Please note:

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

World Literature and International Studies Joint Major

Bachelor of Arts

This inter-departmental program explores various relationships between world literature and international studies. Interested students must plan their program in consultation with both department advisors, and should consult guidelines for course selection which are available from each department.

Required Grades

Students must obtain C- or higher in all courses used toward the program. For graduation, students must obtain a minimum 2.00 CGPA, 2.00 UDGPA, 2.00 international studies subject CGPA (calculated on all IS courses completed at SFU), and 2.00 international studies subject UDGPA (calculated on all upper division IS courses completed at SFU).

In addition to the normal university degree requirements, students must obtain a minimum 2.00 WL cumulative grade point average (CGPA) (calculated on all WL courses completed at SFU), and a minimum 2.00 WL CUDGPA (calculated on all upper division WL courses completed at SFU).

Program Requirements

Lower Division Requirements

World Literature

Students complete a total of 15 units, including

WL 100 - What is World Literature? (3)

one 100-level WL Writing course

and

WL 200 - How to Do Things with World Literature (3)

plus 6 additional lower division WL units.

*Students may count one 2nd year language course (3 units) toward their lower division WL units.

International Studies

Students complete 15 lower division units including

IS 101 - Global Challenges of the 21st Century: An Introduction to International Studies (3)

plus a minimum of 12 lower division units chosen from one of three concentrations.

International Security and Conflict Concentration

IS 200 - Security and Global Governance: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (3)

and three of

IS 105 - Around the World through Film (3)
IS 210 - Comparative World Politics: Trajectories, Regimes, Challenges (3)
IS 220 - Wealth and Poverty of Nations (3)
IS 230 - Beyond the Nation-State: Identity and Belonging in a Globalized World (3)
IS 265 - Global History from the Revolutionary Age to the Present (3)

Comparative World Politics, Culture and Society Concentration

IS 210 - Comparative World Politics: Trajectories, Regimes, Challenges (3)

and three of

IS 105 - Around the World through Film (3)
IS 200 - Security and Global Governance: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (3)
IS 220 - Wealth and Poverty of Nations (3)
IS 230 - Beyond the Nation-State: Identity and Belonging in a Globalized World (3)
IS 265 - Global History from the Revolutionary Age to the Present (3)

International Development, Economic, and Environmental Issues Concentraton

ECON 105 - Principles of Macroeconomics (4)
IS 220 - Wealth and Poverty of Nations (3)

and two of 

ECON 103 - Principles of Microeconomics (4)
GEOG 221 - Economic Worlds (3)
IS 105 - Around the World through Film (3)
IS 200 - Security and Global Governance: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (3)
IS 210 - Comparative World Politics: Trajectories, Regimes, Challenges (3)
IS 230 - Beyond the Nation-State: Identity and Belonging in a Globalized World (3)
IS 265 - Global History from the Revolutionary Age to the Present (3)

Upper Division Requirements

World Literature

Students complete a minimum total of 20 upper division WL units including both of

WL 300 - How Ideas Travel (4)
WL 301W - Writing and Research (4)

plus 12 additional upper division WL units, of which at least four must be taken at the 400 level

International Studies

Students complete 24 upper division units including

IS 300 - Research Methods in International Studies (4)
IS 451 - Seminar on Core Texts in International Studies (4)

Of the remaining 16 units, at least 12 are chosen from one of the three concentrations. The remaining four upper division units may be chosen from course offerings in any of the three concentrations. At least 12 of the 16 upper division units must be completed from international studies course offerings at SFU. Up to a maximum of four upper division units may be chosen from non-IS course offerings listed within the three concentrations.*

International Security and Conflict Concentration

GSWS 433 - Gender, Violence, Resistance (4)
HIST 332 - Politics and Culture in Modern Germany (4)
HIST 335 - The Soviet Project (4)
HIST 338 - World War II (4)
HIST 350 - The Ottoman Empire and Turkey (4)
HIST 352 - Religion and Politics in Modern Iran (4)
HIST 354 - Imperialism and Modernity in the Middle East (4)
HIST 355 - The Arab Middle East in the Twentieth Century (4)
HIST 371 - The Asia-Pacific War in Modern Japanese History (4)
HIST 401 - Problems in Modern German History (4)
HIST 419W - Problems in Modern Russian History (4)
HIST 422 - Greece, 1935-1944: Occupation and Resistance (4)
HIST 456 - The Late Ottoman Empire: State, Culture and Social Transformation, 1750-1923 (4)
HIST 463W - Rebellion and Revolution: Topics in the Theory and Practice of Resistance (4)
HIST 465 - The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict (4)
HIST 467 - Modern Egypt (4)
HUM 335 - Modern Italian Culture (4)
IS 301 - Returning from Abroad: Discussion Seminar to Unpack the Experience of Work, Study & Research Abroad (2)
IS 302 - Humanitarian Intervention: An Introduction (4)
IS 303 - Ethnic Minorities, Identity Politics, and Conflict in Southeast Asia (4)
IS 304 - Russian Foreign and Security Policies (4)
IS 306 - State Failure and Reconstruction (4)
IS 307 - International Ethics: Poverty, Environmental Change, & War (4)
IS 309 - Special Topics in International Security and Conflict (4)
IS 310 - Gender and Security (4)
IS 314 - National, Regional, and International Politics in Southeast Asia (4)
IS 315 - Introduction to Middle East Politics (4)
IS 322 - Central Asia: Conflict and Security (4)
IS 323 - Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Issues and Understandings (4)
IS 325 - Social Movements in a Changing Africa (4)
IS 355 - Refugees and Forced Migration (4)
IS 380 - Civil Wars (4)
IS 402 - Global Security Governance (4)
IS 409 - Special Topics I (4)
IS 414 - Current Regional Issues in Southeast Asia (4)
IS 415 - Islamist Trend in Middle East Politics (4)
IS 435 - Special Topics in Latin American Studies (4)
IS 444 - Inside Diplomacy: A Practitioner's Perspective (4)
POL 342 - Developing Countries in Global Politics (4)
POL 344 - International Law (4)
POL 346 - International Organization (4)
POL 348 - Theories of War, Peace and Conflict Resolution (4)
POL 349 - Selected Topics in International Relations (4)
POL 373 - Human Security (4)
POL 381 - Japanese Politics (4)
POL 417 - Human Rights Theories (4)
POL 422 - Canadian International Security Relations (4)
POL 443 - Grey Zone Warfare and International Security in the Age of Disruptive Technologies (4)
POL 445W - American Foreign Policy (4)
POL 448 - Selected Topics in International Relations (4)
POL 449 - Selected Topics in International Relations II (4)
REM 454 - Water Security (4)

Comparative World Politics, Culture and Society Concentration

GSWS 312 - Gendering Borders and Belonging in Migration (4)
HIST 319 - Modern France (4)
HIST 332 - Politics and Culture in Modern Germany (4)
HIST 335 - The Soviet Project (4)
HIST 344 - Themes in Modern East Africa (4)
HIST 348 - A History of Twentieth Century South Africa (4)
HIST 350 - The Ottoman Empire and Turkey (4)
HIST 352 - Religion and Politics in Modern Iran (4)
HIST 354 - Imperialism and Modernity in the Middle East (4)
HIST 355 - The Arab Middle East in the Twentieth Century (4)
HIST 366 - Social and Cultural History of Modern China (4)
HIST 367 - History of the People's Republic of China (4)
HIST 368W - Selected Topics in the History of the Wider World (4)
HIST 371 - The Asia-Pacific War in Modern Japanese History (4)
HIST 417W - Problems in Modern French History (4)
HIST 419W - Problems in Modern Russian History (4)
HIST 420 - Themes in Russian Imperial History (4)
HIST 422 - Greece, 1935-1944: Occupation and Resistance (4)
HIST 457 - The Turkish Republic: Politics, Society, and Culture, 1918-Present (4)
HIST 464 - Problems in Modern Asian History (4)
HIST 465 - The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict (4)
HIST 467 - Modern Egypt (4)
IS 301 - Returning from Abroad: Discussion Seminar to Unpack the Experience of Work, Study & Research Abroad (2)
IS 303 - Ethnic Minorities, Identity Politics, and Conflict in Southeast Asia (4)
IS 304 - Russian Foreign and Security Policies (4)
IS 305 - Challenging Power Around the Globe: Political Resistance and Protest (4)
IS 306 - State Failure and Reconstruction (4)
IS 313W - Nationalism, Democracy and Development in Modern India (4)
IS 314 - National, Regional, and International Politics in Southeast Asia (4)
IS 315 - Introduction to Middle East Politics (4)
IS 319 - Special Topics in Comparative World Politics, Culture and Society (4)
IS 322 - Central Asia: Conflict and Security (4)
IS 323 - Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Issues and Understandings (4)
IS 325 - Social Movements in a Changing Africa (4)
IS 333 - Chinese Development and Its Discontents (4)
IS 339 - Social Movements in the Global South (4)
IS 365 - Surveillance Capitalism in Global Context (4)
IS 410 - Politics, Institutions and Development (4)
IS 414 - Current Regional Issues in Southeast Asia (4)
IS 415 - Islamist Trend in Middle East Politics (4)
IS 419 - Special Topics II (4)
IS 427 - Globalization, Poverty and Inequality (4)
IS 435 - Special Topics in Latin American Studies (4)
IS 444 - Inside Diplomacy: A Practitioner's Perspective (4)
IS 465 - China in the World: Chinese International Development and Politics (4)
POL 310 - Identity Politics (4)
POL 339 - Selected Topics in Comparative Government and Politics (4)
POL 342 - Developing Countries in Global Politics (4)
POL 374 - Africa in the Global Political Economy (4)
POL 381 - Japanese Politics (4)
POL 436 - Elections, Parties and Governments in Comparative Perspectives (4)
POL 438 - Selected Topics in Comparative Government and Politics I (4)
POL 439 - Selected Topics in Comparative Government and Politics II (4)
SA 302W - Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism (SA) (4)
SA 321 - Social Movements (S) (4)
SA 363 - Racial Capitalism, Settler Colonialism, and Uneven Development (S) (4)
SA 365 - Selected Regional Areas (A) (4)
SA 388 - Indigenous Social Movements Across the Globe (A) (4)
SA 396 - Selected Regional Areas (SA) (4)

International Development, Economic, and Environmental Issues Concentration

ECON 342 - International Trade (3)
ECON 345 - International Finance (3)
ECON 355W - Economic Development (4)
ECON 372 - The Economics of Globalization (3)
GSWS 305 - Gendering Economy: Paid and Unpaid Labour (4)
GSWS 309 - Gender and International Development (4)
GSWS 312 - Gendering Borders and Belonging in Migration (4)
HIST 377 - Environmental History (4)
HSCI 308 - Sickness and Wealth: Health in Global Perspective (3)
IS 301 - Returning from Abroad: Discussion Seminar to Unpack the Experience of Work, Study & Research Abroad (2)
IS 303 - Ethnic Minorities, Identity Politics, and Conflict in Southeast Asia (4)
IS 306 - State Failure and Reconstruction (4)
IS 307 - International Ethics: Poverty, Environmental Change, & War (4)
IS 313W - Nationalism, Democracy and Development in Modern India (4)
IS 314 - National, Regional, and International Politics in Southeast Asia (4)
IS 315 - Introduction to Middle East Politics (4)
IS 323 - Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Issues and Understandings (4)
IS 325 - Social Movements in a Changing Africa (4)
IS 329 - Special Topics in International Development, Economic and Environmental Issues (4)
IS 333 - Chinese Development and Its Discontents (4)
IS 339 - Social Movements in the Global South (4)
IS 355 - Refugees and Forced Migration (4)
IS 358 - Development, Aid and Difference in Historical Perspective (4)
IS 365 - Surveillance Capitalism in Global Context (4)
IS 373 - Global Environmental Politics (4)
IS 410 - Politics, Institutions and Development (4)
IS 414 - Current Regional Issues in Southeast Asia (4)
IS 421 - The Economics of International Organizations and Development (4)
IS 423 - International Development Practice and Ethics (4)
IS 427 - Globalization, Poverty and Inequality (4)
IS 429 - Special Topics III (4)
IS 435 - Special Topics in Latin American Studies (4)
IS 444 - Inside Diplomacy: A Practitioner's Perspective (4)
IS 465 - China in the World: Chinese International Development and Politics (4)
LBST 307 - Unfree Labour and Modern Slavery: Understanding Coercion and Exploitation in Contemporary Labour Markets (3)
LBST 312 - Migration, Migrants, and Work: A Global Perspective (3)
LBST 328 - Labour Geographies (4)
POL 342 - Developing Countries in Global Politics (4)
POL 346 - International Organization (4)
POL 374 - Africa in the Global Political Economy (4)
POL 447 - Theories of Global Political Economy (4)
POL 452W - Energy Policy (4)
REM 454 - Water Security (4)
SA 302W - Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism (SA) (4)
SA 316 - Tourism and Social Policy (S) (4)
SA 326 - Food, Ecology and Social Thought (S) (4)
SA 362 - The Commodification of Everything: Colonialism, Capitalism, and Sustainability (S) (4)
SA 363 - Racial Capitalism, Settler Colonialism, and Uneven Development (S) (4)
SA 371 - The Environment and Society (SA) (4)
SA 388 - Indigenous Social Movements Across the Globe (A) (4)
SA 396 - Selected Regional Areas (SA) (4)
SA 418 - Global Health: Humanitarian Encounters (A) (4)

*With the approval of the School for International Studies (please contact the IS advisor), 4 upper division units from courses not listed above with high international content may be considered for credit towards this plan.

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.