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Bachelor of Arts Program | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Simon Fraser University Calendar | Spring 2025
Bachelor of Arts Program
- Program Declaration
- Course Duplication
- Graduation GPA Requirements
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Degree Requirements
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Honours Degree Requirements
- Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements
- Major Program
- Joint Major Program
- Major-Minor, Double Major and Other Combinations
- Minor and Extended Minor Programs
- Honours and Joint Honours Programs
Students can meet the bachelor of arts (BA) requirements through one of the following five options: a major program, a joint major program, two extended minor programs, an extended minor and a minor program, or two minor programs. In addition to the following degree requirements, students may also fulfil the requirements for one or more additional extended minor(s) or minor(s).
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.
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.
Graduation GPA Requirements
Grade point averages (GPAs) used for graduation are the minimum GPAs that must be achieved to satisfy the requirements for a degree or other credential. The graduation GPA must be obtained both on the overall course work (CGPA) as well as on the upper division subset of that work (UDGPA).
In addition, program GPAs are the required minimum to satisfy the requirements of an honours, major, extended minor or minor program. In each case, the program GPA must be obtained both on the overall course work (CGPA) as well as on the upper division subset of that work (UDGPA) in the program area.
An overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division CGPA of at least 2.0, and minimum CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 2.0 across all units attempted in each subject that is a major, a joint major, a minor, or an extended minor. FASS Departments may define specific requirements for their respective programs.
The graduation and program GPAs specified are University minimum requirements; individual faculties and departments may, with senate approval, have higher requirements.
In the event of repeated courses, only the higher grade is used in these GPA calculations.
Individual departments may have additional GPA requirements for graduation. Please check individual department Calendar listings for further information.
Please note that the minimum GPA requirements for graduation differed during the following time periods: September 1965 to August 1991; September 1991 to August 2003. Please consult the appropriate Calendar(s)* for information about GPA requirements during these time periods.
*Calendar in effect at the time of entry to Simon Fraser University and the Calendar that was in effect at the time of approval to credential and/or program.
For further information, see Grade Point Averages Needed for Graduation.
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
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 for more) Social Sciences: B-Soc Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci |
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. |
|
Major Program
To concentrate in a program area, students may complete a major consisting of at least 30 upper division units in that program area. The major program is the most common option chosen by students pursuing a BA degree.
The following requirements are in addition to those listed in the Program Requirements section above.
- students complete lower division requirements for at least one Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences major
- at least 30 upper division units must be in a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences major
- no more than 15 upper division units that have been transferred from another institution may be used toward a major
A department may designate up to eight units of program-related upper division courses offered by other departments as being acceptable in fulfilling part of the required units in a major program.
Joint Major Program
A joint major is a combination of two program areas. Students complete at least 20 upper division units in each of the two joint major program areas. Students are advised to check individual department listings for possible additional requirements.
The following requirements are in addition to those listed in the Program Requirements section above.
- students complete lower division requirements for both joint major programs
- students complete at least 20 upper division units in each of the two joint major programs, of which at least 10 upper division units must be completed at Simon Fraser University in each program area
- no more than 15 upper division units that have been transferred from another institution may be used toward a joint major
Note: Students choosing to complete two separate majors (double major) will complete two major programs, with at least one major subject in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Therefore, students will complete at least 30 units of upper division courses in each of the two major subjects. Students completing two majors will graduate with one BA degree.
Major - Minor, Double Major and Other Combinations
For more information, please see Credential Definitions.
Minor and Extended Minor Programs
Students wishing to prepare themselves in two program areas, but not desiring to undertake a major or a joint major program, may complete a program consisting of two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors for the BA degree, at least one of which must be in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Students who are interested in this option must meet with a faculty advisor in AQ 3020 to receive academic advising and program approval.
A minor program requires at least 15 upper division units within a single program area unless otherwise specified in the Calendar. An extended minor consists of the lower division requirements for a major, and the upper division requirements for a minor.
The following requirements are in addition to those listed in the Program Requirements section above.
- students complete lower division requirements for each extended minor and/or minor programs
- students complete at least 21 upper division units in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses, of which at least 12 must be completed at Simon Fraser University
- no more than eight upper division units that have been transferred from another institution may be used toward an extended minor or minor
Honours and Joint Honours Programs
The following requirements are in addition to those listed in the Program Requirements section above.
- 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
- students complete lower division requirements for at least one Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences honours program
- students are required to achieve an overall CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 3.0, and an honours program CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 3.0
Note for students approved in Honours programs prior to Spring 2011: Honours students who obtain an overall CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 3.5 and an honours program CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 3.5 will receive the designation of honours first class at the time of graduation.
Joint honours students must also complete the lower division requirements for both honours programs, and must maintain a 3.0 CGPA and upper division CGPA in each program area of the joint honours program.
A department may designate up to 12 units of program related upper division courses offered by other departments as being acceptable in fulfilling part of the required upper division units in the honours program.