The Faculty of Science at Simon Fraser University is home to three life science departments: Biological Sciences (BISC), Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK), and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (MBB). The BISC and MBB departments are in charge of the core lower division life science courses that serve to prepare undergraduates from all three departments for program-specific upper division courses. In order to ensure that these core courses are meeting the needs of students and faculty across the life sciences, we have conducted a systematic review of the undergraduate curriculum. This process was challenging due to the diversity of programs that undergraduates go on to complete (seven majors across the three departments) and the volume of information that was analyzed. We generated one large curriculum map with extensive input from faculty in all three departments. Instructors were guided through the process of writing learning outcomes for all of the core courses and many of the electives. We mapped learning outcomes from each course against those from core prerequisite courses and against program-level learning outcomes. This process allowed us to identify key concepts that were redundant between courses or that were omitted or under-emphasized in the curriculum. These areas of redundancy and overlap will be used as the foundation for change in the curriculum.
