Please note:

To view the current Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar.html.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

6168 Academic Quadrangle
Tel 778.782.4414  Fax 778.782.3033

Simon Fraser University Calendar 2024 Fall
http://www.sfu.ca/fass

Policies

Student Responsibility

It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of faculty regulations as stated in this Calendar. Departmental and faculty advisors and staff are available for advice and guidance. However, the ultimate responsibility for completeness and correctness of course selection, for compliance with and completion of program and degree requirements and for observance of regulations and deadlines rests with the student.

Academic Advice

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) provides academic advising services to assist students to plan their program and course selection to satisfy degree requirements in collaboration with Student Services Academic Advising and Student Success and each FASS department.

Students in the FASS should seek advice from the following sources:

  • Student Services Academic Advising and Student Success: first- and second-year undeclared students (less than 60 units completed) and students in academic difficulty (on academic probation or required to withdraw)
  • Department advisors: students who have a declared major, wish to gain admission into the department's major or minor or wish to inquire about enrollment in a particular course
  • Faculty advisors in AQ 3020: third- and fourth- year undeclared students (more than 60 units completed), students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with two minors, students with a declared major who need to discuss other issues

Students who are approved in the Bachelor of Arts who have not yet declared a major, but have completed more than 60 units, students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with two minors, and students in the Bachelor of General Studies should seek advice from the faculty advisors in AQ 3020.

All Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences undergraduate students must access advising resources:

  • prior to first enrollment at Simon Fraser University through Student Services Academic Advising, and
  • during that term when they are completing their 45th unit, and
  • during that term when they are completing their 90th unit

Students in certificate and post baccalaureate diploma programs must seek advice from their department advisor.

Program Declaration

Declaring your major or two minors

Prior to or upon enrolling for the term in which the 61st unit is completed, students in the bachelor of arts program must formally declare and be accepted into a major program, a joint major program, two extended minor programs, an extended minor and a minor program, or two minor programs, and may apply for an honours program, subject to the regulations below. Program declaration establishes the exact major, extended minor, minor and honours requirements for graduation as they appear in the Calendar in effect at the time of declaration. Students are urged to keep a copy of this Calendar, known as the graduating Calendar, for reference.

A minimum 2.0 SFU CGPA and minimum 2.0 SFU program CGPA is required for FASS program declaration. Some FASS programs may have additional requirements. New transfer students who meet all other program declaration requirements may use their admission CGPA for declaration purposes if permitted by the program.

Program requirements may be changed any time prior to graduation. A new formal declaration must be approved by the new program department and the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences if a faculty change is involved. The Calendar then in effect becomes the new graduating Calendar, and the requirements it specifies for the program must be fulfilled.

Course Duplication

University regulations governing the duplication of courses are rigorously applied in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. No more than five course duplications will be allowed.

Transfer into the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Students currently enrolled in other Simon Fraser University faculties must have a 2.0 grade point average, or greater, to enter the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree. In addition, students must be approved by the appropriate departments into a minimum of one major or two minors, as required for their Bachelor of Arts degree.

Students who withdraw, or are required to withdraw, while in the FASS and are subsequently readmitted to the University will be permitted to re-enter the FASS, even though their Simon Fraser University cumulative grade point average is less than 2.00.

Students in first year experience programs may not apply to transfer into the FASS until the end of the second term following their admission to the first year experience programs.

Course Regulations

Students may count any Simon Fraser University course for which credit is received toward the bachelor of arts (BA), or bachelor of general studies (BGS) degrees with the exceptions of co-operative education courses, EDUC 401, 402, 403, 405 and 406.

Only the first five course duplications will count toward any degree completed in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Upper division courses completed within a BA or BGS can be used to satisfy the requirements of only one program. For example, upper division courses used to satisfy the upper division requirements of a major cannot be used to also satisfy the upper division requirements of a minor.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete the minimum requirements of a major in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or two minors (including at least one minor in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), as well as the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences degree requirements in order to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

In exceptional situations, a student may experience an unforeseen event outside of their control that prevents them from completing their BA degree with a major or two minors. Students experiencing such extenuating circumstances must meet with a Faculty advisor in AQ3020 to discuss their situation. If it is determined by the Faculty advisor that the student meets the criteria for possible approval for graduation with a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree, then the student will submit a written explanation of their circumstances, outlining in detail why they are unable to continue pursuing a BA degree with a major or two minors, and will attach any relevant documentation that supports their request for approval under extenuating circumstances. Their application will be reviewed by the Associate Dean for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, who will provide a final decision.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Degree Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) programs, students complete 120 units, which includes

  • at least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 45 upper division units, of which at least 30 upper division units must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 60 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
  • satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
  • an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division overall CGPA of at least 2.0, and program CGPA and upper division program CGPA of at least 2.0 on the course work used to satisfy the minimum program requirements. FASS departments may define additional GPA requirements for their respective programs.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Honours Degree Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) honours programs, students complete at least 120 units, which includes

  • at least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
  • students complete at least 60 upper division units, which must include at least 48 units in upper division courses in a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences honours program; no more than 15 upper division units that have been transferred from another institution can be used toward this requirement
  • at least 60 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
  • students complete lower division requirements for at least one Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences honours program
  • students are required to achieve an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division CGPA of at least 3.0, and an honours program CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 3.0