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ATTENTION
FROM
RE:
SCUP 10-89
OFFICE OF THE ASSOCIATE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADENIIC AND
ASSOCIATE PROVOST
8888 University Drive,
Burnaby,
BC
Canada V5A 1S6
TEL: 778.782.4636
FAX: 778.782.5876
www.sfu.ca/vpacademic
Senate Committee on University Priorities
DATE
December 3,2010
Bill Krane, Chair
PAGES
1 /1
Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies
/J . .
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__
Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology (SCUS
10-61a)/t1t/~
--
Action undertaken
by
the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies at its meeting of
December 2,2010, gives rise to the following recommendation:
Motion:
That
SCUP approve and recommend to Senate the fu II program proposal for the
Minor in Development and Sustainability in the Development and Sustainability
Program within the FacuLty of Environment effective Fall 2011.
The relevant documentation for review
by
SCUP is attached.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
THINKING OF THE WORLD
MEMO
Dean's
Office
TASe
2. Suite 8900
Tel: 778.782-8787
www.fenv.sfu.ca
SCUS 10-61a
faculty of
environmen~
ATTENTION
SCUS
I
FROM
Duncan Knowler,
Chair,
FE
I RE
Faculty of Environment Course Credit Hour Changes
I DATE
February 11, 2010
The following have been approved by the Faculty of Environment (FENV)
Curriculum Committee at its meeting of November 18
1
2010 and are being
forwarded to SCUS for approval and recommendation to Senate.
• Development and Sustainability (DEVS)
o
Minor in Development and Sustainability - Full Program Proposal
o
DEVS 201-3: New Course Proposal
o OEVS 401-4: New Course Proposal
• Department of Geography
o
GEOG 302: Course Change
o
GEOG 303: Course Change
o
GEOG 402: Course Change
o
GEOG 403: Course Change
o
GEOG 409: Course Change
o
GEOG 311: Course Change
o
GEOG 411: Course Change
o
GEOG 386: Course Change
o GEOG 440: Course Change
o
GEOG 440W: Course Change
o
GEOG 416-4: Course Deletion
o
GEOG 446-4: Course Deletion
o
GEOG 104-3: New Course Proposal
• School of Resource and Environmental Management (REM)
o
REM 321-3 - New Course Proposal
• Faculty of Environment (ENV)
o
ENV 321-3 - New Course Proposal (cross-listed with REM 321-3)
SIMI)=" l'n,\SER lINIVEnSllY
THINKING OF THE W'ORLO
Approved by FENV Curriculum Committee (18 Nov 2010)
Full Program
~roposal
Minor in Development and
Sustain~bility
Faculty of Environment (FENV)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
To advance the goal of developing undergraduate programming within the FENV, to support the
broader sustainability and internationalization
.goals of the University, and .to recognize growing
student
interest~
we propose the creation of a minor under the Development and Sustainability
Program.
The proposed Minor in Development and Sustainability (DEVS) will both create new
courses and package a diverse
and interdisciplinary array of relevant existing courses and
teaching/research expertise.
It
will provide a coherent yet broad undergraduate program exploring
various aspects
of 'sustainability' that arise from the complex interrelationships between
'development' and the
'environment', all in relation to problem-solving thematic areas at various
scales
(from local to global). The DEVS minor is targeted at undergraduate
studeJ?~.inside
FENV as
well as students acro.ss a range of participating units and faculties in the University who are'seeking
ways to deepen their understanding of the connections between developqlent, sustainability, and
environment. The Notice
of Intent for this Minor was approved by SCUP on 20 July 2010 (see
Appendix E).
CURRICULUM
1) Student
O~tco'mes
.
.
• Provide studerits with a strong foundation in the study of various aspects of , sustain ability'
that arise. from the
complex interrelationships between
'~evelopment'
and the .' environment'
in
rehition to problem-solving thematic areas at various scaies (local to global) ..
• Enable the 'versatile student' imagined by SFU during the founding of FENV to complete an
integrative interdisciplinary curriculum that combines in-class instruction with experiential
learning
(suchas field site visits). This Minor complements a number of Major programs,
~.nhan~ing
stupent vet:satility.
...
.
.
.'
I •. '
.1 ...• ,.:, _ ••... _
• Help students to identify and to develop the skills, learning outcomes, and knowledge
requirements for
employment in these fields where knowledge of the interactions between
development, environmental
and sustainability issues at various scales is
an
asset; also, to
prepare
the'
hig~-~erfonning undergr~duate
student for graduate studies: .
2) Graduation Requirements
Prospective students must apply to Simon Fraser University for admission and meet the normal
admission
~~quirements.
. .'
• Award of
Mi~or
requires completion of 19 units from prescribed courses;' these consist of at
least 3 units at the
lower division, consisting of a core DEVS course plus
any
prerequisites
for upper division courses,
and 16 units at the upper.division, including a
c~re
DEVS course.
• The two core.DEVS courses shall be DEVS 201-3 "Introduction to Development and
Sustainability" and DEVS 401-4 "Issues, Concepts and Cases in Development" and
SustainabiIity" (see
Appendix B for course descriptions).
• The balance of program requirements beyond core courses shall be drawn from a list of
electi~e~.~t ~~~
3.00 and 400 levels in
~~icipating:~i~s (Pep~nmerits,
Schools, Faculties).
Approved by FENV Curricu1um Committee (18 Nov 2010)
o Entry to this program is on a competitive basis, and requires completion of 30 credit hours in
lower level courses; good standing in the program requires a CGPA not lower than 2.75;
students must also be 'in good standing'
in their home units where they are doing their major
degree. '
.. '.,
.. , , ......... " ..
.
3) Course/program structure and class sizes
a) Students must complete DEVS 201 and DEVS 401, plus at least three upper level courses.
Two
of these three upper division courses must be from outside their home unit (Department or
Faculty),
to ensure breadth.
b) Elective courses shall be drawn from a list composed of courses from the following units:
Archaeology, Communication, Economics, Education, Environmental Sciences, First Nations
Studies, Geography, Health
Sciences, History, Humanities, 'International Studies, Latin American
Studies,
Political Science, Resource and Environmental Management, Sociology/Anthropology
and Sustainable Community Development (see Appendix A
for a list of electives).
c) The list
of prescribed and approved elective courses will be reviewed with participating units,
from time
to time; units have been informed that we expect participation of between 5 and 9
students from the
DEVS Minor in courses listed in this Program. Units have agreed to participate,
noting students occasionally may experience difficulty
in enrolling in some courses for space
reasons, and that
in some cases instructor's pennission must be obtained, For these reasons the
list
of electiv'es was designed to include a substantial number of courses.
'
d) Class size is predicted to be 80 to 100 in DEVS 201 and 30 to 40 in DEVS 401 after two years.
For pedagogical reasons, enrolment
in DEVS 401 will be limited to 40 in a seminar: if necessary
this course can be taught twice a year
in order to respond to increased demand.
CREDENTIAL TO BE AWARDED
One credential will be awarded, the
Minor in Development and Sustainability (DEVS).
LEARNING METHODOLOGIES
Students will be judged on performance and the quality of completed projects and assignments, in a
manner comparable
to other units in FENV. Lectures and tutorials, where available, as well as
seminars are the main methods of teaching, along
with
labs, where required.
It
is recognized that the
proposed Minor in
DEVS will need to be distinct from other programming at SFU, such as current
offerings
from African Studies, International Studies and/or Latin American Studies. The following
methodologies will ensure this distinctiveness:
,
•
world-wide international development experience of instructors and guests;
• real-world issues studied in'the context of students' immediate surroundings;
• focus on the tension between sustainability/environment and development at the local level;
• emphasis on the applied aspects of 'development practice and policy';
• opportunities for exchange prograrps, experiential learning (field trips/sc4ools, placements,
etc) and team taught
courses;
•
inter-disciplinary combination of applied sciences, humanities, social science, resource
management and policy studies; and,
• local and global scope (not only region specific). '
FACULTY
Two faculty members will teach the core courses in the Minor, DEVS 201 and 401:
2
Approved
by
FENV Curriculum Committee (18 Nov 2010)
• Robert Anderson, Director of DEVS Program, and Professor of Communication, FeAT
• James Busumtwi-Sam, Associate Professor of Political Science, F ASS
Both faculty members currently teach the core DEVS 801 course in the
Graduate Certificate in
Development and Sustainability
.
.
offered by the DEVS
.
program.
..
,
.
Additional faculty contributing to the program include the members of the DEVS Steering
Conunittee (see Appendix C), plus the many faculty teaching the elective courses (see Appendix
A).
PROGRAM CONSULTATIONS and EVALUATIONS
We have consulted outside FENV, with units such as Archaelogy, Latin American Studies,
International Studies, Communication, Sociology/Anthropology, Health Sciences, Political Science,
History, First
N~ti9ns
Studies, Economics, etc. S.ome
of~eir und~rgrad~ate
courses. are, with their
agreement, listed
here as courses that can be taken to complete the Minor. Conditions set by these
units regarding space availability and pre-requisites have been accepted and recorded in relevant
cases.
Students will participate in course evaluations as in all
SFU courses. DEVS core courses will be
evaluated by students in a similar manner. The Director and Steering Committee will ensure that
appraisals
of instructor performance are conducted in a manner consistent with FENV procedures,
reporting
to thepem,t.; , ... '
. '" ,- ' ...... ,.:.!'::
I: )',:.', ' , '.-
ANTICIPATED'PROGRAM START DATE
September 201.1.
ADMISSION'
Entry to this program is on a competitive basis and requires completion of 30 credit hours at the
lower division; good standing in the Minor program requires that students maintain a
CGP A not
lower than
2.
75~
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GOVERNANCE, '
The Development& Sustainability Program'(DEVS) is one of the constituent imits in the FENV,
and has a Director and
Steering Conunittee, operating with a Constitution.
It
currently administers
the Graduate Certificate in Development
&
Sustainability. We now propose an undergraduate minor
that will be anchored
by a set of core courses 'owned' by the DEVS program and administered by a
Director and
S~,ee~i~g
Committee,
r~P9rting thr~ug~ ~pp~~priate curri~ul~z:n co~ittees
to the Dean
ofFENV. (see
Appendix: C). The DEVS Steering Committee will evaluate the function and
effectiveness
of this Minor degree biennially.
.
RESOURCES'AND BUDGET
Most of the courses in the proposed Minor are existing courses already taught by regular faculty
members
in participating units. The program will have two new required courses, DEVS 201-3 and
DEVS 401-4. The program requires a modest amount of new resources and/or the re-allocation of
existing resources (in the form of instructional secondments or
co~se
buy-outs) to cover the
teaching of
the
~o
planned core-courses by faculty members from outside the Faculty of
Envirorunent.' The necessary resources and arrangements to meet these requirements have been
identified
~d
approved by the Dean. '
"
'
3
Approved by FENV Curriculum Committee (18 Nov 2010)
The SFU Library has a rich collection of material on development and sustainability, on both
international and local levels; it continues to build its holdings (books, journals, videos, etc) in
relevant fields. All the elective courses included
in this proposal are previously approved courses so
that adequate library resources have been put in place. The required DEVS courses draw from
literatures already well established in the library.
There would be no fees for the Minor other than the regular tuition, exchange, field school or other
fees related to a specific course or another program. There would be no application fee for
admission.
CONTACT
PERSONS
Robert Anderson, Director, Development & Sustainability Program, Faculty of Environment, SFU,
tel 778 782 4265.
Duncan Knowler, Associate Dean, Faculty
of Environment, SFU, tel 778 782 8827 .
,' ..
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Approved by FENV Curriculum Committee (18 Nov 2010)
APPENDIX A Calendar Entry for the l\'linor in Development and Sustain ability
Explores various 'lSpects of sustainability that arise from the complex relationship between
development and environment, including discussion
of practice and policy issues in relation to
problem-solving and examination of thematic areas at various scales (fro'm local to global) that
enhance the quality
of life. Entry to this program is on a competitive basis, and requires completion
of30 credit hours in lower level courses; good standing in the program requires a CGPA not lower
than 2.75; students must also be
'in good standing' in their home units where they are doing their
major degree.
Lower Division Requirements
Requires completion of the required core course, DEVS 201-3.
Upper Division Requirements
,Students complete 16 units at the upper division level, including the core course, DEVS 401-4. The
remaining 12 units inust be selected from the foHowing list of courses, and must include at least two
courses from outside their home unit (department, school, or faculty).
Archaeology
.',
ARCH 365-3 Ecological Archaeology
ARCH 377-5 Historical Archaeology
ARCH 385-5 Paleoanthropology
ARCH 386-3 Archaeological Resource Management
Communication
CMNS 342-4 Science .and Public Policy: Risk
Communicatio~
,
CMNS 346-4 Communication and Development
.
I
CMNS 347-4 Communication in Conflict and Intervention
CMNS 388-4 Envirorunent, Media, and Communication (2010 and 2011 on.1y)
CMNS 425-4 Applied Communication for Social Issues
CMNS 426-4 Video Design for Social Communication
CMNS 444-4 The Political Economy of International CommUnication
CMNS 446-4 Communication of Science and the Transfer of Technology
CMNS 447-'4
Negotiat~on
and
Dialog~e as·Comm~ication
CMNS 456-4 Co.minuriiCation to Mitigate Disasters. '. . !
I
Economics
ECON 355W-4 Economic Development
Education
EDUC 311-3 Foundations in Aboriginal Education, Language, and Culture
EDUC 370-4 International and Intercultural
E4~cation
EDUC 435-4
I~fusing
Global Perspectives into Curticulum
EDUC 441-4 Multicultural and Anti-racist Education
EDUC 452-8 Environmental Education
First Nations Studies
5
Approved
by
FENV Curriculum Committee (18 Nov 2010)
FNST 332-3 Ethnobotany of British Columbia First Nations
FSNT 383-4 Indigenous Technology: Art and Sustainability
FNST 401-3 Aboriginal Rights and Government Relations
FNST 403-3 Indigenous Knowledge 'in the Modern World
FNST 433-4 Indigenous Environmental Activism
Geography
GEOG 322-4 World Resources
GEOG 323-4 Industrial Location
GEOG 324-4 Geography of Transportation
GEOG 325-4 Geographies of Consumption
GEOG 327-4 Geography of Toutism
GEOG
382-4 Population Geography
GEOG 383-4 Regional Development and Planning I
GEOG 389W-4 Nature and Society
GEOG 422-4 Theories and Practices of Development
GEOG 429-4 Environment and Inequality
GEOG 466-4 Latin American Regional Development
GEOG
468~4
Society
~d
Environment in China
:'0''
j
, ."
Health Sciences
HSCI 308-3 Sickness and Wealth: Health in Global Perspective
HSCI 340-3 Social Determinants of Health
HSCI 406-3 Global Perspectives in Indigenous Health
HSCI 412-3 Health Communication
HSCI 431-3 The Global
HI'Y/AID~
Epidemic
History
..
• • t : t ,.
~ ~
i " :"
HIST 322-4 Atlantic and Pacific Migration
HIST 361-4 The History of Science: The Eighteenth Century to the Present
HIST 363-4 History of Technology
HIST 377-4 Environmental History
HIST 425-4 Gender and History
HIST 427-4 Problems
in.the History of Aboriginal Peoples
HIST
472-4 Problems in. World HIstory .
HIST 432-4 . Problems in Environmental Histoty ....
HIST 455-4 Race in the Americas
HIST 458-4 Problems in Latin American Regional History
HIST 459-4 Problems in the Political and Social History Latin America
Humanities
HUM 325-4 The Humanities and
~e
.. Natural
Wo~ld
. .. .
.: .
"~
... ,, .. ,.""
International Studies
IS 313W-4 Nationalism, Democracy and Development in Modern India
IS 314-4 National, Regional, and International Politics in Southeast Asia
IS 409-4 Special Topics I: Human Security
IS 410-4 Politics, Institutions and Development
6
.,." '.:
.... '
..
.
~
......
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.,
Approyed by FENV Curriculum Committee (18 Nov 2010)
IS 429-4 Special Topics III: Historical Political Economy of Development
Political
Science
POL 335-4 Government and Politics: People's Republic of China
POL 342-4 Developing Countries in Global Politics
POL
343-4- Global Political Economy
POL 346-4 International Organization
POL 373-4 Human Security
POL 374-4 Africa in the Global Political Economy
POL 433-4 Comparative Development
POL 442-4 The Political Economy of International Trade
PO L 446-4 International Relations in East Asia
POL 447-4 Theories of Global Political Economy
Resource
and
Environmental
Management
REM 356-3 Institutional Arrangements for Sustainable Environmental Management
Sociology
&
;J.nthropology
SA 302W-4 Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism
SA 316-4 Tourism and Social Policy
SA 363-4 Processes of Development and Underdevelopment
SA 371-4 The Environment and Society -
SA 392-4 Latin America
SA 396-4 Selected Regional Areas
SA 418-4 International Health: Global Policies and Local Realities
SA 429-4 Sex, Work, and International Capital
SA 430-4 States, Cultures
and Global Transitions
SA 463-4 Special Topics in Development Studies
Sustainable
C.ommunity
Development
-
SCD 301-4 Sustainable Community Development Theory and Practice
SCD 401-4 Social Enterprise for Sustainable Community Development
SCD 403-4
Lea~ership
in Sustainable Community Development
,. -. .0. 6 __ •
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• •••
7
• I
Approved
by
FENV Curriculum Committee (18 Nov 2010)
APPENDIX B Calendar Descriptions of Core Courses in DEVS Minor
DEVS 201-3 - Introduction to Development and Sustainability
A critical introduction to various approaches to 'development' and 'sustainability'. Examines the
impacts
of major drivers of environmental change caused by development processes, and offers
selected case studies from around the world illustrating policy and practical challenges
to
implementing sustainable development measures at various scales.
.
i
DEVS 401-4 - Issues, Concepts, and Cases in Development and Sustain ability
An
in-depth critical examination of contemporary challenges to effective governance for sustainable
development within the context
of global North-South relations. Assesses the prospects for
sustainable solutions in relation to selected problem-solving thematic areas and case-studies at
various scales involving student-led dialogues.
APPENDIX C - Steering Committee of the Development and Sustainability Program
David ZandvIiet
Ian Andrews (alternate)
Education
Alex Clapp
John Brohman (alternate)
Bob Anderson (Director) Zhao Yuezhi (alternate)
James Busumtwi-Sam
Anil Hira (alternate)
Yildiz Atasoy
Michael Hathaway (alternate)
Geography
Communication
Political Science
Sociology! Anthropology
June Francis
Habiba
Zaman .
Mark Roseland
Wolfgang Haider
Alec Dawson
Craig Janes
Eldon Yellowhom
Shaheen Nanji
Business
..
.;
Women's Studies
Centre for Sustainable Community Development
Resource
&
Environmental Management
History
&
Latin American Studies
Health Sciences
Archaeology
&
First Nations Studies
SFU Office of International Development
APPENDIX D - Related Programs in British Columbia
The study of sustainability and development is a growing world-wide trend, and SFU \\till adopt a
special and distinctive approach, facing the environmental context and enabling students to focus on
sustainable strategies. In June
2010 it was estimated that over 4500 undergraduates are in
development studies'programs across Canada (both minors and majors, aiso
named as
'international', 'global', etc). This does not count those in discipline-based programs who study
similar subjects. In some universities where development and sustainability programs have been
established for a few years, the Minor degree programs in this field carry the largest, second-largest,
or third largest number
of undergraduate students in the entire university. None of those universities
are located
in British Columbia. Related programs in
Be
that address aspects of this subject are
located at the University
of British Columbia - the "Sociological, Ecological, and Development
Studies" (SEEDS) program; Vancouver Island University - Global Studies; University of Fraser
Valley - Minor degree in Development,Studies (applied
2010); University 'of Northem, British
Columbia - Minor degree
in Development Studies (applied 2010).
8
Approved
by
FENV Curriculum Committee (18 Nov 2010)
APPENDIX E - Notice of Intent
"
Minor in Development and
Sustain~bility
Faculty of Environment (FENV) Simon Fraser University
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
To advance the goal of developing undergraduate programming within the FENV, to support the
broader sustainab,ility and internationalization goals
of the
Univ~~sity,
and to recognize growing
student interest, we propose the creation
of a minor under the Development and Sustainability
Program. The proposed Minor
iIi
Development and Sustainability (DEVS) will both create new
courses and package a diverse and interdisciplinary array
of relevant existing courses and
teaching/research expertise into a coherent yet broad undergraduate program exploring various
aspects of 'susta'inabiIity' that arise from the complex interrelationships between 'development'
and the 'environment', all in relation to problem-solving thematic areas at various scales (from
local to global).
, • I.
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1. CREDENTIAL TO BE AWARDED
One credential will be awarded, the
Development and Sustainability Minor.
This complements the
program's
Graduate Certificate in Development
and Sustainability
approved by Senate in 2005.
"
,
2. LOCATION OF PROGRAM
Faculty of Environment, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby Campus.
3. DEPARTMENTS OFFERING PROGRAM
The Development
&
Sustainability Program (DEVS) is one of the constituent units in the FENV
with a Director and Steering Committee. It currently administers the Graduate Certificate in
Development
&
Sustainability. We propose an undergraduate minor that will be anchored by a set
of core courses 'owned' by the DEVS program and administered by a Director and Steering
Committee, reporting through appropriate committees
to the Dean ofFENV. We have consulted
outside
FENV, with units like Latin American Studies, International Studies, Earth Sciences,
Communication, Sociology/Anthropology, Health Sciences, Political Science, etc; some
of their
undergraduate courses will, with their agreement, be listed
as courses which can be taken to
complete this minor.
4. ANTICIPATED PROGRAM START DATE
September 2011. '
5. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
5.1 Purposes
'&
Objectives
• Provide students with a strong foundation in the study of various aspects of , sustain ability'
that arise from the complex interrelationships between 'development' and the
'environment' in relation to problem-solving thematic areas at various scales (local
to
global).
'
i\pproved
by
FENV Curriculum Committee (18 Noy 2010)
•
Enable the 'versatile student' imagined by SFU during the founding of FENV to complete
an integrative interdisciplinary curriculum that combines in-class instruction with
experientialleaining (such as field site visits).
Q Help students to determirie and to develop the skills, learning outcomes and knowledge
requirements for employment where knowledge
of the interactions between development,
environmental and sustainability issues at various scales is an asset.
5.2 Contribution to University's Strategic Plan
The University has expanded its slate ofintemational programming through curricular revision and
the creation
of the School for International Studies, the Faculty of Health Sciences, and the new
Faculty
of Environment. The name of our Program and the minor degree signals a fit with SFU's
Sustainability Policy (OP 38), which commits the university to becoming "a leading institution in
the transition to a sustainable society."
Section 3.2 of the policy states that "SFU will strive to be in
the forefront
of sustainability research and education and will use its institutional capacity to
promote sustainability within and beyond the university." The Full
Program Proposal for this minor
will articulate its contribution to
both the FENV strategic objectives and the university-wide
strategic plan. The
DEVS minor will incorporate all relevant aspects of the FENV pedagogical and
research objectives as listed in its
Strategic Research Plan 2009-2010.
Thus, the proposed minor in Development and Sustainability contributes to the University'S
strategic plan by:
• Developing, enlarging, and strengthening undergraduate programming, a key mandate of
the FENV, which brings together the social sciences, humanities, the applied aspects of
natural sciences, education, management and the policy sciences around problem-centered
thematic areas.
• Further developing the Graduate Certificate in Development Studies (established 2005),
and work together with other units in FENV
~
CSCD, REM, Geography, and
Environmental
Sciences.
•
Establishing synergies with other units and programs outside FENV (Latin American
Studies, International Studies, Business Administration, Earth Sciences, Communication,
Sociology/Anthropology, Health Sciences, Political Science, etc) that deal with various
aspects
of 'development', 'environment' and 'sustainability'.
• Advancing the FENV and University strategic research plans, and enhance the research
capacity
of the University in these areas by identifying high perfonning. undergraduate
students; and
to' maketliem'capable for graduate.studies.. ":.' ...... :.; .... : ..... .
• Strengthening SFU and FENV policy outreach, community engagement, and institutional
linkages abroad.
5.3 Target Audience
.
The DEVS minor is targeted at undergraduate students inside FENV as well as 'students across a
range
of participating units and faculties in the University who are seeking ways to deepen their
understanding
pf $e
connection~
?etween development, sustainability, and environment. The
proposed minor prog'ram 'erl"ables students to bring intellectual coherence to
ilidi-
choice of courses
to explore these issues, and to make better academic choices .
..... JO ...
Approved
by
FENV Curriculum Committee (18 Nov 2010)
5.3.1
Evidence of Interest
Different units in the university have taught courses in development and lor environmental
studies
for a number of years, and student interest has been steady. This evidence shows
student
demand and support,
even without
a link to the integration and concentration of
environment and sustainability issues as a named and advertized program, as in
'development
and sustainability'.
This minor will fully explore the linkages of development and
sustainability at various scales and across a variety of issues. Undergraduate students working
on sustainabiliti questions
in units across the universitY" regularly "point to their" need to
integrate courses in these fields
in a coherent and multi-disciplinary program, as seen from a
student's point
of view.
This program will provide, maintain, and enhance that coherence.
Outside
the university, employers (NGOs, business,
&
government) are looking for people
knowledgeable about the interactions
between sustainability, development and the
environment.
5.4 Content
~nd
Graduation Requirements
"
Prospective students "must"apply to Simon Fraser UniversitY Of or admission and meet the
normal
admission
requirements.
1. Award ,of Minor requires completion of24 units from prescribed courses; at least 4 units at
the lower division and 18 at the upper division, including core courses;
2. The two core courses shall be DEVS 201-3 and DEVS 401-4;
3. The balance of program requirements beyond core courses shall be a list of electives
dra~J~.<?m}9.0
a~d
490
le.v~l ~o~"s~~ ~n"pa,r.t~.qip.~tip.s.~~t"~.(d~p~"ql~~~,.,~ch9Pls);
4. These elective courses shall be arranged iQ thret? groups:
Group
1: arts, social sciences
&
humanities, including geography, international studies;o
Group
2: business administration,
communications
&
ed~~ation;
Group
3.'
resource and
environmen~l m~agement,
environmental "sciences, and health sciences.
"
0 "
5. Students irtust complete at least one upper level course from each of the three groups.
6. The list of prescribed and approved elective courses ",ill be reviewed with participating
units,
from time to time;
7'0
E~try ~o..Mli~ op"fQgr~m i~ on"a"yomp~tjtiy~ "b~.i$oo'
,an.g,
r.~ql1ires.cqmpl~ti~~,of~"O
credit hours
o
in
lower level courses; good standing in the program °requires a GP A not lower than 2.75
Note: DEyS
2Pl~3
will be.called "Introduction to Development and Sustainability"; DEVS
40
l-~
0 will
b~
called "Issues, Concepts and Cases in" Development anq
Sustai~ability".
5.5 Distinctive Characteristics
It
is recognized that the proposed DEVS Minor will need to be distinct from other
progr3:Il1ID~ng
at SfU, such, a,s current "offerings. ff;om: Alripflll S
tudi~s,
International Studies
and/or LatiJ:l American Studies. The following attributes will ensure this
dis~inctiveness:
o
,
• world-wide developr;nent experienc:e of
ins~Gtors
anq guests,
0"
• real-world issue$ studied in the contexto of students' immediate surroundings,
• focus on the tension between
sustainability/~nvironment
and development at the local level,
• emphasis on the applied aspects of 'development practice',
• opportunities for exchange programs, experiential learning (field trips/schools, placements,
etc),
an~
team taug4t courses,"
, ." 0
0""1. ":,' ,",0
" •. : ..
;"!" ;"!"" "
0 ••
" 11 '
0;
Approved by FENV Curriculum Committee (18 Nov 2010)
e inter-disciplinary combination of applied sciences, humanities, social science, resource
management
and policy studies, with an emphasis on employment opportunities,
• local and global scope (not region specific).
5.6 Completion time
Admission to the program is open:to all undergraduates registered and in good academic
standing
at SFU. Completion of the undergraduate minor will take the same time as minor
degrees
in other units and programs.
5.7 Student Evaluation
Undergraduate students in good standing must maintain a minimum grade point average of
2.75 calculated on all courses applied to the minor. Duplicate courses are counted only once.
Students must also be 'in good standing'
in
their home units where they are doing their major
degree~
Students will be judged. on. performance and the quality of completed projects and
assignments, in a manner comparable to other units in FENV.
5.8 Program Assessment
The DEVS Steering Committee will evaluate the function and effectiveness of the minor
degree biennially.
5.9 Resources
Most of tlle 'cour'se's' iii the'
~ropos'e(r
Minor are' 'exi'sting courses. alie'ady
't~tight
by regular
faculty members
in participating units. The program will have two new required courses,
DEVS 201-4 and DEVS 401-4. The program requires a modest amount of new resources
and/or the re-allocation
of existing resources (in the form of secondments, course buy-outs, or
cross-appointments)
to cover the teaching of the two planned core-courses normally to be
taught by the program director and a designated 'course leader' (as approved by the Dean).
The SFU Library has a rich collection of material on development and sustainability, on both
international
and local levels; it continues to build its holdings (books, journals, videos, etc) in
relevant fields.
There would be no fees for the undergraduate minor other than the regular tuition, exchange,
field school or other
fees related to a specific program. There would be no application fee for
admission.
5.1
0
ReJ~
The
study
~e~
rrogr~~~
of
sustainability
....
and
.
development
.
is
a
growing
"
world-wide
trend,
....
and
...
SFU
.
will
adopt a special
and distinctive approach, facing the environmenta.1 context and enabling
students
to focus on sustainable strategies. In June 2010 it was estimated that over 4500
undergraduates are in development studies programs across Canada (both minors and majors,
also named as 'international', 'global', etc). This does not count those in discipline-based
programs
who study similar subjects. In some universities where development and
sustainability programs have been established for a few years, the Minor degree programs
in
this field
G~ the.larges~, .s~cond71~rgest,
or third largest number
ofund~rgraduate
students in
the entire university. None .ofthose universities are located in British Columbia.
12
Approved
by
FENV Curriculum Committee (18 Nov 2010)
Related programs in BC:which address aspects of this. subject are.located at University of British
Columbia - the "Sociological, Ecological,
and Development Studies" (SEEDS) program; University
of Vancouver Island - Global Studies; University of Fraser Valley - Minor degree in Development
Studies (applied 2010); University of Northern British Columbia- Minor degree in Development
Studies (applied 2010).
6. CONTACT PERSONS
Duncan
Knowlet':Associ~te
Dean,
Faculty6fEnvironment~ SFU~
tel 778 782'8827 ..
Robert Anderson, Director, Development & Sustainability Program, Faculty of Environment, SFU,
tel 778 782 4265, and/or James Busumtwi-Sam, SFU tel 778 782 4346.
13
