Anthropology and Sociology Joint Major
Bachelor of Arts
Program Requirements
Students complete 120 units, as specified below.
Lower Division Requirements
Students complete a minimum of 30 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
|
Bascom Guffin
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
|
D101
|
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Tue, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
|
D102
|
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Tue, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
|
D103
|
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Wed, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
Show lab/tutorial sections
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
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Mon, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
|
D101
|
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
|
D102
|
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
|
D103
|
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
|
D104
|
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
|
D105
|
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Tue, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
|
D106
|
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Tue, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
Show lab/tutorial sections
SA 201W
-
Anthropology and Contemporary Life (A)
(4)
An introduction to the anthropological perspective as applied to the organization of everyday life in contemporary settings. Introduces positivist, interpretive, and critical interpretive approaches to the analysis of social actions, identities, and values as enacted in space and time. Prerequisite: Recommended: SA 101. Writing.
| Section |
Instructor |
Day/Time |
Location |
|
OL01
|
Jie Yang
|
|
Online
|
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.
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.
and two additional 200 division SA courses designated (A), (S), or (SA).
Upper Division Requirements
Students complete a minimum of 40 upper division units, including
SA 301
-
Contemporary Ethnography (A)
(4)
A consideration of key themes in contemporary anthropology. Addresses theoretical and methodological questions by examining the work of contemporary anthropologists conducting research in diverse locations around the world. Prerequisite: SA 101.
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
|
Travers .
|
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Thu, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 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.
SA 356W
-
Ethnography and Qualitative Methods (SA)
(4)
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 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby
|
and six additional upper division SA courses. At least one course must be designated (A), one course designated (S), one course designated (SA), and at least two must be 400 division courses.
No more than four units of Directed Readings and no more than 15 upper division units transferred from another institution may be used toward completion of this major.
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.