Certificates in extended studies in Science: Physical Geography

Extended studies certificates will allow graduates with a Bachelor degree from a recognized university to complete further coursework to meet the requirements of a physical geography major of a physical geography minor, or graduates from UFV with a Bachelor degree in geography to complete an honours degree for honours certification. 

Entrance requirements

Extended studies in Science: Physical Geography major

1.  Completion of a Bachelor of Science degree from a recognized university.

2. A minimum of 18 credits in geography courses, including GEOG 101 or 102 (or equivalents) and GEOG 140 (or equivalent) and a cumulative GPA of 2.33 or higher.

Extended studies in Science: Physical Geography minor

1. Completion of a Bachelor of Science degree from a recognized university.

2. A minimum of 9 credits of lower-division Geography courses, including GEOG 101 or 102 (or equivalents) and GEOG 140 (or equivalent), and a cumulative GPA of 2.33 or higher.

Extended studies in Science: Physical Geography major with honours

1. Completion of a Bachelor of Science degree in physical geography from UFV.

2. A minimum of 18 credits in Geography courses, including GEOG 101 or 102 (or equivalents) and GEOG 140 (or equivalent), and a cumulative GPA of 2.33 or higher.

When to apply

Applications to the extended studies in Science will be accepted on a twice-yearly basis: starting on or after August 1 for the following January and on or after October 1 for the following September.

How to apply

Submit the application fee along with the UFV application for admission form to the Admissions and Registrations (A&R) office. Application forms are available from any A&R or Student Services office, or online at www.ufv.ca/ar.

Additional Documentation Required:

1. Transcript showing completion of the Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Geography as per the entrance requirements. If transcripts are being sent directly from the institution(s) attended, please indicate that they are on order. To retain your original application date, order early so that transcripts arrive within two weeks of the date your application is mailed or submitted.

2. A letter of intent stating the option for which you are seeking admission (e.g. extended studies in Science: Physical Geography with honours), your professional and personal reasons for applying to the program, whether you intend to complete the program on a full-time or part-time basis, and, if known, the specific courses you anticipate taking. If necessary, the department will call applicants for an interview to assess their particular needs. Admission will be granted on the basis of the Geography department’s ability to meet the student’s needs. The number of applicants accepted to the extended studies programs may be limited.

Program requirements

Extended studies in Science: Physical Geography major or Physical Geography minor

1. Completion of specific program requirements for the Physical Geography major or Physical Geography minor.

2. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in:

• All courses/credits attempted.

• All Geography courses/credits.

• All upper-level courses/credits.

Extended studies in Science: Geography with honours

Students completing an extended studies certificate in the Bachelor of Science, Physical Geography with honours program, must meet the same requirements as all other students enrolled in this program. These include:

1. Application to the program through the department. This application is in addition to that made to the university for admission. Application guidelines for the honours program are available through the department and on the department website at www.ufv.ca/geography. Students should check with the department prior to application to the university to ensure that they have the minimum requirements for the Honours program.

2. A minimum CGPA, upon entry and completion, of 3.3 in the program.

3. Completion of 132 credits in total.

4. Completion of GEOG 354 and GEOG 492. Each honours student is assigned a supervisor with whom they will work in completing GEOG 492.

5. Completion of 12 upper-level credits in a single, related field outside Geography. These may already have been completed as part of the Bachelor of Science degree.

Registration order

Students admitted to extended studies in Science certificate programs will be scheduled along with degree students, according to UFV's registration order policy.

Residency requirement

Credit for some of the courses may be obtained at another university. However, fifty percent of the upper-level requirements must be completed at UFV.

Graduation

A program plan will be created for all students, outlining the required courses to complete the program approved at the time of admission. Once admitted to the Geography department, the student will be advised and approved for graduation by the Arts Advice Centre. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the program plan is followed and all program requirements are met. This should be done by regular consultation with the UFV Bachelor of Arts Advisor. Any changes to the program plan must be approved by the Arts Advice Centre and the Geography department.

Standing required for continuance

All students at UFV are expected to maintain acceptable standards of scholarship. Specifically, they are expected to maintain a minimum 2.0 CGPA.

Academic warning

A student who has a CGPA lower than 2.0 will be placed on academic warning for the next semester. A student on Academic Warning may not register in a course overload.

Students who do not achieve a semester GPA of at least 2.0 while they are on academic warning will be required to withdraw from the program.

A student on academic warning who achieves a single semester GPA of at least 2.0 will continue on academic warning until the CGPA equals or exceeds 2.0.

Required to withdraw

Students who have been required to withdraw from the BA program may have the opportunity to continue to take courses as an Arts Studies student; however, they may not register for any upper-level courses.

Appeals for readmission

A student who is required to withdraw from the BA program must submit an appeal for readmission to the Academic Standards committee if he/she wishes to resume studies in the degree program.

In general, students who have been required to withdraw will be advised to complete a further nine credits of academic work or to repeat a similar amount of academic work taken previously in order to demonstrate their academic abilities. Appeals must be received at least three months before the start of the semester for which a student has applied. Readmission is not automatic.

Standing on readmission

If readmitted, students will be placed on Academic Warning again, subject to the conditions for Academic Warning as described above.

Fees and additional costs

See the Fees and Other Costs section. Additional fees for course field trips and miscellaneous lab materials will apply to all students enrolled in Geography programs.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.

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