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ENGINEERING SCIENCE UNDERGRADUATES

Pre-approved Electives

All SFU Engineering students are required to fulfill two types of requirements designed to introduce you to concepts that are outside of the field of engineering:

  1. Complementary electives and Science Electives are required for all engineering programs in Canada.
  2. Writing, Quantitative and Breadth (WQB) requirements  are courses required by all students graduating from SFU, and have been adapted for Engineering students.

Complementary electives + WQB REQUIREMENT: BREADTH HUMANITIES (B-HUM) & SOCIAL SCIENCES (B-SOC)

Computer, Electronics, Systems & Physics

Students in these program options must take 3 courses:

  1. ECON 103 (B-Soc)
  2. A B-Soc or B-Hum course from SFU list of Breadth (B) courses
  3. A course which meets the following criteria:

Biomedical

Students in this program option are recommended to take GERO 300 (B-Soc). Students who have already completed GERO 300 must take the following courses to meet the complementary elective requirement:

  1. ECON 103 (B-Soc)
  2. Any 3-unit B-Hum course from the SFU list of Breadth (B) courses

Students (on the new curriculum) who have NOT yet taken GERO 300 can appeal to substitute this course for a 3 unit B-Hum course* as indicated in point 3 below.  Students granted a substitution must take the following courses to meet the complementary elective and breadth requirements:

  1. ECON 103 - NOTE: A minimum grade of C- is required
  2. Any 3 unit course from the SFU approved B-Hum list
  3. Substitute GERO 300 with any 3 unit course from the SFU approved B-Hum list*

* This option requires an appeal (https://coursys.sfu.ca/forms/ensc-appeal-form/). 

WQB REQUIREMENT: SCIENCES (B-SCI)

Computer

Students in this program option must completed:

  • 1 Approved Science Elective course

See the list here: Pre-approved Science Electives

biomedical

Students in this program option must complete:

  • 2 Approved Science Elective Courses

This requirement is satisfied by two of: BPK 201, BPK 208, and BPK 308 (which are all required for this option and included in the regular curriculum).

Electronics, Systems & Physics

Students in these program options are not required to take additional science electives.

WQB REQUIREMENT: OTHER

University Writing Intensive Requirement:

  • Lower Division: ENSC 100W & ENSC 105W 
  • Upper Division: ENSC 405W

University Quantitative Requirement:

  • Satisfied by the math courses required by the program.

Other University Breadth Requirements:

  • 6 units of B-Undesignated: satisfied by Chemistry, Computing Science, Math and Physics courses required by the program.

PRE-APPROVED SCIENCE ELECTIVES

Courses in this category must satisfy the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) definition of Natural Sciences as follows: 

"The basic (natural) sciences component of the curriculum must include elements of physics and chemistry; elements of life sciences and earth sciences may also be included in this category."

The following is a list of pre-approved Science Elective courses. Note that there are several advanced courses on the list which may have pre-requisites. Students interested in taking a science course that does not appear on this list should contact the Chair of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and obtain their approval in writing before proceeding with the course.

The courses in brackets correspond to the "equivalents" in the old chemistry curriculum that also satisfy the science elective requirement. Course A + Course B implies that both courses taken together satisfy the requirement for ONE elective.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (BISC)

  • BISC 100-4 Introduction to Biology
  • BISC 101-4 General Biology
  • BISC 102-4 General Biology
  • BISC 202-3 Genetics
  • BISC 204-3 Introduction to Ecology
  • BISC 300-3 Evolution
  • BISC 302-3 Genetic Analysis
  • BISC 303-4 Microbiology
  • BISC 304W-3 Animal Ecology
  • BISC 305-3 Animal Physiology
  • BISC 306-4 Invertebrate Biology
  • BISC 313-3 Environmental Toxicology: A Mechanistic Perspective
  • BISC 316-4 Vertebrate Biology
  • BISC 317-3 Insect Biology
  • BISC 326-3 Biology of Algae and Fungi
  • BISC 329-4 Introduction to Experimental Techniques
  • BISC 333-3 Developmental Biology
  • BISC 337-4 Plant Biology
  • BISC 366-3 Plant Physiology
  • BISC 404W-3 Plant Ecology
  • BISC 405-3 Neurobiology
  • BISC 407-3 Population Dynamics
  • BISC 410-3 Behavorial Ecology
  • BISC 414-3 Limnology
  • BISC 419-3 Wildlife Biology
  • BISC 422-3 Population Genetics
  • BISC 430-3 Microbe-Plant Interactions
  • BISC 432-3 Chemical Pesticides and the Environment
  • BISC 434-3 Paleoecology and Palynology
  • BISC 435-3 Introduction to Pest Management
  • BISC 445-3 Environmental Physiology of Animals
  • BISC 455-3 Endocrinology
  • BISC 457-3 Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

BIOMEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY & KINESIOLOGY (BPK)

  • BPK 105-3 Fundamentals of Human Structure and Functions
  • BPK 110-3 Human Nutrition: Current Issues
  • BPK 142-3 Introduction to Kinesiology
  • BPK 180W-3 Introduction to Ergonomics
  • BPK 201-3 Biomechanics
  • BPK 205-3 Introduction to Human Physiology
  • BPK 207-3 Sensorimotor Control and Learning
  • BPK 241-3 Sports Injuries-Prevention and Rehabilitation
  • BPK 301-3 Biomechanics Laboratory
  • BPK 303-3 Kinanthropometry
  • BPK 305-3 Human Physiology I
  • BPK 306-3 Human Physiology II (Principles of Physiological Regulation)
  • BPK 325-3 Basic Human Anatomy
  • BPK 326-4 Functional Anatomy
  • BPK 336-3 Histology
  • BPK 402-3 Mechanical Behavior of Biological Tissues
  • BPK 407-3 Human Physiology Laboratory
  • BPK 412-3 Molecular Cardiac Physiology
  • BPK 415-3 Neural Control of Movement
  • BPK 426-3 Neuromuscular Anatomy
  • BPK 430-3 Human Energy Metabolism
  • BPK 431-3 Integrative Cancer Biology
  • BPK 481-3 Musculoskeletal Disorders

CHEMISTRY (CHEM)

  • CHEM 122-2 General Chemistry II + CHEM 126-2 General Chemistry Laboratory II
  • CHEM 180-3 The Chemistry of Life
  • CHEM 191-3 Living in a Materials World: From the Stone Age to Nanoscience *
  • CHEM 281-4 Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 215-4 Introduction to Analytical Chemistry
  • CHEM 282-2 Organic Chemistry II + CHEM 286-2 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
  • CHEM 230-3 Inorganic Chemistry
  • CHEM 260-4 Atoms, Molecules, Spectroscopy
  • CHEM 316-4 Introductory Instrumental Analysis
  • CHEM 332-3 The Chemistry of Transition Metals
  • CHEM 371-3 Chemistry of the Aqueous Environment
  • CHEM 372-3 Chemistry of the Atmospheric Environment
  • CHEM 380-4 Chemical & Instrumental Methods of Identification of Organic Compounds
  • CHEM 432-3 Organometalic Chemistry
  • CHEM 450-3 Physical Organic Chemistry
  • CHEM 455-3 Synthetic Organic Chemistry
  • CHEM 462-3 Molecular Spectroscopy
  • CHEM 465-3 Electrochemistry

* CHEM 191-3 is only acceptable as a Science Elective if it was taken prior to ENSC 330 for old curriculum students.

EARTH SCIENCES (EASC)

  • EASC 101-3 Physical Geology
  • EASC 201-3 Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
  • EASC 202-3 Introduction to Mineralogy
  • EASC 204-3 Structural Geology I
  • EASC 205-3 Introduction to Petrology

GEOGRAPHY (GEOG)

  • GEOG 111-3 Physical Geography
  • GEOG 213-3 Introduction to Geomorphology
  • GEOG 214-3 Weather and Climate
  • GEOG 311-4 Hydrology
  • GEOG 313-4 River Geomorphology
  • GEOG 314-4 The Climate System
  • GEOG 317-4 Soil Science
  • GEOG 411-4 Advanced Hydrology

GERONTOLOGY (GERO)

GERO 407-3 Nutrition and Aging

HEALTH SCIENCES (HSCI)

HSCI 100-3 Human Biology

MARINE SCIENCE (MASC)

  • MASC 410-6 Marine Invertebrate Zoology
  • MASC440-6 Biology of Marine Birds
  • MASC445-6 Biology of Marine Mammals
  • MASC446-6 Comparative Ethology

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY (MBB)

  • MBB 222-3 Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
  • MBB 308-3 Molecular Biology Laboratory I
  • MBB 321-3 Intermediary Metabolism
  • MBB 322-3 Molecular Physiology
  • MBB 331-3 Molecular Biology
  • MBB 421-3 Nucleic Acids
  • MBB 422-3 Biomembranes
  • MBB 423-3 Protein Structure and Function

NUCLEAR SCIENCE (NUSC)

  • NUSC 342-3 Introduction to Nuclear Science

PHYSICS (PHYS)

  • PHYS 211-3 Intermediate Mechanics
  • PHYS 221-3 Electromagnetics (**Computer Engineering option only)
  • PHYS 255-3 Vibration and Waves
  • PHYS 285-3 Introduction to Relativity and Quantum Mechanics
  • PHYS 332W-3 Optics Laboratory
  • PHYS 344-3 Thermal Physics
  • PHYS 346-3 Energy and the Environment
  • PHYS 347-3 Introduction to Biological Physics
  • PHYS 365-3 Semiconductor Device Physics
  • PHYS 384-3 Methods of Theoretical Physics I
  • PHYS 385-3 Quantum Mechanics I
  • PHYS 390-3 Introduction to Astrophysics
  • PHYS 413-3 Advanced Mechanics
  • PHYS 415-3 Quantum Mechanics II
  • PHYS 421-3 Electromagnetic Waves
  • PHYS 431-4 Advanced Physics Laboratory I
  • PHYS 445-3 Statistical Physics
  • PHYS 455-3 Modern Optics
  • PHYS 465-3 Solid State Physics
  • PHYS-485-3 Particle Physics

UNACCEPTED COURSES FOR SCIENCE ELECTIVE

The following courses will not be accepted as Science electives:

  • BPK 140, BPK 143, BPK 320, BPK 343, BPK 375, BPK 382
  • CHEM 003, CHEM 004, CHEM 101 (old chemistry curriculum). CHEM 110, CHEM 111 (current chemistry curriculum)
  • MACM 101
  • PHYS 100, 101, 102, 190, 192, and 326

Note: courses previously taken from the old list before September 1, 2006 will receive proper recognition.