Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - SA 840 G100

Graduate Seminar (2)

Class Number: 4965

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Orientation to university, professional development, and cohort building. Required course for the first year MA and PhD students in Sociology and Anthropology. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

COURSE DETAILS:

This proseminar focusses on important elements of learning to be a successful graduate student and scholar in sociology and anthropology. Graduate students will learn to think about teaching, grant writing, ethics, the research process, publishing, and participating in the scholarly life of the disciplines. Students will hear from current graduate students in the department, faculty members, and other members of the university who offer expertise on different aspects of professional development.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Cultivate a sense of cohort in your new graduate program and a confident sense of self as a graduate student in Sociology and Anthropology at SFU
  • Foster collegial dialogue about professional ambitions, intellectual projects, and issues facing the disciplines
  • Prepare to begin research and employment activities at SFU by building capacity for teaching assistance, research assistance, university research ethics, navigating supervisory relationships, independent study, and proposal and grant writing
  • Understand the landscape of resources for graduate students at SFU
  • Enhance curiosity about intellectual development and skills training in the contemporary political economic climate

Grading

  • The class is pass/fail. Attendance and active participation in person in class, and at department colloquia, are expected 100%

NOTES:

The Department hosts colloquia speakers, usually 12:45-2:00, before our proseminar. Your attendance and participation in the colloquia are expected.

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology and Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T 20.01) 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: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student.html.

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

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraws 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.

REQUIREMENTS:

Ad hoc assignments and participation

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

n/a

REQUIRED READING:

There is no required text. All course readings will be provided on SFU’s learning management system (Canvas)

RECOMMENDED READING:

n/a

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.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

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.