Program Overview

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers a wide range of programs for undergraduate and graduate students.

Departments and Programs

The faculty comprises various departments and programs, including:

• Accelerated Law (SFU-Exeter)
• Anthropology
• Applied Legal Studies
• Cognitive Science
• Criminology
• Economics
• English
• French
• French Cohort Program
• Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies
• Gerontology
• Global Asia
• Global Humanities
• Graduate Liberal Studies
• Hellenic Studies
• History
• Indigenous Languages
• Indigenous Studies
• International Studies
• Labour Studies
• Linguistics
• Medical Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Overview
  • Program Structure
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Public Policy
• Social Data Analytics
• Sociology
• Urban Studies
• World Languages & Literatures

Undergraduate Programs

The faculty offers undergraduate programs with various options, including:

• Future Students
  • Next steps for new students
    • FASS Camps
    • FASS Familiar Campus Tours
    • Fall 2025 First Term Schedules
      • Lower Division Elective List
  • FASS One at Surrey
    • FASS One Advising and Contact
    • Starting in Fall 2025: Next Steps
      • FASS Camps Surrey
    • FASS One FAQs
    • FASS Friends and Mentors (FAM)
    • Peer Mentors 2025
• Indigenous Student Pathways
  • General Application
  • Alternate Application
  • Financial Aid
  • Housing
  • Community
  • Campus
• Advising and Resources
  • Plan your Program
  • Declare your Program
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Student Resources
  • Department Advisors
  • Course Preview Videos
  • Newsletter Archive
• Student Life
  • FASS Mentorship in Burnaby
    • Meet our Mentors
    • Join our team
    • Get paired with a mentor
  • FASS One in Surrey
  • Student Unions
  • Undergraduate journals
• Career Experience
• Opportunities
  • Scholarships/Awards
  • Field Schools
  • Research Symposium
• FASS Forward Courses

Graduate Programs

The faculty offers graduate programs, including:

• Contact
• Accelerated Master's
• Info Sessions
• Opportunities
  • Three Minute Thesis (3MT)
  • Field Schools
  • Financial Aid
• Scholarship Application Mentors
• Spotlight

Applied Legal Studies

The Master of Arts (MA) Program in Applied Legal Studies is designed for students intending to practice as Notaries Public in the province of British Columbia. The program prepares students for admission to notarial practice, subject to further requirements prescribed by the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia, and for business and public service. The degree is granted upon the successful completion of the required number of courses and a final examination.

Program Admission Requirements

For information about admission requirements and the application process, visit the Master of Arts in Applied Legal Studies through the School of Criminology. Satisfaction of the entrance requirements means only that an applicant is eligible for admission into the program. Admission is competitive—each year the number of applications received, which meet the admissions eligibility requirements, far exceeds the number of seats available in the program. Applications are assessed on a holistic basis, taking into account undergraduate GPA and required testing scores, but also employment and life experience.

Program Description

The MA ALS program is a challenging full-time program. At the core of the Notary profession, you need to genuinely care about people. People may come to your office at times when they are vulnerable, faced with crucial decisions, and in need of your assistance and support. People are often intimidated by legal services of any kind, and a good Notary plays a vital role in explaining and demystifying those processes, translating knowledge to help people feel more secure and safe, and making legal knowledge accessible.

Research

The faculty supports research through various initiatives, including:

• Faculty support
  • Find funding
    • FASS funding
      • Kickstarter Seed Recipients
      • Breaking Barriers Recipients
    • Canadian funding
    • International funding
    • Conference & workshop funding
  • Apply for funding
    • Deadlines calendar
    • Budget guidelines
    • Eligibility
    • SFU signature sheets
  • Manage funding
    • Account setup
    • Project changes (Tri-Agency)
    • Transferring funds
    • Changes in status (ie. leaves)
    • Extensions
    • Residual balances
    • Award closure
  • Frequently asked questions
• Centres & institutes
• Labs & groups
• Scholars-in-residence
  • Jack and Doris Shadbolt Fellowship
  • Jack and Nancy Farley Visiting Scholar
• Faculty accomplishments
  • Canada Research Chairs
  • Distinguished SFU Professors
  • Fellows & Members

Teaching

The faculty supports teaching through various initiatives, including:

• Faculty updates
• Teaching fellows
• Resources
  • Reconciling Curriculum Grant Program
• Positions

News & Events

The faculty hosts various news and events, including:

• News
• Events
  • Developing Minds
    • Past conferences
  • Multilingual SFU
  • Terry Fox Lecture on Hope

Convocation

The faculty participates in convocation ceremonies to recognize student achievements.