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- 2025 Archives
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Negin Shooraj
- 911³Ô¹Ï Geography Alumni Sean Orr wins Vancouver council seat in byelection
- Rosemary Collard awarded 2024 911³Ô¹Ï Excellence in Teaching Award
- 911³Ô¹Ï Students Designed and Developed a GeoApp as a Living Wage Calculator
- Undergraduate students team secures third-place in Canada-wide GeoApp competition
- 911³Ô¹Ï Geography Wins Big at 2025 CAG Annual Conference
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Alex Sodeman
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Tintin Yang
- In Memory of Leonard "Len" Evenden, Professor Emeritus
- Gabrielle Wong awarded 2025 Gordon M. Shrum Medal
- Dr. Bright Addae awarded 2025 Graduate Dean's Convocation Medal
- Congratulations to Alysha van Duynhoven for Teaching Assistant Excellence Award
- Wildfires to waterways: 911³Ô¹Ï Geography grad takes action to protect the environment
- Making a difference on and off-campus: student leader and changemaker, Gabrielle Wong, awarded 911³Ô¹Ï convocation medal
- 2025 Alumni Newsletter
- Kira Sokolovskaia wins the 2025 911³Ô¹Ï ECCE GIS Scholarship Award
- Mapping a path to City Hall: 911³Ô¹Ï alumnus shares journey to becoming Mayor of New Westminster
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Alysha van Duynhoven
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Hannah Harrison
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Jade Baird
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Ashley Tegart
- Rethinking the World Map: Dr. Shiv Balram featured on CBC
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Véronique Emond-Sioufi
- 911³Ô¹Ï Geographers at the 2025 International Cartographic Conference in Vancouver
- When academic curiosity meets environmental purpose: new global environmental systems grad builds interdisciplinary foundation at 911³Ô¹Ï
- Alysha Van Duynhoven wins the 2025 911³Ô¹Ï ECCE in GIS Student Associate Achievement Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to David Swanlund
- Congratulations to Our 2025 Warren Gill Award Recipients!
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Baharak Yousefi
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Tara Jankovic
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Christine Leclerc
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Kira Lamont
- Terri Evans: Researching homelessness in suburban communities
- Mapping change for people and the planet
- GIS Month: What is Geographic Information Science (GIS)?
- 911³Ô¹Ï GIS undergraduate develops real-time earthquake monitoring and hospital alert system
- Physical Geography student returns to 911³Ô¹Ï, dives into marine ecology, soils and GIS to map a new path forward
- 911³Ô¹Ï study searches Strava to reveal secrets to happier runs
- 2026 Archives
- 911³Ô¹Ï study searches Strava to reveal secrets to happier runs
- GIScience Students Become 911³Ô¹Ï’s First Team at National Geomatics Competition
- 2026 ESRI Canada GIS Scholarship for 911³Ô¹Ï
- Physical Geography student returns to 911³Ô¹Ï, dives into marine ecology, soils and GIS to map a new path forward
- 911³Ô¹Ï GIS undergraduate develops real-time earthquake monitoring and hospital alert system
- GIS Month: What is Geographic Information Science (GIS)?
- Mapping change for people and the planet
- GIS Team Crowned Champions of 2026 National Geomatics Competition
- Second-year MSc Student, Erin Fairley, has made it to the 911³Ô¹Ï 3MT Finals!
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Brandon Drucker
- 2025 Archives
- Alumni
- GEOG 162 - Canada
Frequently Asked Questions for Geography Programs & Courses
What is WQB? What are Breadth Exemptions?
WQB are courses required for your degree, to ensure a well-rounded education. You can have a look on the WQB website for your information about what WQB is.
Geography majors have breadth exemptions.
If you are pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) with a Major in Geography, Human Geography or Urban Worlds, you may use any Geography course labelled B-Sci to fulfill a B-Sci requirement.
If you are pursuing a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Physical Geography or Geographic Information Science, you may use any Geography course labelled B-Soc to fulfill a B-Soc requirement and any Geography course labelled B-Hum to fulfill a B-Hum requirement.
If you are a student in the multidisciplinary Bachelor of Environment (BEnv) Global Environmental Systems (GES) program, any breadth-designated Geography course you take may be used to fulfill the corresponding breadth requirement (e.g. B-Sci, B-Soc or B-Hum).
To look at what WQB courses are available, you can go here.
Why are courses I have taken not on my Academic Progress Report (APR)?
The courses on the APR is based on Senate approval and the 911³Ô¹Ï Academic Calendar. If a course is created after your requirement term (the term you declared your major, minor or certificate) the course may not be included on your APR. It is best to look at our checklists in Plan Your Degree for a better look at what courses you can take. These are updated regularly for you.
When should I declare a major, minor or certificate?
As soon as possible! The requirements may change from when you started the credential until you decide to declare. To keep the requirements you want, declare as soon as possible. Once you are ready to declare, email us at geogadv@sfu.ca (include your student ID number) or pop-in during our advising hours and we can discuss this with you.
What are the admission requirements to transfer into a Geography major?
Normally, if you are a current student, at least a 2.0 GPA. However, we encourage taking 1-2 introductory courses in the major to ensure you want to change. If you want recommendations and want to make a plan, email us at geogadv@sfu.ca (please include your student ID number) or pop-in during our advising hours and we can work together.
What are the admission requirements for a minor or certificate in Geography?
Normally, if you are a current student, at least a 2.0 GPA. We do ask you take 1-2 courses in the certificate or minor before declaration to ensure you are serious about completion. You can email geogadv@sfu.ca and include your student number for clarification of your specific requirements.
If you are outside of 911³Ô¹Ï and want to complete an Urban Studies or , you will need to apply to admissions.
How do I declare a minor or certificate?
You can declare a minor or certificate by emailing geogadv@sfu.ca with your student number, or see us in our drop-in advising hours.
I don't have a prerequisite but I want to do a Geography course. What can I do?
If you don't have the prerequisite for a Geography course, you will need to fill out the prerequisite waiver form. Please allow up to 10 business days for processing. Advisors will contact you if you are successful or not.
We do not accept prerequisite waivers for GEOG 304: Geography of Wine.
Can a Geography major do co-op?
Yes! Many of our students participate in Co-operative Education (Co-op) for paid work experience. Co-op provides structured support in the job search, along with connections to a wide network of employers.
While work terms generally take place in the second or third year, interested students are encouraged to connect with a Co-op Advisor in their second year of study, before reaching 80 units. Transfer students need to apply within their first year at 911³Ô¹Ï.
Can a Geography major do honours? What is the process to do honours?
Yes! Many of our students do an honours semester at the end of their studies. Honours is available for all of our majors.
You will need to find a Geography professor who would be open to supervising you. Once you have a supervisor, please contact geogadv@sfu.ca for an honours worksheet that you will fill out with your supervisor. You will then submit it to the Geography advisors who will enroll you.
Need help? Have a question that is not answered above? Contact an Academic Advisor for assistance.
In-person advising takes place in RCB 7126 and RCB 7128, Burnaby Campus.
Click the link below to connect to the Remote/Zoom drop-in room.
No appointment needed during drop-in times.
PLEASE NOTE: There is no advising on Statutory Holidays.
geogadv@sfu.ca | 778.782.4529