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Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology | Faculty of Science Simon Fraser University Calendar | Summer 2025

Biomedical Physiology Major

Bachelor of Science

This program leads to a bachelor of science (BSc) in biomedical physiology.

Note that students cannot combine: a double major, nor a double minor, nor a major/minor program in the areas of kinesiology, biomedical physiology, and behavioural neurosicence.

Admission Requirements

Bachelor of science program entry is possible via

  • direct admission from high school
  • transfer from a recognized post-secondary institution
  • internal transfer from within Simon Fraser University

Admission is competitive. A separate admission average for each of the three entry routes is established each term, depending on spaces available and subject to the dean’s approval.

Direct Admission – High School

See Admission Requirements at http://www.sfu.ca/students/admission/admission-requirements.html

Post-secondary Transfer

Students transferring to Simon Fraser University for the biomedical physiology major program will first transfer into the Faculty of Science as an intended major. Students may then apply for admission to the biomedical physiology major through the internal transfer process outlined below.

Internal Transfer

Simon Fraser University students applying for Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology admission must complete the following courses with a grade of C- or better

Students complete all of

  • BISC 101-4 General Biology
  • CHEM 121-4 General Chemistry and Laboratory I
  • BPK 142-3 Introduction to Kinesiology

and one of

  • MATH 150-4 Calculus I with Review
  • MATH 151-3 Calculus I
  • MATH 154-3 Calculus I for the Biological Sciences

and one of

  • PHYS 101-3 Physics for the Life Sciences I
  • PHYS 120-3 Mechanics and Modern Physics
  • PHYS 125-3 Mechanics and Special Relativity
  • PHYS 140-4 Studio Physics - Mechanics and Modern Physics

Applicants are selected based on an admission grade point average (GPA) calculated over these five required courses, together with any of the following courses.

  • BISC 102-4 General Biology
  • BISC 202-3 Genetics
  • CHEM 122-2 General Chemistry II
  • CHEM 126-2 General Chemistry Laboratory II
  • CHEM 281-4 Organic Chemistry I
  • BPK 201-3 Biomechanics
  • BPK 205-3 Introduction to Human Physiology
  • BPK 207-3 Sensorimotor Control and Learning
  • MBB 222-3 Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
  • MBB 231-3 Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
and one of
  • CHEM 282-2 Organic Chemistry II
  • CHEM 283-3 Organic Chemistry IIb

and one of

  • MATH 152-3 Calculus II
  • MATH 155-3 Calculus II for the Biological Sciences

and one of

  • PHYS 102-3 Physics for the Life Sciences II
  • PHYS 121-3 Optics, Electricity and Magnetism
  • PHYS 126-3 Electricity, Magnetism and Light
  • PHYS 141-4 Studio Physics - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism

and

  • STAT 201-3 Statistics for the Life Sciences

Apply for admission as soon as the five required courses have been completed. Unsuccessful applicants may complete a minimum of 4 or more courses from the list of 12 to improve the admission GPA. A C- grade or better is required in each course used for the admission application. Those not meeting the admission GPA upon completion of all 12 additional courses will be advised of alternatives. For students transferring some core courses from another post-secondary institution, only courses completed at Simon Fraser University (and not previously completed elsewhere) are used in the admission GPA.

Normally, at least 15 units from core courses are required as a basis for the GPA calculation. Exceptions must be approved by the department.

Application Procedure

Students should complete a program approval form available on the Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology website and submit it to the academic advisor by June 1 for fall term approval, October 1 for spring term approval, or February 1 for summer term approval.

http://www.sfu.ca/bpk/undergraduate/current/forms.html

Continuance Requirement

After a student has completed 24 credits, a Science cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of not less than 2.50 is required for continuance in the major. Students, whose Science CGPA falls below 2.50, will be sent a warning letter and if at the end of the subsequent term the Science CGPA is less than 2.50, these students shall be withdrawn from the BIF or KIN Major. Students who have completed 90 or more units and whose Science CGPA falls below a 2.50, but is at least 2.00, will be allowed to complete their Biomedical Physiology or Kinesiology major. Students must achieve a minimum of a C- grade in all required courses.

Additional Clarification will be posted on BPK's websites

http://www.sfu.ca/bpk/undergrad_program/faqs/continuancegpa.html

Prerequisite and Required Course Grades

Students enrolling in biomedical physiology and kinesiology courses must have a grade of C- or better in prerequisite courses. Students enrolled in the biomedical physiology major must have a grade of C- or better in all required courses.

Program Requirements

Students complete 120-121 units for this major program, as specified below.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete all of

BISC 101 - General Biology (4)
BISC 102 - General Biology (4)
BISC 202 - Genetics (3)
BPK 142 - Introduction to Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (3)
BPK 201 - Biomechanics (3)
BPK 205 - Introduction to Human Physiology (3)
BPK 207 - Sensorimotor Control and Learning (3)
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II (2)
CHEM 126 - General Chemistry Laboratory II (2)
CHEM 281 - Organic Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
MBB 222 - Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (3)
MBB 231 - Cellular Biology and Biochemistry (3)
STAT 201 - Statistics for the Life Sciences (3)

and one of

CHEM 282 - Organic Chemistry II (2)
CHEM 283 - Organic Chemistry IIb (3)

and one of

MATH 150 - Calculus I with Review (4)
MATH 151 - Calculus I (3)
MATH 154 - Mathematics for the Life Sciences I (3)

and one of

MATH 152 - Calculus II (3)
MATH 155 - Mathematics for the Life Sciences II (3)

and one of

PHYS 101 - Physics for the Life Sciences I (3)
PHYS 120 - Mechanics and Modern Physics (3)
PHYS 125 - Mechanics and Special Relativity (3)
PHYS 140 - Studio Physics - Mechanics and Modern Physics (4)

and one of

PHYS 102 - Physics for the Life Sciences II (3)
PHYS 121 - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (3)
PHYS 126 - Electricity, Magnetism and Light (3)
PHYS 141 - Studio Physics - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (4)

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete at least 44 upper division units in the following courses, each of which must be completed with a grade of C- or higher.

Students complete all of

BPK 304W - Inquiry and Measurement in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (3) +
BPK 305 - Human Physiology I (3)
BPK 306 - Human Physiology II (3)
BPK 307 - Human Physiology III (3)
BPK 326 - Functional Anatomy (4)
BPK 407 - Human Physiology Laboratory (3)
BPK 408W - Cellular Physiology Laboratory (4) +
MBB 321 - Intermediary Metabolism (3)

Students complete six courses from Lists A and B

one or two of List A

BISC 300 - Evolution (3)
BISC 302W - Genetic Analysis (3)
BISC 303 - Microbiology (4)
BISC 316 - Vertebrate Biology (4)
BISC 333 - Developmental Biology (3)
BISC 357 - Genetic Engineering (4)
BISC 403 - Current Topics in Cell Biology (3)
BISC 405 - Neurobiology (3)
BISC 421 - Models in Biology: From Molecules to Migration (3)
BISC 423 - Developmental Neurobiology (3)
BISC 424 - Applied Genomics (3)
BISC 428 - Cell Anatomy (3)
CHEM 360 - Thermodynamics and Chemical Kinetics (3)
MBB 308 - Molecular Biology Laboratory (3) ^
MBB 309W - Biochemistry Laboratory (4)
MBB 322 - Molecular Physiology (3)
MBB 323 - Introduction to Physical Biochemistry (3)
MBB 324 - Protein Biochemistry (3)
MBB 331 - Molecular Biology (4)
MBB 342 - Introductory Genomics and Bioinformatics (3) ^
PHYS 347 - Introduction to Biological Physics (3)

and four or five of List B (at least one course must be 400-level)

BPK 301 - Biomechanics Laboratory (3)
BPK 310 - Exercise/Work Physiology (3)
BPK 336 - Histology (3)
BPK 340 - Active Health: Behavior and Promotion (3)
BPK 401 - Muscle Biomechanics (3)
BPK 402 - Mechanical Behavior of Biological Tissues (3)
BPK 409 - Wearable Technology and Human Physiology (3)
BPK 411 - Advanced Topics in Vascular Physiology (3)
BPK 412 - Molecular Cardiac Physiology (3)
BPK 415 - Neural Control of Movement (3)
BPK 417 - Obesity, Adipocyte Function and Weight Management (3)
BPK 420 - Selected Topics in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology I (3) *
BPK 421 - Selected Topics in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology II (3) *
BPK 422 - Selected Topics in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology III (3) *
BPK 423 - Selected Topics in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology IV (3) *
BPK 426 - Functional Human Neuroanatomy (3)
BPK 431 - Integrative Cancer Biology (3)
BPK 432 - Physiological Basis of Temperature Regulation (3)
BPK 444 - Cardiac Disease: Pathophysiology and Assessment (3)
BPK 446 - Neurological Disorders (3)
BPK 447 - Neuroplasticity (3)
BPK 448 - Rehabilitation of Movement Control (3)
BPK 484 - Altitude and Aerospace Physiology (3)
BPK 496 - Directed Study Literature (3) *#
BPK 498 - Directed Study Experiential (3) *#

#A maximum of six units from these courses may be used towards the List B requirements

* must be selected topics courses in physiology

+ BPK (or KIN) 304W or BPK 408W satisfies the University's breadth requirements of three upper division units in writing

^ require additional prerequisites outside of program requirements

Unspecified and Partially Specified Electives

A total of 18 elective units are also required. These 18 units must include units from courses that will satisfy the University breadth requirement of six units each of designated humanities breadth (B-Hum) and social science breadth (B-Soc), and three units of lower division writing (W). The quantitative (Q) and science breadth (B-Sci) requirements are satisfied through the completion of the biomedical physiology major lower division core course set. For more information, please visit http://www.sfu.ca/ugcr.

Professional School Transfer

Students are eligible to receive a bachelor of science (BSc) degree after the completion of their second year of professional study if they have completed at least 90 units of Simon Fraser University credit normally comprising the following:

  • all lower division requirements
  • the upper division core requirements for their major
  • acceptance into an accredited professional program in dentistry, medicine, optometry, chiropractic, or veterinary medicine

Professional program courses must not duplicate those already completed at Simon Fraser University and must be acceptable for transfer credit to the University. Candidates apply for transfer credit and for receipt of the degree through Student Services.

University Degree Requirements

Students must also satisfy University degree requirements for degree completion.

NOTE: SFU students accepted in the accelerated master's within the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology may apply a maximum of nine BPK graduate course units, taken while completing the bachelor's degree, towards the upper division electives of the bachelor's program and the requirements of the master's degree. For more information go to: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/programs/accelerated-masters.html.

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.