The Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS) presently provides five distinct sets of admission requirements for entry into its programs from BC Grade 12. While each of the four Schools of Communication, Computing Science, Engineering Science and Kinesiology do require five Grade 12 courses acceptable for overall SFU admission, the permissible sets of courses vary considerably. Tech One, the first year of the Program in Information Technology and Interactive Arts brings yet another distinct admission model into the picture, as a carryover from the former Technical University of British Columbia.
This document proposes the development of a common framework for direct admission to FAS programs from BC Grade 12. The framework emphasizes breadth and foundational skills in writing and mathematics. Within the framework, programs may have varying requirements with respect to disciplinary preparation.
A common framework for requirements with respect to breadth, writing and mathematics is expected to have several advantages. First and foremost, admitted students should be better prepared to take on and succeed in their intended program of study. Indeed, the subsequent analysis will argue that each FAS program can benefit from improved preparation of students along at least one of the dimensions of breadth, writing, or mathematics. Second, a common framework should provide students with more options to switch to an alternative program of study in the event their initial program choice turns out not to match their interests or aptitudes. Third, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary opportunities should be enhanced by ensuring that more students have the broad background to consider these options. Fourth, the framework should also ensure that students are well prepared to take on the anticipated university-wide requirements for breadth, writing-intensive and quantitative-intensive courses as proposed by the university curriculum task force. Fifth and finally, the framework should have benefits for advising high school students with respect to Grade 12 course selection, both because it is simpler to communicate and because it encourages breadth while discouraging premature specialization.
Admission requirements for FAS programs must also be consistent with overall SFU requirements. The primary requirements are for five recognized Grade 12 courses including English 12. A large selection of Grade 12 courses is recognized for admission, with a small amount of structure imposed to provide some breadth.
In imposing additional structure beyond the minimum SFU requirements, it is also important to ensure that the additional requirements do not unduly limit the number of admissible applicants. If the applicant pool is limited in size it may be impossible to meet admission targets without lowering the admission average substantially.
Finally, this document also proposes a calibration process that accounts for differences with respect to grading and reporting standards of individual high schools (lower mainland) and school districts (elsewhere in B.C.). SFU data comparing admission GPA by source with subsequent SFU GPA shows that there substantial differences between various sources and that these differences have long term stability.
The essential concept underlying the notion of breadth in this proposal is that admission to FAS programs should emphasize English 12, Math 12 and at least one course course each in arts 12 and science 12 groups.
In order to express the breadth constraints, the current lists (in particular, List 2) of the BC12 courses used for admission should be reorganized as follows.
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The reorganization classifies List 2 courses to simplify the expression of Applied Sciences admission requirements. The reorganization does not affect the he admission requirements of any other Faculty.
The following two tables provide current and proposed admission requirements. Admission requirements of the other Faculties are included in the first table for reference only.
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The School of Communication presently uses the Faculty of Arts admission model. Bringing the School under the proposed Faculty of Applied Sciences breadth model is a significant change with the notable additions of Math 12 and at least one science 12 as requirements. Because the School relies on internal transfer rather than direct admission for the bulk of its students, the overall effect of the change on the numbers of admitted students should be small.
The current requirements of the School of Computing Science already include both arts (social science) and science (two science 12 courses). However, with the planned program expansion under DTO, it is proposed that the requirements be revised both to broaden the applicant pool and to reflect a more interdisciplinary orientation.
Engineering Science presently requires four specified courses (English 12, Math 12, Physics 12 and Chemistry 12), leaving the fifth grade 12 course free to be chosen from the list of courses generally recognized for SFU admission.
From the perspective of a potential arts 12 requirement, a review of courses taken by 2002 Engineering Science applicants showed that that approximately 40% had a grade 12 course within the social sciences group and an additional 20% or so had a course within the fine and performing arts group. Many of the remainder had a language 12 (humanities group). Ideally, a requirement for a course within the social sciences group would prepare students for appreciation of the social context of engineering technology as well as giving them additional preparation in writing. A fine and performing arts course may select for creativity as well as communication skills. However, limiting the arts 12 requirement to either or both of these categories would likely in an overreduction of the applicant pool. Therefore, an arts 12 from any of the three groups is proposed.
The proposed changes relax the requirement for Chemistry 12, allowing any other Science 12 in its place. This will help broaden the applicant pool in light of the program expansion required under DTO. Although physics is a strong requirement for all concentrations in engineering science, chemistry is less so. Biology 12 may be more relevant to expansion in the area of biomedical engineering, for example.
Admission requirements for the Bachelor of General Studies (Applied Sciences) have not previously been defined. The proposed requirements ensure that students are in a position to undertake studies in any combination of Applied Sciences programs.
For 2002 admission, Kinesiology requires all of English 12, Math 12, Biology 12, Chemistry 12, and Physics 12. Although this would appear to set high standards, recent experience has shown that admission quotas cannot be met without unduly lowering the admission average. In essence, the pool of applicants having all five of these courses is too small to allow admission targets to be met with a reasonable admission average.
The changes proposed here reduce the total math and science course requirement from four to three, with a substantial broadening of the science courses that may be used for admission. An arts course from any of the three groups is allowed.
The existing admission requirements for Tech One (first year of the Program in Information Technology and Interactive Arts ) are based on Math 11 and four Grade 12 courses including English 12, a science 12 and two grade 12 electives.
The principal change is to add Math 12, while maintaining a separate science 12. To ensure breadth, an arts 12 in the social sciences or fine and performing arts is required.
Discussions are underway with respect to the evolution of Tech One as an integrated first year in support of a broad array of applied arts and sciences programs as well as continued support of the evolving program in interactive arts and information technology. The phrase Tech One/Design One is used here as a placeholder until a final design and name for the program is chosen.
Data supplied by the Office of Analytical Studies shows that the correlation between admission GPA and subsequent SFU performance shows long-term and stable variance depending on source high school. While individual schools and districts appear to maintain consistent grading standards over time, there are significant differences in calibration. The following wording is proposed to permit the Faculty of Applied Sciences to adjust admission GPA by source.
Based on historical student performance data, the minimum GPA for admission may vary slightly by source.
Applicants meeting the new admission requirements will be considered admissible effective with the Fall 2003 semester. However, applicants working towards the requirements published in the 2002-3 calendar will continue to be considered admissible until and including Fall 2004. The new requirements will become mandatory for all applicants effective Spring 2005.