Environment (Bachelor of Science): International Year One (Cornerstone Entry)

Science that protects rivers, forests and air begins with the right foundations. This row covers the Environment (BSc) year at FIC, entered through Cornerstone, studied on the Burnaby campus of Simon Fraser University. An extra support semester at the start means the programme is planned over four terms, about sixteen months.

Cornerstone opens with CNQS101, which introduces the language and study methods of quantitative courses, together with CNST101 (the Cornerstone Academic Program) and CNSU101 on university life. The quantitative survey is especially useful here, since the stream moves on to MATH151 Calculus I, CHEM121 General Chemistry and Laboratory I and a biology course such as BISC101. Further courses include EVSC100 Introduction to Environmental Science, PHYS140 Studio Physics and an elective like REM100 or GEOG100.

Instruction follows SFU course outlines, taught by staff whom SFU has approved, so the credits you earn are recognised when you transfer. Ten academic courses, at least 30 units, and a GPA of 2.5 with no grade below C- secure a place in the Faculty of Environment. Degree choices are Environmental Science, with specialisations such as Water Science or Applied Biology, Geographic Information Systems, or Physical Geography, all as Bachelor of Science degrees with the option of co-op. Help with research and writing is on hand at SFU’s Student Learning Commons.

Roles open to graduates include ecologist, environmental health and safety inspector, laboratory technician, natural resources specialist, air quality specialist and field technician. Cornerstone suits students with solid school science and maths whose English is at an earlier stage and who want time to settle into Canadian study before the main science load begins.