S.96-77
O
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC ?
MEMORANDUM
To: ?
Senate
From: ?
D. Gagan, Chair
?
'''
?
1
Senate Committee on Academic Planning
Subject
?
Faculty of Science -
Curriculum revisions
Date:
?
November 12, 1996
Action undertaken by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies and the Senate
Committee on Academic Planning gives rise to the following motion:
Motion:
"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of Governors
the curriculum revisions for the Faculty of Science as set forth in S.96-77
as follows:
?
S.96-77a ?
Department of Biological Sciences
Introduction of Streams in Biological Science Curriculum"
For Information:
Acting under delegated authority of Senate, SCUS approved revisions as set forth
in S.96-77
a)
Department of Biological Sciences
b)
Department of Chemistry
?
C) ?
Earth Sciences Program
d)
Environmental Science Program
e)
Department of Geography
f)
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
g)
Department of Physics
In all cases agreement has been reached between the Faculty and the Library in the
assessment of library costs associated with new courses.
Any Senator wishing to consult the full report of curriculum revisions within the Faculty
of Science should contact Bobbie Grant, Senate Assistant at 291-3168 or e-mail
bgrant@sfu.ca
SCUS Reference: SCUS 96-39
?
S.96-77a
SCUS Reference: SCUS 96-40
SCUS Reference: SCUS 96-41
SCAP Reference: SCAP 96-54 a)
a) ?
Department of Biological Sciences
FOR APPROVAL
i)
Introduction of Streams in Biological Sciences
Curriculum
FOR INFORMATION
Acting under delegated authority, SCUS approved curriculum
revisions of a minor nature as follows:
ii)
Grades for prerequisites in the Department of
Biological Sciences
iii)
New courses:
MASC 401 - 3 Directed Studies in Marine Sciences
MASC 415 - 3 Structure and Function in Animals
MASC 425-3 Ecological Adaptations of Seaweeds
MASC 437 - 3 Marine Population Ecology and
Dynamics
MASC 480 - 3 Seminars and Papers in Marine Science
Proposed Program at Bamfield Marine Station
is
I.
Proposal for the Reintroduction of 'Streams' into the Department of
?
Biological Sciences Undergraduate Curriculum.
Introduction
While the biology department had offered streams for many years, these were abandoned 4
years ago because the existing selection of streams (Ecology and Evolution, Genetics/Cell
and Mo. Biol, General Biology) no longer reflected all major areas of Biology. Instead, the
undergraduate advisor (Dr. Kemp) came up with 11 different areas of emphasis. By not
offering defined streams, the department felt no longer obligated to offer courses required
for a sub-set of our students at regular intervals, and hence a focused curriculum planning
was very difficult to achieve. Many students selected courses rather randomly, and hence
did not achieve excellence in any area of biology.
Reasons for Streams
The impetus for reintroducing streams stems from the desire of many students to
'specialize' in an area of biology and our strong belief that academic excellence may require
rather specialized knowledge. Presently, our department has only one stream, the general
stream, which offers no guidance for students on where or how to focus their degrees.
Streams would encourage students to decide what areas they wish to concentrate their
studies on, and remove some general requirements to make room for a more in-depth study
in one area. However, students will still be able to remain in a general stream and gain
biological knowledge in a broader sense.
Many students do not take advantage of our advisors and the large number of students
presently enrolled and projected increases in enrollment will not allow the present system to
function as intended. It is the general consensus of our department that a larger number of
students can be adequately advised in terms of specialization if the calendar held the
appropriate information in terms of a stream outline.
Another important feature of streaming is that it allows students to focus on their particular
areas of interest without having to take courses of peripheral interest to them which is the
case at the present time. Our department has decided that the present system requires
students to take courses which may not be of extreme value if they decide to focus in one
particular area. The department has decided on a base level of required courses which
should give every biology graduate the 'breadth' needed to be well rounded biologists and
give them the freedom to specialize.
With increased enrollments, the present system tends to 'bottleneck' students and may
delay progress and the eventual graduation of students. The proposed model allows
students to take other courses instead alleviating the enrollment stress on courses which
may not be relevant to them. The load of increased enrollments would be spread more
evenly, and students would benefit by having the opportunity to take upper division
courses with relatively small enrollments and a more personal contact with their professors.
The model.
. Students are required to complete all 1st and 2nd year courses as well as STAT 301 as
required at present. Mandatory upper level courses for all biology majors would be: BISC
329 Experimental techniques; BISC 333 Developmental Biology; BISC 400 Evolution; and
either BISC
305
Animal Physiology or BISC 366 Plant Physiology. The department felt
that a gap in the curriculum will still exist in terms of the breadth of knowledge that
graduates will have. Therefore, it is under consideration that all students also take a
required organismal course or biodiversity course which will encompass all five kingdoms.
It is unclear at the present what the course content would be, at what level the course would
be taught, or who would teach such a course.
Students in the 3rd year of studies will then begin the streaming process (see layout).
There are six streams: Cell and molecular biology, animal physiology, plant biology,
ecology, marine sciences and a general stream. In each stream there are mandatory lecture
courses, mandatory lab courses and a suite of electives from the particular area of
emphasis. There is still room in a students program for elective courses in other areas,
although the choices may be limited due to prerequisite requirements. The general stream is
similar to the present system although it allows more freedom in terms of a students choices
in courses. In this model, students will take at least the same and possibly one more
required lab course than the present system operating, therefore, there is no diluting of lab
experience for the graduates. In contrast, the lab experience will be enriched because the
student load is spread more equally over a larger number of lab courses.
Ramifications.
There are several ramifications were this proposal to be accepted. First, biology graduates
in this scenario may not have the breadth of biological knowledge that previous graduates
have had. What is accomplished, however, is a student with a much more focused
knowledge base in a particular area of a biological science. This may be of benefit to some
students and allows them to make that important decision based on their individual needs.
If students do not wish to specialize, the option of the general stream still exists.
The areas of streams were chosen based on the anticipated student interest, the existing
course offerings, and the perceptions of areas of strength of the biology faculty. The
streams as outlined are not meant to and will not dictate any future hirings. It is anticipated
that these streams will evolve with time as new faculty are hired. Modifications to streams
will also occur over time as courses are added or dropped from our curriculum with
changing faculty.
MOTION
That the reintroduction of streams into the Department of Biological undergraduate
curriculum be approved.
1]
R,
The reintroduction of streams into the undergraduate curriculum in the Department of
Biological Sciences incurs changes to the upper division requirements for a B.Sc. in
biology. These changes are:
From:
(p.
151 in calendar)
?
To:
LII
all of
BISC
333-3 Developmental Biology
BISC
329-4 Intro. Experimental Techn.
BISC
400-3 Evolution
one of
BICH
322-3 Molecular Physiology
BICH
321-3 Intermediary Metabolism
one of
BISC
305-3
Animal Physiology
BISC
366-3 Plant Ecophysiology
one of
No change
No change
No change
Students begin streaming as on next
page.
Students begin streaming as on next
page.
BISC 306-3 Invertebrate Physiology
BISC 316-3 Vertebrate Physiology
one of
Students begin streaming as on next
page.
BISC 326-3 Nonvascular Plants
?
Snidents begin streaming as on next
BISC 337-3 Comparative Morphology
?
page
Distribution and Evolution
of Vascular Plants
The overall layout for the calendar description for the streaming process outlined on the
next page is currently in discussion and modification in the Biological Sciences
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.
4.
Upper Division Requirements and Electives
All biological sciences majors will complete a minimum of 12
upper division (36 credit hours in courses numbered 300 or
above) BISC courses. The following three courses form an
upper division core required of all BISC major/honors students.
BISC 329-3 ?
Experimental Techniques
BISC 333-3
?
Developmental Biology
BISC 400-3
?
Evolution
Students are encouraged to choose their remaining curriculum
requirements in an area of specialization. Currently, six
different streams of biology are offered which include cell and
molecular biology, animal physiology, plant biology, ecology,
marine biology and general biology. Courses in the general
stream may be chosen to gain broad training in the biological
sciences, or used to specialize in an areas not offered in the
other five streams. The course requirements for each stream
are as follows.
Cell & Molecular Biology
one physiology course from
BISC 305-3
?
Animal Physiology
BISC 366-3 ?
Plant Physiology
one organismal lab course from
BISC 303-3
Microbiology
BISC 306-3
Invertebrate Biology
BISC 316-3
Vertebrate Biology
BISC 326-3
Non-vascular Plants
BISC 337-3
Comparative Morphology, Distribution
and Evolution of Vascular Plants
one lab course
BISC 302-3
?
Genetic Analysis
two mandatory courses:
BISC 331-3
?
Molecular Biology
BICH 322-3
?
Molecular Physiology
two additional lab courses from
BISC 405-3
?
Cell Physiology
BISC 429-3 ?
Experimental Techniques l:Separation
Methods
BISC 431-3 ?
Molecular Biotechnology
BISC 457-3
?
Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
or appropriate special topics lab courses
two additional courses from
BISC 402-3 ?
Molecular Genetics
BISC 453-3
?
Advanced Developmental Biology
BICH 412-3
?
Enzymology
BICH 421-3 ?
Nucleic Acids
BICH 422-3 ?
Biomembranes
BICH 423-3 ?
Protein Structure and Function
BISC 498-3
?
Undergraduate Research
or special topics courses appropriate for the selected stream
or alternative courses as approved by the program advisor
two other upper division electives
Animal Physiology
one physiology course
BISC 305-3
?
Animal Physiology
one organismal lab course from
BISC 306-3
?
Invertebrate Biology
BISC 316-3 ?
Vertebrate Biology
one lab course
BISC 307-3
?
Animal Physiology Lab
two mandatory courses:
BICH 321-3 ?
Intermediary Metabolism
BICH 322-3 ?
Molecular Physiology
two additional lab courses from
BISC 405-3
?
Cell Physiology
BISC 429-3
?
Experimental Techniques I: Separation
Methods
BISC 449-3
?
Experimental Techniques Ill: Histochemistry
BISC416-3 ?
Fish Biology
or appropriate special topics lab courses
two additional courses from
BISC 313-3 ?
Environmental Toxicology II
BISC 445-3 ?
Environmental Physiology of Animals
BISC 455-3
?
Endocrinology
BISC 498-3
?
Undergraduate Research
or special topics courses appropriate for the selected stream
or alternative courses as approved by the program advisor
two other upper division electives ?
0
Plant Biology
one physiology course
BISC 366-3 ?
Plant Physiology
one organismal lab course
BISC 337-3
?
Comparative Morphology, Distribution and
Evolution of Vascular Plants
one lab course
BISC 367-3 ?
Plant Physiology Lab
two mandatory courses:
BISC 356-3 ?
Hormonal Regulation of Plant Growth
BISC 404-3 ?
Plant Ecology
two additional lab courses from
BISC 429-3 ?
Experimental Techniques l:Separation
Methods
BISC 449-3
?
Experimental Techniques Ill: Histochemistry
BISC 430-3
?
Plant Pathology
BISC 457-3
?
Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
or appropriate special topics lab courses
two additional courses from
BISC 310-3
?
The Plants and Animals of British Columbia
BISC 326-3 ?
Nonvascular Plants
BISC 434-3 ?
Paleoecology and Palynology
BISC 498-3
?
Undergraduate Research
or special topics courses appropriate for the selected strea
.
alternative courses as approved by the program advisor
two other upper division electives
Ecology
one physiology course from
BISC 305-3
?
Animal Physiology
BISC 366-3 ?
Plant Physiology
one organismal lab course from
BISC 303-3
Microbiology
BISC 306-3
Invertebrate Biology
BISC 316-3
Vertebrate Biology
BISC 326-3
Non-vascular Plants
BISC 337-3
Comparative Morphology, Distribution
and Evolution ofVascular Plants
one lab course from
BISC 302-3
Genetic Analysis
BISC 307-3
Animal Physiology Lab
BISC 367-3
Plant Physiology Lab
MASC 445-3
Biology of Marine Mammals
two mandatory courses
BISC 304-3 ?
Animal Ecology
BISC 407-3 ?
Population Dynamics
two additional lab courses from
AN&ISC 317-3
Insect Biology
404-3
WI
SC
Plant Ecology
SC 414-3
Limnology
BISC 415-3
Ornithology
B15C416-3
Fish Biology
BISC 417-3
Entomology
BISC 419-3
Wildlife Biology
BISC 430-3
Plant Pathology
or appropriate
special topics lab courses
two additional courses from
BISC 310-3
The Plants and Animals of British Columbia
BISC 312-3
Environmental Toxicology I
BISC 404-3
Plant Ecology
BISC41O-3
Ethology
BISC 417-3
Entomology
BISC 430-3
Plant Pathology
BISC 432-3
Chemical Pesticides and the Environment
BISC 434-3
Paleoecology and Palynology
BISC 435-3
Introduction to Pest Management
BISC 498-3
Undergraduate Research
or special topics courses appropriate for the selected stream
or alternative courses
as approved by the program advisor
two other upper division electives
Marine Biology
one physiology course from
?
BISC 305-3
?
Animal Physiology
?
0 S 366-3
?
Plant Physiology
one organismal lab course from
109
BISC 306-3
Invertebrate Biology
BISC316-3
Vertebrate Biology
MASC 410-3
Marine Invertebrate Zoology
one lab course
from
BISC 307-3
Animal Physiology Lab
BISC 367-3
Plant Physiology Lab
MASC 445-3
Biology of Marine Mammals
two mandatory
courses:
BISC 406-3
Marine Biology and Oceanography
BISC 326-3
Nonvascular Plants
two additional lab courses from
BISC 414-3
Limnology
BISC 415-3
Ornithology
BISC416-3
Fish Biology
MASC 412-3
Biology of Fishes
MASC 413-3
Biology of Marine Molluscs
MASC 440-3
Biology of Marine Birds
or appropriate special topics lab courses
two additional courses from
BISC 304-3 ?
Animal Ecology
BISC 303-3 ?
Microbiology
BISC 498-3
?
Undergraduate Research
MASC 411-3
?
Comparative Embryology of Marine
Invertebrates
MASC 445-3 ?
Biology of Marine Mammals
MASC 446-3
?
Compartive Ethology
or special topics courses appropriate for the selected stream
or alternative courses as approved by the program advisor
two other upper division electives
General Stream
one physiology course from
BISC 305-3 ?
Animal Physiology
BISC 366-3
?
Plant Physiology
one organismal lab course from
BISC 303-3
Microbiology
BISC 306-3
Invertebrate Biology
BISC 316-3
Vertebrate Biology
BISC 326-3
Non-vascular Plants
BISC 337-3
Comparative Morphology, Distribution
and Evolution ofVascular Plants
one lab course from
BISC 302-3
Genetic Analysis
BISC 307-3
Animal Physiology Lab
BISC 367-3
Plant Physiology Lab
MASC 445-3
Biology of Marine Mammals
two additional lab courses from
any upper division BISC or MASC lab course
or appropriate special topics lab courses
four additional courses from
any upper division BISC or MASC course
or special topics courses appropriate for the selected stream
or alternative courses as approved by the program advisor
two other upper division electives
S.96-77b
SCUS Reference: SCUS 96-42
FOR
SCAP
INFORMATION
Reference: SCAP 96-54 b)
?
.
b)
?
Department of Chemistry
Acting under delegated authority, SCUS approved curriculum
revisions of a minor nature as follows:
i)
Change of description: CHEM 372
ii)
Change of course requirement:
delete MATH 310 as prerequisite for CHEM 361
delete MATH 310 as a required course for Chemistry
major and honors programs; increase from 4-7
hours the elective UD credit in CHEM, BICH or
NUSC in major program
iii)
Restriction of entry to CHEM 101
.
11
S.96-77c
SCUS Reference: SCUS 96-43
SCAP Reference: SCAP 96-54 c)
FOR INFORMATION
c) ?
Earth Sciences Program
Acting under delegated authority, SCUS approved curriculum
revisions of a minor nature as follows:
i)
Delete EASC 304 - 3 Structural Geology
II
ii)
Change title and course description: EASC 407 - 3
iii)
Change number and prerequisite: EASC 408 - 3
iv)
New course: EASC 410 - 3 Groundwater
Geochemistry
v)
Change of prerequisites: EASC 202, 207, 306
vi)
Change of requirements for graduation in Major
Program
vii)
New course outlines:
?
EASC 407 - 3 Tectonics
EASC 408-3 Hydrogeology
.
0
i0i
SCUS Reference: SCUS 96-44
SCAP Reference: SCAP 96-54 d)
?
S.96-77d
FOR INFORMATION
d)
?
Environmental Science Program
Acting under delegated authority, SCUS approved curriculum
revisions of a minor nature as follows:
i)
Change of title, credit and vector: ENPL 200
ii)
New course: EVSC 401 - 1 Current Topics in
Environmental Science
.
.
.
q.
.
SCUS Reference: SCUS 96-45
?
S.96-77e
SCAP Reference: SCAP 96-54
e)
FOR INFORMATION
e) ?
Department of Geography
Acting under delegated authority, SCUS approved curriculum
revisions of a minor nature as follows:
i)
Change in prerequisite: GEOG 311 -4
ii)
Change in program requirements for B.Sc. in
Geography
.
10.
SCUS Reference: SCUS 96-46
SCAP Reference: SCAP 96-54 f)
S.96-77f
FOR INFORMATION
f)
?
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Acting under delegated authority, SCUS approved curriculum
revisions of a minor nature as follows:
i)
?
Change of title, credit and vector: MATH 262
I
I
II.
.
SCUS Reference: SCUS 96-47
?
S.96-77g
SCAP Reference: SCAP 96-54 g)
FOR INFORMATION
g)
?
Department of Physics
Acting under delegated authority, SCUS approved curriculum
revisions of a minor nature as follows:
i)
Change in prerequisite: P1-fl'S 190
ii)
Changes in requirements for Applied Physics Major
1).
