General overview of universally useful concepts in insurance, pensions and financial management. Typical life, health and property & casualty insurance products; underwriting; pricing; reserving; regulation; social insurance; retirement plans and annuities; financial planning: mortgages, loans, wealth management.

Introduction to Insurance

Measurement of interest, present value. Equations of value. Annuities. Loans and amortization schedules. Bonds and other securities. Cash flows: yield rates, duration, convexity, immunization. Yield curves: spot rates, forward rates. Interest rate swaps. Covers part of the syllabus for Exam FM of the Society of Actuaries and Exam 2 of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Interest Theory and Applications

Introduction to key analytical tools used to organize and process data to support decision making.

Tools for Data-Driven Decision Making

Life tables, basic survival models. Basic life insurance and annuities: present value random variables, premium calculations, reserves. Computer applications for pricing and reserving for life insurance portfolios. Covers part of the syllabus for Exam LTAM of the Society of Actuaries.

Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics I

Short-term insurance and reinsurance coverages. Basic ratemaking and reserving for short-term insurance. Models for severity and frequency of claims. Coverage modifications: deductibles, policy limits, coinsurance. Estimation and selection of parametric models in the context of insurance.

Fundamentals of Short-Term Insurance

First term of work experience in a co-operative education program for actuarial students. Students should contact an advisor as early in their career as possible for counseling. Units from this course do not count towards the units required for an SFU degree. Grading is on a pass/withdraw basis. A course fee is required.

Job Practicum I

Second term of work experience in a co-operative education program available to actuarial students. Units from this course do not count towards the units required for an SFU degree. Grading is on a pass/withdraw basis. A course fee is required.

Job Practicum II

Option pricing models and their application to insurance and financial risks. Introduction to finance and derivatives. Option strategies and risk management. Binomial models. Black-Scholes-Merton model. Market-making, hedging, and option Greeks. Introduction to exotic options. Mean-variance portfolio theory and asset pricing models. Covers part of the syllabus for Exam 3F of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Financial Economics for Actuaries

Guided experiences in written and oral communication of actuarial ideas and results to both expert and lay audiences.

Actuarial Communication

Advanced survival models. Multiple state models. Advanced premium calculations and reserves. Profit testing. Pension plans and retirement benefits. Computer applications for pricing, reserving and risk measurement of life insurance portfolios. Covers part of the syllabus for Exam LTAM of the Society of Actuaries.

Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics II

Risk measures. Extreme value theory: models and applications. Aggregate models for claims. Regression-based approaches to claims modeling: generalized linear models, linear mixed models.

Advanced Models for Short-Term Insurance

Third term of work experience in a co-operative education program available to actuarial students. Units from this course do not count towards the units required for an SFU degree. Grading is on a pass/withdraw basis. A course fee is required.

Job Practicum III

Fourth term of work experience in a co-operative education program available to actuarial students. Units from this course do not count towards the units required for an SFU degree. Grading is on a pass/withdraw basis. A course fee is required.

Job Practicum IV

Optional fifth term of work experience in a co-operative education program available to actuarial students. Units from this course do not count towards the units required for an SFU degree. Grading is on a pass/withdraw basis. A course fee is required. This course may be repeated for additive credit.

Job Practicum V

Aggregate loss models. Credibility: models and estimation. Insurance and reinsurance coverages. Pricing and reserving for short-term insurance coverages. Covers part of the syllabus for Exam STAM of the Society of Actuaries.

Loss Models II

Ratemaking: terminology, process, trend, ultimate losses, expense provisions, profit and contingencies, overall rate indications, classification rates, increased limits. Individual risk rating: prospective systems, retrospective rating, design. Loss Reserving: accounting concepts, definitions, principles, loss reserving process. Risk classification: relationship to other mechanisms, criteria for selecting rating variables, examples, efficiency, estimating class relativities. Covers part of the syllabus for Exam 5 of Casualty Actuarial Society.

Property and Casualty Insurance

Independent study and/or research in topics chosen in consultation with the supervising instructor. 

Directed Studies in Actuarial Science

General probability theory and stochastic processes. Information and conditioning. Stochastic differential equations. Financial econometrics models. Economic scenario generators. Advanced option pricing.

Stochastic Processes for Insurance and Finance

Aggregate claims models. Models for incurred but not reported claims. Bonus-malus systems in automobile insurance. Mortality models.

Advanced Actuarial Models

Economic perspectives on risk and insurance. Risk measures. Extreme value theory. Multivariate risk models, copulas and dependence. Risk management in practice.

Actuarial Risk Management

Designed to give students a systematic knowledge of the workings of Canadian law and the Canadian legal system. Provides a comprehensive discussion of the various principles and schools of jurisprudence, and will canvass the basic legal institutions in Canada. Considers the history of Canadian law, the development of the framework of the Canadian constitution, the Constitution itself, the roles and responsibilities of Canadian courts and the roles and responsibilities of members of the legal profession. Ensures that students gain a comprehensive understanding of the nature of legal reasoning, the doctrines of precedent and stare decicis, and the key rules and principles of statutory interpretation. Students will also be given a systematic introduction to four substantive areas of law: criminal law, administrative law, family law, and tort law.

Canadian Legal System

Designed to give students a solid foundation in legal research and writing skills. Provides students with an overview of how both legislation and case law are created, including consideration of the basic principles of legal analysis. Proper legal research techniques and strategies will be considered for both primary and secondary legal sources. Consideration will also be given to the many on-line legal research resources. Finally, students will receive instruction in the general principles of legal writing and apply these principles to different types of legal writing including analytical writing and the drafting of legal documents.

Legal Research and Writing

Designed to give students a solid grounding in the central themes of legal philosophy. Examines the major schools of jurisprudence. Affords an opportunity to reflect in a disciplined and critical way on the structure and functions of law, legal institutions and systems. Involves an analysis of the nature of legal reasoning and discourse, and looks to the connections between law and morality.

Legal Philosophy

Introduces students to the fundamental principles underlying Contract Law in Canada, and the practical application of such principles in the commercial environment. Students will learn the essential elements of what makes an "enforceable contract" such as offer and acceptance, certainty of terms, form and consideration as well as those things that may well make a contract unenforceable, such as misrepresentation, frustration, duress and privity issues. Warranties, representations, conditions and remedies for breach of contract will also be covered, as will contractual interpretation.

Contracts

Involves the study of basic principles and statutory regimes which govern the institution of Real Property. Topics addressed will include: the legal concept of land, the nature of and rationale for property, transfer of interests in land, registration of title and the nature of the land title system, the acquisition of estates in land, co-ownership of land, and future interests.

Real Property I

Deals with the law relating to vendors and purchasers of real estate, particularly as affected by the substantive law of mortgages, and considers the remedies available to vendors, purchasers, mortgagors and mortgagees, as well as the role and duties of real estate agents. Also deals with residential and commercial tenancies.

Real Property II

Provides an overview of the law of succession and familiarizes students with the principles necessary to competently advise clients about the transfer of property on death and to draft a will that meets the client's objectives. Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements as planning tools will be examined.

Personal Planning

Designed to give students a detailed understanding of key topics in applied legal studies, with a particular emphasis upon areas of low and practice that are of special interest to Notaries Public. Topics may change from year to year and may vary by in instructor but it is anticipated that topics will include, the law of agency; current issues in tax law; the law affecting business/not for profit incorporation, and business associations.

Selected Topics in Applied Legal Studies

Builds on the theoretical understanding students have by exploring how the legal advisor assists clients in effectively dealing with their issues. Topics range from the purpose of legal professionals to developing sustainable strategies for the operation of a legal practice.

Topics in Legal Practice

A final examination on core subjects, which will normally occur towards the end of the student's fourth term in the program. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

MA Examination

First order non-linear partial differential equations (PDEs) and the method of characteristics. Hamilton-Jacobi equation and hyperbolic conservation laws; weak solutions. Second-order linear PDEs (Laplace, heat and wave equations); Green's functions. Sobolev spaces. Second-order elliptic PDEs; Lax-Milgram theorem.

Partial Differential Equations

Infinite dimensional vector spaces, convergence, generalized Fourier series. Operator Theory; the Fredholm alternative. Application to integral equations and Sturm-Liouville systems. Spectral theory.

Applied Functional Analysis

Conditioning and stability of numerical methods for the solution of linear systems, direct factorization and iterative methods, least squares, and eigenvalue problems. Applications and mathematical software.

Numerical Linear Algebra

Analysis and application of numerical methods for solving partial differential equations. Potential topics include finite difference methods, spectral methods, finite element methods, and multi-level/multi-grid methods.

Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations

Theory and algorithms for problems in data science with an emphasis on mathematical aspects. Topics may include dimension reduction, supervised learning, including regression and classification, unsupervised learning, including clustering and latent variable modeling, deep learning, algorithms for big data, and foundations of learning.

Mathematics of Data Science

Topics vary depending on faculty availability and student interest. Recent offerings include: geophysical fluid dynamics, adaptive numerical methods for differential equations, learning theory, and stability, pattern formation and chaos.

Selected Topics in Applied Mathematics

An open oral candidacy exam given by the supervisory committee. The exam consists of a proposed thesis topic defence by the student and supervisory committee questions about related proposed research topics. The exam follows submission of a written PhD research proposal. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Students who fail will either successfully complete a second exam within six months or withdraw from the program.

PhD Oral Candidacy Exam

A broad survey of human cultural development from the late Palaeolithic/PalaeoIndian periods (ca 40,000 BP) to the rise of civilization and empires, in both the Old and New Worlds. 

Ancient Peoples and Places

A survey of methods used by archaeologists to discover and interpret the past. Examples will be drawn from selected sites and cultures around the world. 

Reconstructing the Human Past

A non-technical survey of the primate background of humans, fossil primates, and fossil humans, and the associated evidence of cultural development. An introduction to physical anthropology. 

Human Origins

An introduction to select topics in archaeology. Variable units: 3, 4.

Special Topics in Archaeology

Charts the emergence and changes in the expression of human religious behavior. It covers the earliest rituals of the Palaeolithic, the importance of fertility cults, ancestor cults, alliance rituals, shamans, witchcraft, and monotheism.

Shamans, Sacrifice and Psychedelics

Exploration of the major cultural developments in Africa from the origin of humankind to the rise of several ancient civilizations, with special emphasis on ancient Egypt. Students are exposed to various approaches taken by palaeoanthropologists, prehistoric archaeologists, historians and Egyptologists.

Ancient Egypt and Africa

Examines how archaeologists develop explanations of human behaviour, cultural development, and cultural evolution. Reviews the historical development of social and biological theory applied in archaeology and examines how these various theoretical perspectives have shaped interpretations of the past.

Interpreting the Past: An Introduction to Archaeological Theory

A survey of the major centres of Old World cultural development from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age. Basic concepts used in reconstructing prehistoric cultures, and the artifactual and contextual evidence for the development of culture.

Archaeology of the Old World

A survey of prehistoric cultures of North and South America. The peopling of the New World, the rise of the pre-Columbian civilizations of Mexico and Peru, and the cultural adaptations by prehistoric populations to other parts of the New World.

Archaeology of the New World

Analysis and interpretation of archaeological material culture. This lecture and laboratory course combines the practical problems of recognition and interpretation of archaeological specimens, typology, seriation, and statistical procedures with the basic principles of archaeological theory. 

Material Culture Analysis

Introduces scientific techniques used for archaeological investigations.

Archaeological Science

Examines cultural heritage management as the universal process by which people use places, objects and traditions from the past to educate, entertain, profit, promote change, maintain status quo, create identities, and build communities and nations. The course presents archaeology as one aspect of cultural heritage management and as an activity governed by national laws and international conventions for protecting and making appropriate use of heritage. Using case studies from Canada and abroad, the course explores stewardship as a fundamental professional ethic in archaeology and other fields engaged in studying, applying, and safeguarding personal, familial, communal, national, and transnational heritage.

Cultural Heritage Management

A selection of major art traditions from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Mesoamerica and South America is explored. Issues of intellectual property rights, copyright and the use of ancient art in contemporary contexts are also addressed. 

Ancient Visual Art

Introduces the art and archaeology of ancient Rome from 8th c. BCE to 4th c. CE through an overview of the material remains in their original historical, political and cultural contexts. Addresses several issues: stylistic changes and innovations, art as a vehicle of propaganda and art as projection of Roman imperial power.

Roman Art and Archaeology

An overview of culture history and methodological/theoretical issues for a specific region of the world. Variable units: 3, 4, 5.

Special Topics: Select Regions in World Archaeology I

Select topics relating to biological anthropology. Variable units: 3, 4, 5.

Special Topics in Biological Anthropology I

Special Topics in Biological Anthropology II

Select topics relating to environmental archaeology. Variable units: 3, 4, 5.

Special Topics in Environmental Archaeology

An introduction to the study of animal remains from archaeological sites. Coverage of the major concepts and methods used in the study of animal remains and detailed practical coverage of the vertebrate skeleton.

Zooarchaeology

The evolution of the primate order and the ecology and behavior characterizing the different grades of primates: prosimians, monkeys, and apes. Current trends in interpreting primate behavior are emphasized.

Primate Behaviour

An introduction to archaeological conservation, the processes affecting the condition of archaeological materials prior to excavation, during excavation, during analysis, exhibition and during reposition. Successful completion of this course will give archaeologists a good understanding of the various materials they encounter during excavation and how to preserve these artifacts and other materials. It will not qualify students to be professional archaeological  conservators. 

Archaeological Conservation

First term of work experience in the Archaeology Co-operative Education Program. Units for this course do not count towards the units required for an SFU degree.

Practicum I

Second term of work experience in the Archaeology Co-operative Education Program. Units for this course do not count towards the units required for an SFU degree.

Practicum II

The interpretation of archaeological evidence to look at the ways that people in the past perceived, constructed, and used their natural surroundings and their built environments.

Landscape Archaeology

Examines methods, theories, and concepts for understanding how past cultures interacted with their bio-physical surroundings. Integrates diverse kinds of data and knowledge to understand these relationships. Topics to be addressed include local and traditional ecological knowledge, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, human-environment interaction, human-induced environmental changes, paleodiet, and domestication.




Archaeological Perspectives on Human Ecology

A detailed and lab-intensive study of the human skeletal remains and dental variation. Designed for students to learn how to identify all the bones in the human skeleton, both whole and fragmentary. Focuses on archaeological and forensic field and lab applications for the study of the human skeleton.

Human Osteology

Introduction to writing a research context, creating research questions, developing hypotheses, collecting, recording and analyzing data to address hypotheses, and report writing.

Research Design in Archaeology

Examines the origin, development, and cultural significance of the foods we eat. We will delve into
the role of food in human evolution and the development of food ways through time. Students are exposed to various approaches taken by archaeologists, anthropologists, palaeoanthropologists,
and historians in the study of food and food ways.

From Soup to Nuts: The Archaeology of Food

Theory, method, and operation of the application of statistical techniques to the description, classification, analysis, and interpretation of archaeological data.

Quantitative Methods in Archaeology

An introduction to theory and method in North American historical archaeology. Laboratory instruction is provided in historic artifact analysis and interpretation. 

Historical Archaeology

The prehistory and cultural traditions of the region. The content, antecedents, relationships, and changes in these cultures through time. Technological, socio-economic, and environmental factors in culture growth.

Pacific Northwest North America

An in-depth study of how to manufacture and analyze stone tools. Includes rock and mineral identification, stone working by students, fracture mechanics, and relevance to theoretical problems.

Lithic Technology

Introduces molecular biology techniques used to analyze DNA to address archaeological questions and applications to degraded DNA samples for forensic identification of human remains and conservation of endangered species. 

Ancient and Forensic DNA

Surveys the origins, implementations, and need for archaeological heritage legislation on an international and national scale. Topical issues associated with contract archaeology, public archaeology, native heritage, and avocational societies are incorporated. 

Archaeological Resource Management

A general background to field work including discussions of ethnographic and archaeological contexts for field research, project research design, field safety, field camp living, and related topics. Students may repeat this course for credit when the field project is different.

Background to Field Work

A series of exercises in which the student must demonstrate the ability to apply the various recording and mapping skills covered in the course. The graded exercises are done individually and in teams, both on-campus and in the field.

Archaeological Field Methods

A practical application of the background knowledge and specific techniques of ARCH 433 and 434. It takes place in a research oriented field excavation. Evaluation of student performance is based upon assessments of efficiency and accuracy of excavation techniques/recording procedures, and upon the student's overall contribution to the smooth functioning of the team. Students may repeat this course for credit when the field project is different. Variable units: 3, 4, 5, 6.

Field Work Practicum

A practical application of the background knowledge and specific techniques of ARCH 433 and 434. It takes place in a research oriented field excavation. Evaluation of student performance is based upon assessments of efficiency and accuracy of excavation techniques/recording procedures, and upon the student's overall contribution to the smooth functioning of the team. Students may repeat this course for credit. Variable units: 3, 4, 5, 6.

Biological Anthropology Field Practicum

Focuses on the role of the forensic anthropologist in medico-legal death investigations, such as the recovery, identification and determination of cause of death of human remains found in a variety of settings. The lab component provides an overview of anthropological methods of examination of human skeletal remains, such as the estimation of sex and age, and trauma analysis.

Forensic Anthropology

Third term of work experience in the Archaeology Co-operative Education Program. Units for this course do not count towards the units required for an SFU degree. 

Practicum III

Fourth term of work experience in the Archaeology Co-operative Education Program. Units for this course do not count towards the units required for an SFU degree. This course may be repeated for additive credit.

Practicum IV

Introduces the study of ancient and historic diseases in humans and animals as expressed in bones, teeth, mummified remains, art, and historical documents. Provides a foundation for the interpretation of pathological conditions in the human skeleton and the impact of social change on human health and well-being over time.

Ancient Health and Disease

The cultural, evolutionary, physical, and distributional principles which underlie the prediction and reconstruction of the past.

Archaeological Theory

Directed readings for upper level students who desire to study selected topics in depth. 

Directed Readings

A course in which students can undertake specific laboratory, library or field based research supervised by a faculty member. Variable units: 3, 4, 5 or 6.  

Directed Laboratory/Library/Field Research

Directed readings in a selected field of study under the direction of a faculty member. Papers will be required. 

Honours Reading

An honours thesis of some ten to fifteen thousand words will be written under the direction of a faculty member. 

Honours Thesis

Contextualizes the business of HRM by targeting five clusters of essential concepts and tools in business management: accounting and finance; marketing, sales, and contracting; human resources, labour, economics, corporate governance, and risk management; and business models, innovation, and globalization.

HRM Business Management

Examines the hallmarks of excellent research in HRM archaeology through studies of successful and less successful research designs and methods. The course provides essential guidance for student thesis preparation.

HRM Archaeological Research Design and Methods

Directed study in heritage resource management under the supervision of a faculty member.

Directed Study in Heritage Resource Management

Critical evaluation of new approaches to the study of the human past.

Discussion of recent developments in archaeology and archaeological science, with invited speaker presentations. Required course for graduate students in archaeology. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

Graduate Seminar I

Graduate Seminar II

A preliminary written prospectus followed by the public presentation of a prospectus at a colloquium. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

PhD Prospectus & Colloquium

An examination consisting of three written field statements and an oral defence. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

PhD Comprehensive Examination

Seminar focusing on the development of thesis research design and data analysis.

Research Design

Directed readings under the supervision of a faculty member in an area of interest related to the student’s program.

Intensive readings under the supervision of a faculty member in an area of interest related to the student's program.

This course will be offered from time to time to meet special needs of students and to make use of specialization of visiting faculty members.

Special Topics

Directed laboratory, library or field research under the supervision of a faculty member in an area of interest related to the student's program.

Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

MA Thesis

PhD Thesis

An introduction to the basic concepts of biology, emphasizing evolution as a unifying theme. Lecture and lab topics include cell structure, mitosis and meiosis, DNA structure and function, evolution and ecology.

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