This case study – Explorations in Arts and Social Sciences (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4) – has been prepared by the Director of Explorations (Dr Jennifer Marchbank) and Dr E. Jane Fee (Director, Student Recruitment, Enrollment and Retention in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada.

Explorations in Arts and Social Sciences is a one-year (two semesters) cohort program for first-year students. The program, which opened in 2005, explores a wide range of ideas and issues in interdisciplinary courses. ‘Interdisciplinary’ means that knowledge and research from more than one discipline is used to understand a particular issue or topic. For example, one Explorations course combines approaches from geography, sociology, and political science. Another combines approaches from literature, the creative arts, and cultural studies. After Explorations students continue in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, either at Simon Fraser University (SFU) Surrey or one of SFU’s other campuses. They can also apply for other SFU programs, such as Education or Business Administration (up to 15 places each year are reserved for students entering Business via Explorations).

More information is available from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Simon Fraser University.