General Education

Introduction

Durham College strives to ensure that students who graduate from approved post secondary programs are immediately employable in their field of study; able to progress in employment through the ability to continuously learn; and are capable of contributing positively to the society in which they live and work. Therefore, each program of study will provide students with the skills related to a specific field of study (vocational skills), essential employability skills, and general education as stipulated by the Government of Ontario Credentials Framework for Ontario College programs.

Purpose

This policy will provide a mechanism for complying with the Government of Ontario's Credentials Framework for Ontario College programs, which requires each program of study to provide students with vocational, essential employability and general education skills. General education is included in the Ontario college post-secondary curriculum to strengthen skills such as critical analysis, problem solving and communication in the context of topics with broad-based personal and/or societal importance.

Definitions

"General Education course standard" refers to the criteria within the Credentials Framework for Ontario College programs that general education courses must provide a broad theoretical overview of a topic of personal and/or societal importance

(categorized as aesthetic, cultural, historical, scientific or philosophical) with little or no applications training.

"Mandatory General Education courses" are required program courses not subject to student choice. These courses must meet the General Education standard for theoretical breadth but are not required to be outside the vocational field of study.

"Elective General Education courses" are required courses from an approved pool of courses over which students exercise choice. These courses must meet the General Education standard for theoretical breadth but provide learning opportunities beyond the vocational field of study.

"Post-secondary programs of instruction" are defined as a group of related courses leading to the awarding of one of the following credentials: Ontario College Certificate, Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, or Ontario College Graduate Certificate. Programs of instruction are approved by the Board of Governors and conform to the levels of learning articulated in the Credentials Framework (Minister's Binding Policy Directive on Framework for Programs of Instruction).

Policy Statements

1. For Ontario College Diploma programs, students must complete three (3) General Education courses of approximately 42 hours each, two (2) of which may be mandated and one (1) of which is chosen by the student as an elective. Students must have successfully completed three (3) General Education courses from a minimum of two (2) theme areas in order to graduate.
2. For Ontario College Advanced Diploma Programs, students must complete three (3) General Education courses of approximately 42 hours each, two (2) of which may be mandated courses and one (1) of which is chosen by the student as an elective. Students must have successfully completed three (3) General Education courses from a minimum of two (2) theme areas in order to graduate.
3. General Education courses: will be discrete; identify the theme being addressed; will be delivered online when feasible and; must not require a vocationally specific course as a prerequisite.
4. Exceptions to the approximate hours in length of a general education course must be approved by the Vice-President, Academic.

A detailed description of the process for implementing this policy is contained in the General Education Procedure.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Vice-President, Academic, in conjunction with Academic Council and the Academic Leadership Team, is responsible for ensuring that the General Education policy is fully implemented.

A detailed description of roles and responsibilities relating to this policy is provided in the General Education Procedure.

Related Procedures

General Education Procedure
Curriculum Development Procedure
Post-secondary Program Review and Renewal Procedure
New Program Development Procedure
PLAR and Transfer Credit Procedure

Related Policies and Directives

Minister's Binding Policy Directive-Framework for Programs of Instruction, April, 2005

Board Policies:

• IV. Executive Limitations: Programs of Instruction

College Policies:

• ACAD - 102 - Curriculum Development Policy
• ACAD - 104 - New Program Development Policy
• ACAD - 105 - Program Review and Renewal Policy