Please note:
To view the Fall 2024 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2024/fall.html.
English and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Joint Major
The Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies and the Department of English 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 English Requirements
Students complete the lower division requirement of the English major program, as follows.
Students complete any two 100-division English courses. Such courses may include:
Examines literary “classics”, variously defined, apprehending them both on their own terms and within larger critical conversations. May incorporate the comparative study of work in related artistic fields and engage relevant media trends. Includes attention to writing skills. Students with credit for ENGL 101W may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.
Introduces students to contemporary works of literature in English and/or contemporary approaches to interpreting literature. May focus on one or multiple genres. Includes attention to writing skills. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Nicky Didicher |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, Wed, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
D101 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D102 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D104 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D105 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D106 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D108 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D109 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D111 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D113 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D114 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D115 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Introduces students to plays and performance works created and adapted for the stage, and/or the performative dimensions of other literary forms. May be organized historically, generically or thematically. The course may also explore the links between literary and performance theory. Includes attention to writing skills. Students with credit for ENGL 103W may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.
Introduces students to the relationships between writing and purpose, between the features of texts and their meaning and effects. May focus on one or more literary or non-literary genres, including (but not limited to) essays, oratory, autobiography, poetry, and journalism. Includes attention to writing skills. Students with credit for ENGL 104W may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Peter Cramer |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
D101 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D102 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D104 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D105 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D107 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D108 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D109 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D110 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D112 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D113 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An Introduction to the study of literature within the wider cultural field, with a focus on contemporary issues across genres and media. Students with credit for ENGL 105W may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
David Coley |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, Wed, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
D101 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D102 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D104 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D106 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D107 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D108 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D110 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D112 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D113 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D114 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D900 |
Torsten Kehler |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
D901 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D902 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D903 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D904 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D905 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D906 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D907 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
An introduction to reading and writing from a rhetorical perspective. The course treats reading and writing as activities that take place in particular circumstances and situations, in contrast to the traditional emphasis on decontextualized, formal features of texts. It prepares students for reading and writing challenges they are likely to encounter within and beyond the classroom. Prerequisite: 12 units. Students with credit for ENGL 199 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Sean Zwagerman |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
D101 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
OL01 |
Alys Avalos Rivera |
Online |
Students also complete any four 200-division English courses. Such courses may include:
Explores how literature and language imagine the natural world and engage with environmental and ecological crisis. Topics may include ecocriticism: eco-poetics; approaches to the natural world; local, imperial, and Indigenous ecologies. May be further organized by historical period or genre. Prerequisite: 12 units or one 100-division English course. Breadth-Humanities.
Considers how sexuality and gender are articulated, understood, explored, and negotiated through literature and language. May be further organized by historical period, genre, or critical approach. This course may be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 12 units or one 100-division English course. Breadth-Humanities.
Examines how literature and language work to reflect, perform, complicate, and critique constructions of race, ethnicity, and national and diasporic identities and spaces. May draw from post-colonial approaches, critical race theory, and Indigenous and decolonizing methodologies. May be further organized by historical period, genre, or critical approach. Prerequisite: 12 units or one 100-division English course. Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Joanne Leow |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, Wed, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
D102 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D103 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D104 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D106 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
Considers how identity - construed psychologically, culturally, or socially - is performed and interrogated through literature and language. May be further organized by historical period, genre, or critical approach. Prerequisite: 12 units or one 100-division English course. Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Yiwen Liu |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
D101 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D102 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D103 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D104 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
Examines literature and language within specific social, cultural, geographical, and textual environments to explore the mutually informing relationship between history and text. May be further organized by historical period, genre, or critical approach. Prerequisite: 12 units or one 100-division English course. Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Paul Budra |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
D102 |
Paul Budra |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
D104 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D106 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D107 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D200 |
JD Fleming |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
D201 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D202 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D203 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D204 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D205 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D206 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Explores texts in relation to their different material forms, including oral, manuscript, print, film, and digital media. May be further organized by methodology (e.g. book history, textual scholarship, media studies, adaptation studies, digital humanities), historical period, or genre. Prerequisite: 12 units or one 100-division English course. Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D101 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D102 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D103 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D104 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
Introduction to the history and principles of rhetoric, and their application to the creation and analysis of written, visual, and other forms of persuasion. Prerequisite: 12 units or one 100-division English course.
The study of selected works in the history of literary criticism, up to and including modern and contemporary movements in criticism. Prerequisite: 12 units or one 100-division English course.
A study of different historical methods of measuring poetry in English, with practice in scanning and analyzing poems using different methods of quantitative analysis (e.g. Syllabic, rhythmic, alliterative). Prerequisite: 12 units or one 100-division English course. Students with credit for ENGL 212 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative.
An introduction to the art of reading for creative writers, focusing on the linguistic, literary, and conceptual tools writers use to manipulate language to create different experiences for those encountering it, and exposing new writers to innovative literature. Prerequisite: ENGL 111W, 112W, 113W, 114W, or 115W; or WL 105W; or PUB 101. Breadth-Humanities.
Students wishing to major in English are strongly advised to submit a formal declaration to this effect to the undergraduate advisor upon completing all lower division requirements.
* any one, but not more than one, of these courses may be replaced by any three unspecified transfer units in English or in ENGL-Writing
** any one, but not more than one, of these courses may be replaced by any three unspecified 200 division transfer units in English
+ recommended and any one, but not more than one, of these courses may be replaced by any three unspecified 200 division transfer units in English
Lower Division Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Requirements
Students complete 18 lower division GSWS units, including two of
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 |
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 |
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.
Upper Division English Requirements
Students complete 20 units of upper division English courses. A minimum of four of these units must be at the 400-level, excluding directed studies courses (ENGL 490, 491); a minimum of four units must be from the following group of courses, focused on Canadian and/or Indigenous Literatures:
Study of selected works of Canadian literature, including Indigenous, diasporic, and settler texts. May draw from a variety of methods, critical debates, regions, and historical periods. This course may be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 30 units or two 200-division English courses.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
OL01 |
Clint Burnham |
Online |
Examines works of popular fiction by Indigenous authors, and their use of specific genres (e.g. the mystery novel, vampire thriller, sci fi, comic book). This course may be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 30 units or two 200-division English courses. Students who have taken FNST 322 under this topic, or FNST 360 may not take this course for further credit.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Alexa Manuel |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Advanced seminar on selected works by Indigenous writers. May be organized by author, genre, or critical approach. This course may be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units or two 300-division English courses. Strongly recommended: At least one Indigenous studies course. Writing.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Deanna Reder |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
Advanced seminar in Canadian literature. May be organized by author, genre, or critical approach. This course may be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units or two 300-division English courses. Writing.
With permission of the department, other English courses of equivalent content may be substituted for those required in this group.
Upper Division Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Requirements
Students complete 20 upper division 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.
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 |
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.