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Department of Sociology and Anthropology | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Spring 2025

Sociology

Master of Arts

Sociology and anthropology is a joint department where students are offered a solid foundation in each discipline and are invited to engage in innovative interdisciplinary studies. Graduates are equipped with a comprehensive foundation in social theory, substantive courses in specific areas of research interest, and rigorous training in research methodologies, a particular strength of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at SFU. Graduate students and their faculty supervisory committees work collaboratively to tailor programs to meet each student's unique goals.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the University admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3 in the SFU Calendar. How well the applicant's proposed research coincides with the research and teaching interests of the faculty is an important admission consideration.

Program Requirements

This program consists of courses and a thesis for a minimum of 38 units. Students may be required to complete more than these courses at the discretion of the supervisory committee.

Students must complete

SA 840 - Graduate Seminar (2)
SA 850 - Selected Topics in Social Theory (5)
SA 856 - Qualitative Sociological Research Methods (5)

and two of*

SA 815 - Theories of Latin American Development (4)
SA 835 - Social and Political Change in Latin America (4)
SA 853 - Readings in Sociology I (5)
SA 854 - Readings in Sociology II (5)
SA 870 - Theories in Anthropology (5)
SA 875 - Ethnographic Methodology: Social/Cultural Anthropology (5)
SA 887 - Special Topics in Sociology/Anthropology (5)

and a thesis

SA 898 - MA Thesis (18)

* Students may also choose a graduate course or graduate directed readings course in another Simon Fraser University department, or from another university that is part of the Western Dean's Agreement. Supervisory committee and departmental graduate program committee approval is required. If a student chooses a course that is less than four units, they will need to take an additional course in order to meet the minimum of 30 units.

Accelerated Master's

SFU students accepted in the accelerated master’s within sociology take SA 850 and SA 856 during the bachelor’s degree. These 10 units will count as upper division electives of the bachelor’s degree program, and also to the master’s degree. For more information go to: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/programs/accelerated-masters.html.

Program Length

Students are expected to complete the program requirements in six terms. Required courses are normally completed within the first two terms of MA program.

Other Information

Thesis

The thesis will consist of no more than 75 pages, inclusive of bibliographies, appendices and tables. At the discretion of the supervisory committee, the maximum number of pages may be increased, normally only to facilitate the inclusion of large appendices and tables.

Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations

All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.