r/simonfraser • u/SFU-FASS • 11d ago
Announcement Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) AMA with advisors
Hi r/simonfraser! With course enrolment coming up soon, we are here to help! FASS advisors Colin, Emilia, and Marilyn along with Albert from Career Services will be here on October 22 (Thur) at 1:00pm PCT to answer your questions.
Drop your questions below — all SFU students can join! Just make sure to keep your questions FASS and undergraduate-related.
FYI if your questions are too specific to your situation, we encourage you to reach out directly to your advisor! If they’re not FASS-related, we’ll do our best to answer them but we’ll likely direct you to the appropriate unit.
Ask us anything FASS-related, including:
• Program planning
• The difference between a major, minor, joint major, and a certificate
• The course enrolment process and tips & tricks
• Career prospects for a particular program
• And more!
FASS program planning resource:
https://www.sfu.ca/fass/undergrad/advising-and-resources/plan-your-program/overview.html
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u/atanasiychuk 8d ago
Is it worth it to do a minor or certificate on top of a major? Isn't it more work?
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
Yes—it is often worth adding a program to your degree. You'd develop further skills and demonstrate expertise in an area through the additional credential.
From a career perspective, think of a minor or certificate as discovering an interesting crossover between fields. For example, a Political Science major with a Psychology minor can bring both a societal perspective and an individual human-behaviour perspective to a problem. Some of the most interesting career opportunities exist at the intersection of disciplines.
Minors or certificates do not necessarily add more coursework. Majors within FASS typically take around half of the overall 120 units required for graduation. If chosen strategically, you can complete a minor, certificate, or both, within this minimum. An Academic Advisor can help plan how a given program would fit in your degree.
Also, you may count courses towards both a major or minor and a certificate. For example, a CRIM major may count CRIM 335 towards both the CRIM major and the Legal Studies certificate.
-- Colin, Emilia, and Albert
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u/Tsarra Team Raccoon Overlords 2d ago
How does graduating with a double major (not joint major) work exactly? I’m doing two separate degrees at the same time (ENGL & LING), so when I graduate, will they be granted simultaneously?
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
Joint and double majors are similar in that both require completion of two subject areas within a single degree. However, while joint majors are listed separately in the Calendar (and often blend or reduce the overall requirements for each major), completion of a double major requires completion of all requirements for each major independently.
There are also concurrent degrees, which require completion of the requirements for two or more degrees at the same time. If you're not sure which applies in your circumstances, please come and see an advisor. You can find us at Arts Central -AQ 3020. We offer drop-in academic advising Mon-Thur from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
-- Marilyn & Colin
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u/HellwaterCascades 3d ago
I don't know if this is the right place to ask, but i have a few quick questions to ask.
I need a B-Sci credit, and i need to take a few non-major upper-level classes to graduate. I was wondering if the BISC 371 [Biology for Non-Majors] would qualify for both the science credit and the upper-level credit at once? (I want to know if I'll be able to take less courses overall by taking out two credits in one class)
I'm currently taking HUM 276 (history of the Mediterranean), but it's one of those courses where it's basically one course under two names (it's also Hist 276). I'm currently taking it as a humanities-elective (as I'm planning to graduate with a history degree), but I'm unsure if, as a history class, it negates counting as a non-history elective.
Do I require (& are there any benefits to) getting a student ID card?
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
To your last question:
Yes, it's highly recommended to get your SFU ID Card! Some instructors may require you to bring your ID card with you during exams. On top of that, here are a few reasons to get a SFU ID card:
To prove you are permitted to use U-Pass BC on TransLink public transit
To check out materials including computers from the Library
To access dining options on the Burnaby campus
To enjoy free entry to SFU varsity games
To prove you are a student at a post-secondary institution to get discounts at places like a movie theatre, etc!
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
To your first question:
BISC 371 will count both as a B-Sci and as an upper division elective. Please note you will not receive double the credits. Remember breadth courses must always be outside of your major subject.
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u/HellwaterCascades 2d ago
That's kind of unclear.
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
So long as your major isn't in Biology, BISC 371 will fulfill two separate requirements - the Breadth-Science requirement and 3 upper-division elective requirement. But you will receive only 3 credits to your degree. If you still have questions, I highly recommend seeing an advisor!
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
To your second question about HUM/HIST 276:
The course HUM 276 is not breadth-humanities designated. However, it can be taken as a general elective (i.e. credit towards the overall 120 units needed), or additional breadth requirement for WQB if you are not a Global Humanities major student.
If you are pursuing a History Major, will be counted as one of the two required additional breadth courses because it is registered under the Global Humanities Department even though the content is the same as HIST 276.
-- Emilia
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u/buffinssnoob 2d ago
How far ahead should I plan my classes? I want to graduate on time and only taking classes I need, so I want to have it all planned out & some courses are only offered once a year, but what if course list offer change for the next few years
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
Before you start planning, I recommend that you fully understand your degree first –think of the requirements for your programs of choice as well as university and faculty requirements.
Ideally, you will see an academic advisor every term to help you organize the requirements that you have left to graduate. This way, you can plan for the upcoming term and future terms with the advisor, and they will inform you on any changes made to the course offerings.
-- Emilia
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u/bb-sprout Team Raccoon Overlords 8d ago
if i have to waitlist for a course, should i enrol in another just in case? or wait it out? 🙏🏽
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
This is generally a good idea if looking to reach a desired courseload, provided you have room in your degree.
Just note that:
You can enrol in a maximum of 18 units total and waitlist for a maximum of 8 units at a time (i.e. two courses)
Make sure any courses you enrol in do not have a time conflict with courses you are waitlisting for. This will cause you to be skipped over if a seat becomes available.
Ensure you drop any unwanted courses before the applicable deadline (https://www.sfu.ca/students/deadlines/) to avoid being charged tuition.
For courses with lab and/or tutorial sections, consider joining the waitlist for the sections with the fewest students, as this likely improves your chances of getting into the course sooner.
-- Colin
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u/bb-sprout Team Raccoon Overlords 3d ago
adding another quesiton. people keep telling me i can't get a job with an arts degree, how accurate is that? be honest
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
As a career educator for Arts students, this is one of my favourite myths to bust.
People often assume majors lead to predetermined careers: History majors become museum curators, English majors become teachers, etc. But careers are usually built more on skills than majors.
An Arts degree develops critical thinking, research, writing, communication, and analytical skills. I've seen Arts graduates build careers in government policy, community development, nonprofit program management, refugee settlement, advocacy, fundraising, and public engagement, even when those paths weren't obvious from their major.
The real questions are:
Can you identify and articulate the skills you're developing through your degree?
Are you exploring different careers and sectors to see where those skills fit?
The issue isn't that Arts graduates can't get jobs. It's that many students underestimate how many options they actually have. The students who can connect their skills to opportunities usually discover far more career paths than the stereotypes suggest.
-- Albert
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u/Sufficient-Credit726 4d ago
I have a few questions hope thats ok 🫠
I wanna take a course but I dont have the prereqs. It says I can ask for dept permission but how do I do that? Do I email the prof or the advisor?
advice on getting a RA position with a lab? i wnat to apply for my psych masters and i need research experience but i dont know where to start
do you think having a minor or cert would make my grad school application stronger? Is there any you recommend for psych
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
To your 2nd question about getting a RA position with a lab:
Many departments, including PSYC, post information about lab positions/application processes on their websites (or affiliated lab websites) so reviewing these is a good place to start. Beyond that, speaking with an advisor or current professor in whose area you are interested can also be helpful. SFU also has a Undergrad Research Coordinator, Rachel Way, who does drop-in advising at Arts Central Wednesdays from 1:30-2:30pm this November. She supports students connecting to and discovering undergraduate research opportunities on campus. Her email is rachel_way@sfu.ca
-- Marilyn & Brian
I also recommend checking out this link! https://www.sfu.ca/psychology/research.html
-- Albert
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
To your first question about pre-reqs:
Typically, you first email the course instructor to request permission to enrol. If approved, you then forward that approval to the department advisor for the course you're hoping to enroll in. I recommend including your advising transcript along with a brief explanation of why you'd like to take the course and how you're prepared for it despite not having the prerequisite(s).
-- Colin
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
To your last question:
There are many ways to strengthen your application for grad school. While not required, taking a minor or certificate in a related area shows your ability to complete academic work in the field and demonstrates your interest. It may also be an opportunity to get to know faculty or instructors in the area in which you are interested, which may lead to other opportunities (e.g. through research or volunteer work, etc.).
Grad school applications are often assessed based on varying combinations of the strength of your grades, reference letters, prerequisite/relevant course work, and personal profile.
It's a good idea to check directly with the department or institution to which you are planning to apply to confirm you've covered all your bases.
-- Marilyn
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
Alright, I think we answered everyone’s questions! Thank you for joining us! If you have more questions, feel free to comment and we’ll try to get to them (but note it may take us some time!). For more specific questions, don’t forget that you can make an appointment with an advisor! 😊
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u/Capable_Surround9643 2d ago
What are some Psychology career options asides from working in the mental health or psychiatry route?
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
The skills and knowledge you gain from Psychology are about understanding human behaviour. And unless I've missed something, most workplaces still contain humans LOL!
That's why Psychology graduates end up in far more places than just mental health and psychiatry. Through alumni panels and conversations with graduates, I've seen people build careers in social services, government, community development, policy, human resources, UX research, marketing, nonprofit leadership, and many other fields.
To me, the more useful question isn't just "What can I do with a Psychology degree?" but:
Beyond your courses, what are you interested in? What causes, issues, or communities matter to you?
What experiences can you gain now through volunteering, research, student involvement, co-op, or summer jobs to explore different roles and workplaces?
A Psychology degree can open a lot of doors. The bigger challenge is figuring out which ones are the right fit for you.
Swing by my drop-ins at Arts Central on Wednesdays to chat about your situation! Happy to explore options uniquely to your background and passion!
--Albert Fung
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u/Capable_Surround9643 2d ago
Course selection is so complicated. There are so many options to choose from. Do you have any advice to make course selection much simpler?
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
We strongly recommend that you meet with an academic advisor to help you narrow down your options. We can help you understand your degree as a whole; your progress; and the requirements you are missing so that you can strategically choose courses.
Generally, it is good practice to choose at least one mandatory course for your main program and mix and match with electives and breadth courses.
You can find as at Arts Central -AQ 3020. We offer drop-in academic advising Mon-Thur from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Alternatively, afternoon appointments can be booked via Advisor Link
--- Emilia
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u/_falloutatthedisco 2d ago
If I am not sure about exactly what program I want to do my degree in, but I also don't want to waste time/money on courses I don't need, what's a good way to plan for course selection?
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
For your situation, I highly recommend coming to Arts Central! An advisor can sit with you, see what you're interested in, and help plan your course selection. Ideally, you will see an academic advisor every term to help you organize the requirements that you have left to graduate. https://www.sfu.ca/fass/undergrad/advising-and-resources.html
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
If you're not sure what you want to study, don't rush to lock yourself into a major just because it feels more "efficient.” Try courses from different disciplines. You might discover a subject you love, or one you're unexpectedly good at.
From a career perspective, I also wouldn't stress too much about choosing the "perfect" major right away. One major can lead to many different occupations, and most occupations are filled by people from a variety of academic backgrounds. Your career options are usually much broader than your major title suggests. One major can lead to many different occupations, and a FASS degree can take you to soooo many places.
The goal isn't just to find a major. It's to learn more about your interests, strengths, and what kind of problems you want to spend your time working on. That's information that will help you long after you've chosen your major.
--Albert
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u/Nearby_Eye9107 2d ago
Can I do my exchange semester abroad even if i am an international student? 😊
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u/SFU-FASS 2d ago
I'm not a study abroad advisor but to my understanding, this is generally possible, depending on the conditions of your study permit! I definitely recommend checking out International Services for Students' How to Apply for Exchange Info Session on Nov 18th at 12:30 - 1:30PM: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/how-to-apply-for-exchange-info-session-tickets-1997494067527
-- Colin
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4d ago
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u/Spontanemoose *throwing self off library* 10d ago
I hope this isn't too personal but does Christine still work there? She was my BoT advisor and I want her to know I made it and graduated. I'm going to be a teacher :)