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Sociology and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Joint Major

Bachelor of Arts

The Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology have complementary interests in gender, sexuality, and women's issues. This joint major is for those who share these interests. Students are encouraged to plan their program in consultation with advisors in both departments.

Admission Requirements

Students may declare the GSWS portion of this plan upon successful completion of one GSWS course and upon application to the Undergraduate Advisor in the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies.

Program Requirements

Students complete 120 units, as specified below.

Lower Division Sociology Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 18 units including all of

SA 101 - Introduction to Anthropology (A) (4)

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 Kathleen Millar
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D101 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D102 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D103 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D104 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D105 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D106 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D900 Elliot Montpellier
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Surrey
OL01 Cristina Moretti
Online
SA 150 - Introduction to Sociology (S) (4)

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 Fakhri
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D101 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D102 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D103 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D104 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D105 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D106 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D107 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D108 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D109 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D110 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D111 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D112 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D113 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D900 Sessional
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
Surrey
D901 Sessional
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Surrey
D902 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Surrey
D903 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Surrey
D904 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Surrey
D905 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
Surrey
D906 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
Surrey
SA 250 - Introduction to Sociological Theory (S) (4)

An account of sociological theory, outlining the main ideas and concepts of the principal schools of thought. Prerequisite: SA 150.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Sessional
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
SA 255 - Introduction to Social Research (SA) (4)

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.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Sessional
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D101 Sessional
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
SA 257 - Understanding Quantitative Research in Sociology and Anthropology (SA) (4)

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.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Suzanna Crage
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D101 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby

Lower Division Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Requirements

Students complete 18 lower division GSWS units including two of

GSWS 100 - Sex Talk: Introduction to Contemporary Issues in Sexuality Studies (3)

An introduction to issues in the study of sex, sexual identity, and sexual culture. Focused on contemporary theories of sexuality as well as representations in fiction, film and popular media from diverse cultural contexts. Students who have completed GDST 200 may not complete this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
B900 Reema Faris
TBD
B901 Reema Faris
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Surrey
B902 Reema Faris
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
Surrey
GSWS 101 - Gender Talk (3)

An interdisciplinary study of the social and cultural construction of gender, and how ideas about masculinity and feminity shape current issues, knowledge, popular culture, and social policy. Students who have completed WS 101 may not take GSWS 101 for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
OL01 Michelle Walks
Online
GSWS 102 - Feminist Action (3)

An historical and comparative survey of feminisms and feminist activism in Western European, North American, and Global communities. Students who have completed WS 102 may not take GSWS 102 for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.

Upper Division Sociology Requirements

Students complete a total of 20 units, including all of

SA 350 - Classical Sociological Thought (S) (4)

An examination of aspects of the work of one or more of the nineteenth or early twentieth century sociological theorists. Prerequisite: SA 250.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Yildiz Atasoy
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 12:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
SA 355 - Quantitative Methods (S) (4)

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
D100 Suzanna Crage
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby

and three upper division SA electives. All of these must be designated (S). One of these must be a 400 division course.

No more than four units of Directed Readings may be used toward completion of these requirements.

Upper Division Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Requirements

Students complete 20 upper division GSWS units. Courses which have high GSWS content will be considered for credit towards this plan. With the approval of the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies, students may use as substitution credit one upper division course offered by another department.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to the normal university degree requirements, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology requires a minimum 2.00 SA cumulative grade point average (CGPA) (calculated on all SA courses completed at SFU), and a minimum 2.00 SA CUDGPA (calculated on all upper division SA courses completed at SFU) for graduation with an SA program.

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.

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
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.

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.