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Global Humanities 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 Global Humanities 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 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.

Lower Division Global Humanities Requirements

Students complete 15 units, including

HUM 101W - Introduction to Global Humanities (3)

Introduction to issues and concepts central to the study of the humanities around the world. Through exposure to primary materials drawn from different periods, disciplines, and regions, students will become acquainted with a range of topics and ideas relating to the study of the human condition, human values, and human experience. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D900 Adrian Ivakhiv
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Surrey
D901 Adrian Ivakhiv
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Surrey

and one of

HUM 102W - Classical Mythology (3)

Introduction to the central myths and literary sources of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The course investigates the nature, function, and meaning of myths in the classical world. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 David Mirhady
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D101 David Mirhady
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D102 David Mirhady
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D103 David Mirhady
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 4:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D104 David Mirhady
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 5:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
OL01 Alessandra Capperdoni
Online
OT01 Alessandra Capperdoni
TBD
OT02 Alessandra Capperdoni
TBD
OT03 TBD
OT04 TBD
HUM 105 - Many Europes: Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern (3)

Study of the many diverse peoples, languages, and regions of the European continent from the origins of civilization until the mid-16th century. Breadth-Humanities.

HUM 106 - Art and the Humanities (3)

Introduction to the study of art across cultures and periods. Breadth-Humanities.

HUM 110 - The Greek World (3)

Interdisciplinary introduction to Greek culture in different periods. Using various sources and materials the course explores continuities and ruptures, evolutions and revolutions, and the impact such issues have on the imagination of people today. Students with credit for HS 100 may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.

HUM 121 - Walk of Life: Migrations in Eurasia from Antiquity to the Present (3)

Examines population movements in Eurasia, from antiquity to the present. Considers a variety of questions related to the how and why people migrate, and how people are received. Answering these questions pertaining to mass migration in Eurasia fosters greater understanding of the overall human experience. Breadth-Humanities.

HUM 130 - Introduction to Religious Studies (3)

Introduction to concepts central to the academic study of religion, exploring various relevant methodologies. Provides a framework for understanding the many ways in which humans experience the phenomenon of the sacred through symbol, ritual, doctrine, and engagement, in a variety of religious traditions and cultures. Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D900 Jason Brown
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Surrey
OL01 Online
OT01 TBD
OT02 TBD
OT03 TBD
OT04 TBD
OT05 TBD
HUM 150 - Warfare: From Plato to NATO (3)

From the days of Achilles to the Second World War, warfare has changed the human experience. Examines the evolution of warfare, from Ancient Greece to modem Europe, considering the interplay of violence, technology, ideology, and society. Students with credit for HS 150 may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences.

and three further lower division global humanities courses, including at least one 200-level course.

Upper Division Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Requirements

Students complete 20 upper division units GSWS units. Courses which have high GSWS content may 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.

Upper Division Global Humanities Requirements

Students complete a total of 20 units in upper division global humanities courses and the following are recommended.

HUM 320 - Cross-Cultural Philosophy in the Humanities (4)

Exploration of the characteristic ways in which humanities, with their emphasis on textuality and the history of ideas, presents important philosophical concepts and intellectual problems. Based upon an interdisciplinary selection of texts drawn from history, philosophy, literature and the arts. May be repeated for credit when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Alessandra Capperdoni
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 12:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
HUM 321W - The Humanities and Critical Thinking (4)

Study of the counter-traditions in human civilization and thought, including impulses and movements that critique and resist dominant value systems. Focuses on writers, artists and thinkers that break with their traditions creating new values, ideas, and forms of experience and expression. May be repeated for credit when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
B100 Alessandra Capperdoni
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
B101 TBD
HUM 325 - The Humanities and the Natural World (4)

Study of the humanistic, scientific, political, and ideological discourses deriving from concerns with the natural environment. Uses classic and contemporary sources to examine the interaction of humans with the non-human world, and includes such topics as human communities and nature, the immersion of the individual in nature, animal worlds, nature and the human habitat. May be repeated for credit when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
B100 Adrian Ivakhiv
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
B101 TBD

Students in the global humanities joint major programs have the option of taking concentrations to enhance their programs.

Concentration in Art and Material Culture

Concentration in Hellenic Studies

Concentration in Mythologies

Concentration in Public Engagement and Intellectual Culture

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.