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Sociology Honours
Program Requirements
Lower Division Requirements
Students should complete all lower division requirements before completing upper division courses. Students complete the specified lower division requirements for the major program as follows.
Students complete a minimum of 22 units in lower division SA courses, including all of
Anthropology asks fundamental questions about how people live and interact in different contexts. Engages with contemporary social life around the world, including the relations among people, ideas, and things. Provides analytical tools to help understand the role of culture and society in our lives. Breadth-Social Sciences.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| D100 |
Elliot Montpellier |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
| D101 |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D102 |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D103 |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Wed, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D104 |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Explores how sociologists study, describe, and explain social life. Introduces the sociological perspective and applies it to fundamental social process and everyday issues. As we consider phenomena ranging from interactions among individuals to societal and global inequalities, students critically examine social issues to build their understanding of the world. Breadth-Social Sciences.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| D100 |
Baran (Abu) Fakhri |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
| D101 |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Mon, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D102 |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Mon, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D103 |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D104 |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D105 |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D106 |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Explores how sociologists and anthropologists investigate social relations and contexts. Students learn to develop research questions and turn them into research projects. Introduces data collection techniques and related ethical issues, the relationship between theory and research, and other fundamental concepts and issues involved in conducting qualitative and quantitative research. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150. Quantitative.
Takes the mystery, but not the magic, out of quantitative research in anthropology and sociology by introducing analytical skills necessary for reading, understanding, and critiquing quantitative research. Students evaluate popular coverage of social research; learn concepts related to statistical significance; conduct basic statistical analysis, including designing graphs and tables. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150. Quantitative.
and one additional 200 division course designated (A), (S), or (SA).
Upper Division Requirements
Students complete 48 upper division units in SA courses, 28 units of which must be in sociology. The remaining 20 units can be completed with any upper division SA course designated (S), (A), or (SA).
Students must complete the following
Examines the methods, concepts and statistical procedures central to quantitative sociological research. Emphasizing the meaningful application of statistical analysis to social issues, the course provides intermediate quantitative research skills. Students use statistics software to conduct applicable statistical analyses and interpret results. Prerequisite: SA 255 and SA 257. Quantitative.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| OL01 |
Katherine Watson |
Online |
An examination of qualitative field methods, including participant observation, interviewing, archival research, cross-cultural research, life histories, network analysis, mapping, and ethical problems of fieldwork. Prerequisite: SA 255. Writing.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| D100 |
Madelyn Prevost |
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
No more than four units of Directed Readings may be used toward completion of this Honours program.
Course Work Option
Students who choose this option will complete 16 of the required 48 upper division SA units at the 400 division (or above), including
A senior seminar on current perspectives in sociological theory. Emphasis will differ from semester to semester. Prerequisite: Minimum of 72 units including SA 350, a GPA of at least 3.25 and consent of the instructor.
Honours Essay Option
Students who choose this option will complete 16 of the required 48 upper division SA units at the 400 division (or above), including
Gain experience in designing projects. Imagine guiding questions, research the context, and craft a proposal. Students continuing on to complete an honours thesis develop their projects here, and complete research ethics if necessary. Prerequisite: 72 units, SA 355 or SA 356W, and departmental consent.
An honours essay to be written under the direction of a member of faculty, a copy of which is to be permanently lodged with the department. Students should submit confirmation of faculty supervisor. Prerequisite: SA 495, permission from the SA department, and prior agreement from an SA faculty member who has agreed to supervise the honours essay.
Students plan their honours thesis project in SA 495, and complete it while taking SA 499. Before enrolling in either course, students must receive permission from the SA department. Before enrolling in SA 499, students must also present confirmation to the department advisor that an SA faculty member has agreed to supervise their honours essay.
NOTE: SFU students accepted in the accelerated sociology master's within the Department of Sociology and Anthropology may apply a maximum of 10 graduate course units, taken while completing the honours bachelor's degree with the Honours Essay Option, towards the upper division electives of the bachelor's program and the requirements of the master's degree. Students are expected to earn these 10 units by completing SA 850 and SA 856 during their undergraduate program. For more information go to: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/programs/accelerated-masters.html and http://www.sfu.ca/sociology-anthropology.html.
Theory Requirements
Theory requirements should be completed as early as possible in the upper division program. Students are strongly urged to balance theory courses with methods courses beyond the minimum.
Methods Requirements
Methods requirements should be completed as early as possible in the upper division program. Students are strongly urged to balance theory courses with methods courses beyond the minimum.
Graduation Requirements
In addition to the normal university degree requirements, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology requires a minimum 3.33 SA cumulative grade point average (CGPA) (calculated on all SA courses completed at SFU), and a minimum 3.33 SA CUDGPA (calculated on all upper division SA courses completed at SFU) for graduation with an honours program.
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
Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements
Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.
WQB Graduation Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit
| Requirement |
Units |
Notes | |
| W - Writing |
6 |
Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each) |
|
| Q - Quantitative |
6 |
Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more) | |
| B - Breadth |
18 |
Designated Breadth |
Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division: Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc |
|
6 |
Additional Breadth |
Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements). Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas. |
|
Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit
- At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
- At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
Elective Courses
In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.