Students may opt for a bachelor of arts through the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or a bachelor of arts through the Faculty of Health Sciences. Faculty degree requirements will be governed by the faculty through which the student chooses to complete the degree.
Program Requirements
Courses used toward the upper division philosophy requirements may not be used as part of health sciences credit requirements, and vice versa. Any lower division course that counts toward the separate requirements for philosophy and health sciences may be counted toward both.
Students complete 120 units, as specified below.
Lower Division Health Sciences Requirements
Students complete a minimum of 15 units, including both of
HSCI 100 - Human Biology (3)
HSCI 130 - Foundations of Health Science (4)
and at least three of
HSCI 204 - Perspectives on Human Health and the Environment (3)
HSCI 207 - Research Methods in Health Sciences (3)
HSCI 210 - Special Topics in Health Sciences (3)
HSCI 211 - Perspectives on Cancer, Cardiovascular, and Metabolic Diseases (3)
HSCI 212 - Perspectives on Infectious and Immunological Diseases (3)
HSCI 214 - Perspectives on Mental Health and Illness (3)
HSCI 216 - Ecological Determinants of Human Growth, Development and Health (3)
HSCI 220 - Indigenous Experiences of Health (3)
HSCI 230 - Evaluating Epidemiological Research (3)
and one of
STAT 201 - Statistics for the Life Sciences (3)
STAT 203 - Introduction to Statistics for the Social Sciences (3)
STAT 205 - Introduction to Statistics (3)
Lower Division Philosophy Requirements
In selecting lower division courses, students are advised to consider the prerequisite structure for upper division courses in philosophy.
Students complete a minimum of 12 units, including at least one of
PHIL 100W - Knowledge and Reality (3)
PHIL 120W - Moral and Legal Problems (3)
PHIL 121 - Global Justice (3)
PHIL 144 - Introduction to Philosophy of Science (3)
PHIL 150 - Great Works in the History of Philosophy (3)
and
PHIL 110 - Introduction to Logic and Reasoning (3)
and two of
PHIL 201 - Epistemology (3)
PHIL 203 - Metaphysics (3)
PHIL 221 - Ethical Theory (3)
Upper Division Health Sciences Requirements
Students complete a minimum of 21 upper division health sciences units, including all of
HSCI 305 - The Canadian Health System (3)
HSCI 319W - Applied Health Ethics (3)
HSCI 327 - Global Health Ethics (3)
HSCI 340 - Social Determinants of Health (3)
HSCI 488 - Directed Studies in Health Sciences (3)
Upper Division Philosophy Requirements
Students complete a total of 20 upper division philosophy units, including
PHIL 467W - Advanced Seminar (4)
and at least one of
PHIL 320 - Social and Political Philosophy (3)
PHIL 321 - Topics in Moral Philosophy (3)
PHIL 322 - History of Ethics (3)
PHIL 326 - Topics in Law and Philosophy (3)
PHIL 328 - Environmental Philosophy (3)
PHIL 329 - Law and Justice (3)
and at least one of
PHIL 302 - Topics in Epistemology and Metaphysics (3)
PHIL 341 - Philosophy of Science (3)
PHIL 343 - Topics in the Philosophy of Mind (3)
PHIL 344 - Topics in the Philosophy of Language (3)
PHIL 345W - Philosophy of Mathematics (3)
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution
September 2025
Burnaby Campus
8888 University Drive,
Burnaby,
British Columbia,
V5A 1S6, Canada
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution
September 2025
Surrey Campus
250-13450 102nd Avenue,
Surrey,
British Columbia,
V3T 0A3, Canada
If you've completed, or are about to complete, your grade 12 or senior year in a Canadian, American, or international high school.
English Language minimum requirement:
International English Language Testing System (IELTS - Academic): Overall 6.5 with no part less than 6.0
Cambridge English Qualifications: Overall score 176 with no part less than 169
B2 First
C1 Advanced
C2 Proficiency
Test of English as a Foreign Language internet based test (TOEFL iBT): Overall score 88 with no part less than 20
Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL): Overall score of 70, with no part less than 60
Pearson Test of English (PTE): Overall score of 65, and a minimum score of 60 in the Communicative Skills, including: Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing
Duolingo English Test (DET): Overall score of 125
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
SFU has established itself as a leading research university over 60 years, consistently ranking in the top 1-2 percent of universities worldwide.