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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

MEMO

To:

Ron Heath

Registrar and Secretary of the Senate

From:

Dr. Jim Cavers, Director

School of Engineering Science

Date:

February 12, 1992

Subject:

Student Semester Course Loads

In response to your memo of December 17, the issues of semester course loads and number of

study semesters to completion are regular points of discussion within our School. It is possible

for students to complete the engineering science program in 8 study semesters if they follow the

prescribed typical schedules. However, many find the required 20 semester hours a difficult load

to sustain, and for those students, we have identified in the calendar the courses which must be

taken each semester to avoid later prerequisite problems. This course schedule is strictly

voluntary; many choose not to follow the recommendation and ultimately find themselves out of

synchronization. A compounding factor is that a number of students elect to go on eight-month

work terms. The cumulative effect is felt in later semesters when they lack prerequisites and find

themselves having to take additional semesters at reduced credit loads to pick up their final

courses. Another contributing factor is the Undergraduate Thesis (ENSC 498-3 and ENSC 499-

9), which is considered part of the final study semesters. In many instances, students work on

a full-time basis while doing their theses, they don't take any courses and require additional study

semesters to complete their degree requirements.

Last summer we compiled some statistics on 40 graduands from 88-3 to 91-2 who did their

complete degree at SFU, and discovered that the typical pattern of reduced course load in later

semesters resulted in an average load of 14.2 credit hours (slightly below the stated minimum

load of

15)

and 11.6 study semesters to complete their degree. These statistics were

understandable given the points raised above.

Currently, the Calendar states (page 63 under B.A.Sc. requirements):

..These are listed below on a semester-by-semester basis although there is no

strict requirement to follow the sequence of these typical programs. However, any

semester's registration less than 15 semester hours must be approved by the

Director and students departing from these sequences must be careful about

scheduling and prerequisite problems they may face in subsequent semesters.

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We would be prepared to take the Senate's suggestion and elaborate further by saying:

• ..These are listed below on a semester-by-semester basis.

The program

requirements are structured in such a way that the program can be completed in

eight semesters

of full

time study. Although there is no strict requirement to

follow the sequence

of

these typical programs, students taking less than the

designated load must be careful about the scheduling and prerequisite problems

they may face in subsequent semesters. Failure to take those courses identified

with an asterisk (*) in the designated semester will almost certainly lead to such

problems. Note that any. semester

of

registration less than 15 semester hours

requires prior approval by the Director.

I hope this information satisfies the concerns raised by Senate. If I can provide any further

information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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