MEMO
    Dean of
    Graduate Studies
    STREET ADDRESS
    Maggie Benston Student Services
    Centre 1100
    Burnaby BC VsA iSf>
    Canada
    MAIL INC. ADDRESS
    8888 University Drive
    Burnaby BC V>A iS6
    Canada
    SFU
    S.12-21
    TO: Senate
    TEL
    FROM Wade Parkhouse, Dean, Graduate Studies
    C^O^ oJL£L^**_*
    RE General Graduate Regulation 1.3.8.a
    1GS2011.23]
    cc
    DATE December 8, 201 1
    Motion: That Senate approve the addition of GGR 1.3.8.a which outlines the criteria
    for admission to a Concurrent Bachelors-Master's program
    [GS2011.23]
    Effective Date is September 2012
    Senators wishing to consult a more detailed report of curriculum revisions
    may do so by going to Docushare:
    https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-12682
    If you
    are unable
    to access the information, please call 778-782-3168 or email
    shellev aair@sfu.ca.
    Addition of G.G.R. 1.3.8.a
    Motion
    That SGSC recommend to Senate the addition of GGR 1.3.8.a which outlines the criteria for admission to
    a Concurrent Bachelor's-Master's program.
    Rationale
    A number of graduate programs are interested in developingconcurrent bachelor's-master's programs
    (sometimes referred to as combined or accelerated bachelor's-master'sprograms) similar to what is in
    place in many other universities. The hallmarkof these programs is that exceptional undergraduates can
    apply into the concurrent program and while they are completingtheir bachelor's program they complete
    a portion
    of the graduate credits needed for their master's degree. It is the responsibility of SGSC to
    recommend and Senate to establish minimum admission standards for these programs which, as proposed,
    are similar to programs at other institutions and have been established following consultation across the
    graduate programs. Further details on concurrent bachelor's-master'sprograms are provided as
    background following the calendar language.
    Background on Concurrent Bachelor's-Master'sprograms
    A Concurrent Bachelor's -Master's program is one in which it is deemed academically advantageous to
    treat the educational process leading through the bachelor's to the master's degree as a single continuous
    integrated whole, while at the same time satisfying the requirements for both degrees. Such structured
    programs, starting at the undergraduate level and terminating with a master's degree, provide an
    alternative means, complementary to existing undergraduate and graduate programs, for the attainment
    of
    a master'sdegree. Concurrent Bachelor's- Master's programs may be developed in response to a number
    of needs among which are:
    1. recognition
    of outstanding students and provision of academic enrichment for them;
    2. provision of an introduction to the postgraduate milieu for good undergraduate students who
    might otherwise overlook the opportunity of graduate studies;
    3. the provision of a reasonably firm time horizon for the completion of a master'sprogram;
    4. the opportunity to recruit outstanding high school students to UG programs with Concurrent
    Bachelor's- Master's programs.
    These types of programs exist at many institutions including the University of Waterloo, University of
    Calgary, University of California - Berkeley, New York University, Johns Hopkins University, MIT,
    Brown University, Yale College, Temple University, and many others. All the programs share some
    common elements: higher admission standards than regular admission to the master's program,
    completion of a limited amount of graduate work as part of the UG credential, limits on when students
    can apply to the program relative to their UG degree completion progress, and time-limits on degree
    completion at the master's level which are quite short. These programs provide a mechanism for the
    institution to offer a quicker route to a master's degree for outstanding students.
    SGSC has established the followingframework as a guide for the development of Concurrent
    Bachelor-Masters Programs based on its consultation and a review of other institutional concurrent
    programs. All programs developed will be subject to Senate approval.
    1. Concurrent Bachelor's- Master's programs will require that students fulfill the degree
    requirements of both the bachelor's program and the master's program. This implies that:
    o students complete at least two terms of full-time registration(or equivalent) at the
    graduate level (mandatory);
    o the graduate program must adhereto the residence requirements for a master's degree at
    SFU (GGR 1.7.2);
    o the co-operative work term requirements of the bachelor's or master's programs or any
    internship requirements
    of the master's programs must be met (if applicable);
    o a maximum often graduate course units used as either electives or upper division
    required courses at the bachelor's level will be applied to the requirements for the
    master's degree;
    o students registering for "piggybacked" undergraduate-graduate courses as part of their
    concurrent program must register in the graduate course, complete the graduate course
    requirements;
    o if a student becomes ineligible to continue to participate in the concurrent program, the
    Chair of the Graduate ProgramCommittee must inform the student in writing of his/her
    ineligibility and a copy of this letter must be sent to the Dean of Graduate Studies;
    o each individual in any concurrent bachelor's-master'sprogram must complete an
    individual or small group project/research report/extended essays as part of the program
    via at least 3 units of master's-level independent study units or master's level
    project/research report/extended essay-based courses to gain experience in applying
    research methodology to real-world problems.
    2. There must be complete freedom of transferability from the concurrent programs to the regular
    programs and a student may withdraw at any time from an approved Concurrent Bachelor's-
    Master's program by informing the Chairs
    of the Undergraduate and Graduate Programs and the
    Dean of Graduate Studies in writing.
    3. The culmination of the concurrent program is the master's degree.
    4. Students admitted to the concurrent programwill pay the UG per credit rate for all UG courses
    (or premium if applicable) and the graduate per credit rate (or premium if applicable) for all
    graduate courses while they are registered in their bachelor's program. Once the students
    complete their bachelor's degree, students will pay the appropriate graduate tuition fees for that
    program.
    5. Students admitted to the concurrent programs are ineligible for graduate scholarships or awards
    administered from SFU sources until they complete their bachelor degrees.
    6. Students are expected to complete the master'sdegree within 12 months of completion of the
    bachelor's degree for a non-thesis master's degree and within 18 months for a master's program
    requiring a thesis.
    7. Recruitment into a Concurrent Bachelor's - Master's degree program must have the flexibility to
    satisfy the requirements of individual students; at the same time it must have coherence - each
    student's program must be addressed toward a well-defined area of specialization.
    Summary of Program Requirements of Some Concurrent Bachelor's-Master's
    Programs
    Minimum
    Admission
    CGPA
    Admission
    entry
    Continuing
    eligibility
    Maxgrad
    credits
    taken
    while UG
    Maximum
    degree
    time for
    masters
    Waterloo
    Not
    specified
    75-90U
    B
    6U
    Not
    specified
    Calgary
    3.6/4.0
    90U
    Not
    specified
    6U
    12 mo
    Dalhousie
    3.3/4.3
    90U
    3.3
    6U
    12 mo
    NCSU
    3.5/4.0
    75-96U
    3.5/4.0
    12 U
    12-18 mo
    Temple
    3.25
    75U
    B
    9U
    12 mo
    NYU
    3.5/4.0
    48-96U
    3.0/4.0
    8-12 U
    12 mo
    Yale
    Not
    specified
    75U
    3.0/4.0
    6U
    12 mo
    John Hopkins
    U
    Not
    specified
    75-105U
    3.0/4.0
    9U
    12 mo
    Brown
    Not
    specified
    90U
    3.0/4.0
    6U
    12 mo
    Berkeley
    3.5/4.0 UD Not
    specified
    3.0/4.0
    9U
    8 mo
    UColorado
    3.3/4.0
    CGPA
    Not
    specified
    3.5 prog
    3.3 CGPA
    6U
    12 mo
    MIT
    4.25/5.0
    Third year
    4.0/5.0 B
    Varies
    max 12U
    12 mo
    UCSanDiego 3.0/4.0
    75U
    3.0/4.0
    OU
    12 mo
    Across these institutions, concurrent programs exist in the following disciplines: computer science,
    engineering, history, mathematics, philosophy, statistics, marketing, communication, criminology,
    nursing, recreation, public health, public administration, forestry and environmental studies, music,
    biology, chemistry, classics, comparative literature, economics, English, French, journalism, politics,
    psychology, sociology, kinesiology, physics, bioengineering earth sciences, and others.
    Calendar
    language (insert)
    1.3.8a
    Admission to
    a Concurrent
    Bachelor's-Master's
    Program
    The minimum University requirements for admission to a concurrent bachelor's-master'sprogram are as
    follows:
    a) Simon Fraser University undergraduate students following the completion of 90 UG credits with a
    minimum CGPA of 3.67/4.33;
    b) submitted evidence, usually references, from qualified referees of the student's ability to undertake
    advanced work in the area of interest.
    Students must satisfy any additional requirements set by the graduate program committee.

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