Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - SA 150 OL01

Introduction to Sociology (S) (4)

Class Number: 4428

Delivery Method: Online

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Online

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Oct 22, 2025
    Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Location: TBA

  • Instructor:

    Suzanna Crage
    scrage@sfu.ca
    Office Hours: TBA via Zoom and office

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

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.

COURSE DETAILS:

The last several years have highlighted the relevance of sociology. The sociological term “structural racism” became part of mainstream discussion, and the pandemic shined a light on how inequality affects not just what people can buy, but also how likely people are to be infected by illness, or lose their job, or find a new one. More recently, societal debates have changed how people talk about being Canadian, and how Canada relates to other countries. Many of us are becoming more aware of how differently other people experience social life.

This all means that right now is a particularly interesting and useful time to take Introduction to Sociology. In this course, you will learn how sociological research and theory help explain social life, and you will use this to develop your own understanding of social life. Sociologists focus on how group dynamics and societal structures affect individual lives, and how individual situations affect the impacts of those larger phenomena. This dual focus means we look at humans differently than people do in many other fields. You will learn to see life through a sociological lens, and you will use that lens to explore big factors that shape societies, individual experiences that shape everyday life, and how the two are related.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

My course educational goals are for you to

–understand foundational sociological concepts
–learn about various aspects of social inequality in Canada and abroad
–consider what it means to belong to different social groups
–examine the promises and pitfalls of social change
–apply course concepts to construct critical sociological arguments about life around you.

This class is designed to be online. Course material is a mix of assigned texts, written material and short video lectures I have prepared, plus updates and responses to your discussions that I will add during the term. Another important part of the class is structured small-group discussions. You will participate in these through posts and responses during the week.

Grading

  • Two Essays (18% each) 36%
  • Midterm 19%
  • Final Exam 25%
  • Discussions 20%

NOTES:

Grading: Both exams and both essays must be completed for a final grade other than an N to be assigned, unless you withdraw from the course before the withdrawal deadline date. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

A note about using outside tools for course writing: I expect you to write your discussion posts and essays using course material, your brain, and your own experiences and observations of life around you. Using writing, composition or idea-generating tools that rely on more general material is not only cheating, it will not help your learning or your grade. Why? In your writing, you will draw connections between specifics from social life that you have seen or experienced, and specifics from course material. People who rely on more general sources produce work that stands out, and not in a good way. Plus, thinking about those connections is what will help you learn the material; having something or somebody else do the work for you defeats the purpose of taking the course.

Put another way: For your writing in this course, don't use ChatGPT or similar tools, essay editing or writing services, websites with write-ups on course topics, etc.

Also: this is not a W course, so we do not grade on grammar or composition (though we do need to be able to understand what you write). For those interested, I will provide information about university writing resources. If you have concerns about whether your language or writing skills will work for this course, let me know and we can talk about it.

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:

  • Suzanna M. Crage. Introduction to Sociology: Canada and the World. Open Educational Resources. Available on course Canvas site.
  • Additional readings and other materials, available on course Canvas site.

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.