101	English
GEOG 1100	Introducing Human Geography	3
GEOG 1110	Earth Systems	3
GEOG 2241	Social Geography	3
EVSC 1100	Intro to Environmental Science	3
REMA 1100	Global Change	3
And one of:		3
SOCI 1100	Sociology 1: Introductory Sociology
ECON 1200	Macroeconomics
INDG 1100	First Nations & Indigenous Stu

The following core courses must be taken at VCC:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
BIOL 1100	Biology 1	4
BIOL 1200	Biology 2	4
GEOG 1100	Introducing Human Geography	3
GEOG 1110	Earth Systems	3
GEOG 2241	Social Geography	3
EVSC 1100	Intro to Environmental Science	3
REMA 1100	Global Change	3
BIOL 2104	Introduction to Ecology	3

Other (non-core) courses in the certificate that are taken at post-secondary institutions other than VCC may be transferred to VCC and used towards completion of the VCC/SFU pathway certificate, providing those courses transfer independently to SFU and receive the same credit at SFU as does the VCC pathway course.

Competitive Admission Pathway

VCC students who do not meet the assured admission pathway criteria will be considered for entry to the SFU Environment programs using the existing college transfer criteria for admission (currently 24 credits of transferable work plus meeting the GPA set for that term of admission), plus program-specific requirements.

Applicants from both pathways must meet the general SFU English language and quantitative admission requirements.

The required GPA for transfer to other institutions may vary based on transfer agreements with other institutions.

Option C: SFU Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree Major: Environmental Science Second-Year

Assured Admission Pathway

Assured admission under this pathway requires completion of the VCC Environmental Studies Certificate with a VCC CGPA of 2.75 (calculated based on the best attempt for each course). All credits must be obtained within sixteen months. In addition, for at least two of the terms at VCC students must meet a minimum course load of 12 credits. The following courses must be completed as part of this pathway:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
MATH 1100	Calculus 1	3
MATH 1200	Calculus 2	3
BIOL 1100	Biology 1	4
BIOL 1200	Biology 2	4
ENGL 1100	English 1	3
or ENGL 1101	English
EVSC 1100	Intro to Environmental Science	3
CHEM 1121	Chemistry 1	4
CHEM 1223	Chemistry 2	4
PHYS 1100	Physics 1	4
PHYS 1200	Physics 2	4

The following core courses must be taken at VCC:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
BIOL 1100	Biology 1	4
BIOL 1200	Biology 2	4
EVSC 1100	Intro to Environmental Science	3
ENGL 1100	English 1	3
or ENGL 1101	English

Other (non-core) courses in the certificate that are taken at post-secondary institutions other than VCC may be transferred to VCC and used towards completion of the VCC/SFU pathway, providing those courses transfer independently to SFU and receive the same credit at SFU as does the VCC pathway course.

Competitive Admission Pathway

VCC students who do not meet the assured admission pathway criteria will be considered for entry to the SFU Environmental Science programs using the existing college transfer criteria for admission (currently 24 credits of transferable work plus meeting the GPA set for that term of admission), plus program-specific requirements.

Applicants from both pathways must meet the general SFU English language and quantitative admission requirements.

The required GPA for transfer to other institutions may vary based on transfer agreements with other institutions.

Option D

Speak with Advising/Counselling/Department Head for support in identifying other post-secondary program transfer options.

Evaluation of Student Learning

Evaluation of the courses is determined by the instructor and may include a combination of practical assignments, projects, theory exams and/or practical exams.

Credential

VCC first-year University Transfer first year Environmental Studies Certificate

Successful completion of a minimum of 35 credits (Option A) or 35 credits (Option B) or 36 credits (Option C) of university transfer articulated first year courses as per the British Columbia Council on Admission and Transfer Guide (BCCAT) is required for completion of the certificate.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

For students attempting the assured pathway to Simon Fraser University, PLAR is not allowed, as per the agreement with SFU. 

Transcript of Achievement

The evaluation of learning outcomes for each student is prepared by the instructor and reported to the Student Records Department at the completion of semesters.

The transcript typically shows a letter grade for each course. The grade point equivalent for a course is obtained from letter grades as follows:

Grading Standard

Transcript of Achievement

Grade	Percentage	Description	Grade Point Equivalency
A+	90-100		4.33
A	85-89		4.00
A-	80-84		3.67
B+	76-79		3.33
B	72-75		3.00
B-	68-71		2.67
C+	64-67		2.33
C	60-63		2.00
C-	55-59		1.67
D	50-54	Minimum Pass	1.00
F	0-49	Failing Grade	0.00
S	70 or greater	Satisfactory – student has met and mastered a clearly defined body of skills and performances to required standards	N/A
U		Unsatisfactory – student has not met and mastered a clearly defined body of skills and performances to required standards	N/A
I		Incomplete	N/A
IP		Course in Progress	N/A
W		Withdrawal	N/A
Course Standings
R		Audit. No Credits	N/A
EX		Exempt. Credit Granted	N/A
TC		Transfer Credit	N/A

Grade Point Average (GPA)

1. The course grade points shall be calculated as the product of the course credit value and the grade value.

2. The GPA shall be calculated by dividing the total number of achieved course grade points by the total number of assigned course credit values. This cumulative GPA shall be determined and stated on the Transcript at the end of each Program level or semester.

3. Grades shall be assigned to repeated courses in the same manner as courses taken only once. For the purpose of GPA calculation of grades for repeated courses, they will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.