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Applied Legal Studies Program | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Fall 2024

Applied Legal Studies

Master of Arts

This master of arts (MA) program is primarily for students intending to practice as Notaries Public in the province of British Columbia. The degree is granted upon the successful completion of the required number of courses and a final examination, and prepares students for admission to notarial practice, subject to further requirements prescribed by the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia, and for business and public service.

Ultimately the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia governs the entry of individuals into notarial practice. Conferral of this degree is no guarantee of a position in the Society's post degree professional training programs or in notarial practice.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the University admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3 in the SFU Calendar. Applicants should regard their satisfaction of the entrance requirements as meaning only that they are eligible for selection. Since there is competition for admission, a regular applicant should have an undergraduate academic average substantially higher than the minimum in order to have a reasonable chance of admission.

To be eligible for selection, an applicant must meet one of the following criteria:

  • obtained an undergraduate degree in an approved course of study from a degree granting institution with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher, or
  • obtained an undergraduate degree from a degree-granting institution with a CGPA of less than 3.0 and have subsequently completed an approved course of study at a degree-granting institution resulting in the award of either a certificate, diploma or other approved qualification with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher, or a recognized professional qualification relevant to notarial practice, such as accounting, or
  • practiced as a Notary Public for a period of at least 10 years, be in good standing with the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia, and have successfully completed an approved course of study at a degree-granting institution resulting in the award of a certificate, diploma or other approved qualification with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.

Application

Potential applicants who wish to enter notarial practice in British Columbia are strongly encouraged to contact the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia before submitting an application to ensure that they are likely to be eligible for admission to practice in the province.

Program Requirements

This program consists of courses and an examination for a minimum of 33 units.

Students must complete

ALS 601 - Canadian Legal System (3)
ALS 602 - Legal Research and Writing (3)
ALS 603 - Legal Philosophy (3)
ALS 610 - Contracts (3)
ALS 611 - Real Property I (3)
ALS 612 - Real Property II (3)
ALS 615 - Personal Planning (3)
ALS 620 - Selected Topics in Applied Legal Studies (3)
ALS 630 - Topics in Legal Practice (6)

and an examination

ALS 631 - MA Examination (3)

NOTE: Those who do not wish notary public accreditation, or who are currently practicing notaries, may be permitted to substitute up to nine units of courses with the approval of the associate director responsible for criminology graduate programs. Only one of these courses may be a directed readings course.

Program Length

Students are expected to complete the program requirements in four terms. It is possible to complete the program on a part-time basis over a longer period. It should be noted, however, that some courses must be taken sequentially, and that all the requirements for the degree must be completed within three years. Students wishing to complete the program on a part-time basis should contact the associate director responsible for the school's graduate programs for further information.

Other Information

The courses taught in the first fall term usually employ a mixed mode of delivery where students attend campus for up to two weeks at the start of the term. Weeks 3 through 12 are delivered online through the Centre for Online and Distance Education. Spring term courses are also delivered online with a short period of on-campus instruction at the beginning of the term. Students attend campus for a short period of instruction at the beginning of the summer intersession followed by online instruction (usually from early May to late June). The final capstone course in the fall term follows the same mixed delivery mode. Students also complete a final examination (normally at the end of the fourth term) that shows a mastery of the depth and breadth of key aspects of the program's subject matter.

Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations

All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.