📍 Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada · Est. 1965
Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a public research university located in British Columbia, Canada, with its main campus situated on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby. Additional campuses are located in Surrey and Vancouver. Established in 1965, SFU is a comprehensive university offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines. The university operates on a trimester system, allowing for year-round study and accelerated degree completion options. SFU is organized into eight faculties: Applied Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Business (Beedie School of Business), Communication, Art and Technology, Education, Environment, Health Sciences, and Science. Each faculty encompasses multiple departments, schools, and research centers. The Faculty of Applied Sciences includes departments such as Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Computing Science, Engineering Science, and Mechatronic Systems Engineering. Computing Science offers programs in areas like artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, and human-computer interaction. Engineering Science provides specializations in areas such as computer engineering, electronics engineering, and systems engineering. The Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology department focuses on human movement, health, and disease, offering programs in fields like active health and rehabilitation, and behavioral neuroscience. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is the largest faculty at SFU, offering a diverse array of programs in humanities, social sciences, and fine arts. Departments within this faculty include Anthropology, Archaeology, Criminology, Economics, English, First Nations Studies, French, Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies, Geography, Global Asia Studies, History, Humanities, Indigenous Studies, International Studies, Latin American Studies, Linguistics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, and World Languages and Literatures. Specific courses offered range from introductory surveys to advanced seminars in topics such as ancient civilizations, contemporary social issues, literary analysis, ethical theory, and political economy. The Criminology department is particularly recognized for its interdisciplinary approach to the study of crime and justice, with programs covering areas like criminal law, policing, corrections, and victimology. Psychology offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, with research strengths in cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and social psychology. The Beedie School of Business offers undergraduate Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programs and various graduate programs, including Master of Business Administration (MBA), Executive MBA, and specialized Master's degrees in areas like finance and management of technology. The BBA program allows students to specialize in areas such as accounting, finance, human resource management, international business, marketing, operations management, and management information systems. The school emphasizes experiential learning, including co-op opportunities and case competitions. The Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology comprises the School of Communication, the School for the Contemporary Arts, and the School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT). The School of Communication offers programs exploring media studies, communication theory, and the social and cultural impacts of communication technologies. The School for the Contemporary Arts offers programs in dance, film, music, theatre, and visual art, focusing on both practice and theory. SIAT is an interdisciplinary school that combines aspects of art, design, and technology, with programs in areas like interactive systems, game design, and digital media. The Faculty of Education offers undergraduate and graduate programs for aspiring educators and those seeking to advance their careers in educational leadership and research. Programs include Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) for teacher certification, and graduate degrees such as Master of Arts (MA), Master of Education (M.Ed.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in various educational specializations. Research in the faculty covers areas like curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, educational technology, and social justice in education. The Faculty of Environment encompasses departments such as Archaeology, Geography, Resource and Environmental Management, and the School of Environmental Science. Programs address topics like climate change, sustainability, urban planning, environmental policy, and natural resource management. The Department of Geography offers specializations in human geography, physical geography, and geographic information science (GIS). The Faculty of Health Sciences offers interdisciplinary programs focused on public health, health promotion, disease prevention, and health policy. Programs include Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Health Sciences, as well as graduate degrees such as Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science (MSc), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Research areas include infectious diseases, chronic diseases, environmental health, global health, and health equity. The Faculty of Science includes departments such as Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Physics, and Statistics and Actuarial Science. These departments offer a comprehensive range of programs, from foundational sciences to specialized research areas. For example, Biological Sciences offers specializations in ecology, evolution, genetics, and cell biology. Chemistry provides programs in analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. Mathematics offers programs in pure mathematics, applied mathematics, and actuarial science. SFU's main Burnaby campus is approximately 1.7 square kilometers (420 acres) and features distinct architectural styles, including concrete brutalist designs by Arthur Erickson. The university operates numerous research centers and institutes, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and contributing to advancements in various fields. Notable academic strengths include computing science, criminology, environmental science, and health sciences. The university is accredited by the provincial government of British Columbia and is a member of Universities Canada, the national organization representing Canadian universities. Beyond formal academic programs, SFU offers extensive co-operative education (co-op) programs across all faculties, providing students with opportunities to gain practical work experience related to their field of study. International exchange programs are also available, allowing students to study abroad at partner institutions worldwide. The university hosts various student support services, including academic advising, career services, health and counseling services, and disability access services. Research at SFU is supported by internal grants, external funding from government agencies (such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)), and partnerships with industry. The university maintains a strong focus on research that addresses societal challenges and contributes to knowledge creation.
