Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - SA 201W D100

Anthropology and Contemporary Life (A) (4)

Class Number: 4888

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Recommended: SA 101.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

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. Writing/Breadth-Social Sci.

COURSE DETAILS:

What role do algorithms play in contemporary life? How do they affect the decisions we make? And, perhaps more importantly, how do they affect the decisions made about us? In this experiential learning class, we will look at how anthropologists study people’s entanglement with algorithmic culture. We will use the tools and theories of anthropology to conduct our own investigations of the ways algorithms affect labour and employment, our sense of safety and security, consumption, healthcare, leisure, and much more. As we will be learning together, active student participation is critical. Classes will consist of lectures, discussions, and collaborative research activities. The course satisfies requirements for a lower division Writing Intensive course.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

At the end of this course student will:

  • have a broad understanding of how and where anthropology contributes to understanding contemporary social issues;
  • be able to apply anthropological methods and theories to contemporary social issues and phenomena;
  • know how to make a convincing data & theory supported argument;
  • have experience collecting, analyzing, and presenting ethnographic data.

Grading

NOTES:

Your mark in the class will be based on the following:

  • active and constructive participation in classroom activities
  • a weekly ethnographic journal
  • contribution to a group research project
  • an op-ed essay


Students in this course will be asked to use and evaluate Generative AI tools for some activities. All students will be required to complete research ethics training in order to participate in the group research activities.

Please note: Students are expected to set their own learning goals and to work towards them through the course of the term. I will provide substantive written feedback on coursework without grades, and students are encouraged to address that feedback in ways that support their learning goals. For the op-ed and assignments related to the group research, you may revise and resubmit any assignment within one week of receiving my feedback.

Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing. The weekly ethnographic journal is exempt from the requirement to avoid an N grade.

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Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraw from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The Undergraduate Course Grading System is as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T20.01), and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10‐S10.05). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style. It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

The Sociology and Anthropology Student Union, SASU, is a governing body of students who are engaged with the department and want to build the SA community. Get involved!  Follow Facebook and Instagram pages or visit our website.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Required reading, listening, and watching:

Podcasts, videos, journal articles and book chapters (available through CANVAS)
Note: this course is part of a pilot of CANVAS Cloud


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.