Degree Breadth Policy

To outline a framework to ensure that Cambrian College (‘the College’) Baccalaureate/Bachelor’s (Degree Level) programs comply with the Degree Breadth Requirements of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), as stipulated in the Standards and Benchmarks established by the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB).

This policy applies to all Degree Level programs offered at the College, except for those offered through collaborative partnerships with other postsecondary institutions.

Breadth Requirement: Refers to criteria specified in the Program Quality Review Standard for Program Content (PEQAB 2020) and the Ontario Qualifications Framework (OQF).1

Degree Breadth Course: A non-core course that engages students, enrolled in a degree, in learning beyond their vocational field of study. The course falls into one of the following five MCU mandated fields: humanities, science, social sciences, mathematics and/or global cultures.

Degree Level Program: Refers to a program that has been approved by MCU and PEQAB that leads to a Baccalaureate/Bachelor’s degree qualification awarded upon successful completion of the program, as defined by the OQF.

Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB): An arm’s length agency to which the Ministry of Colleges and Universities refers proposals for initial consent and renewal of consent to deliver degree programs for assessment against quality standards dictated by the OQF.

1. General
   1. The curriculum within the College’s Degree Level Programs –
      1. Is designed to meet or exceed all Breadth Requirements of PEQAB and MCU.
      2. Contribute to the student’s achievement of
         • critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, written and oral communication skills
         • knowledge of society and culture, and skills relevant to civic engagement
         • application of increasingly complex theory of practice to the demands of practice in the field/s.
2. Classification
   1. Degree Breadth Courses are classified as follows –
      1. Introductory Level Course: introduces students in a degree program to key concepts and theories in one of the five MCU mandated fields, establishing foundational theoretical and methodological knowledge of the discipline.
      2. Advanced Level Course: more than introductory knowledge of the distinctive assumptions and modes of analysis of a discipline outside the core fields of study. It requires the application of foundational knowledge to critically evaluate, to a greater extent, the complexities of the specific disciplines and theoretical frameworks.
3. Program Requirements
   1. Degree Breadth Courses constitute 20% of program hours to comply with the PEQAB standard for Program Content.
   2. At least one Degree Breadth Course is an elective, freely chosen by the student.
4. Student Requirements
   1. Students in Degree Level Programs must meet the following Degree Breadth Requirements:
      1. Successful completion of Degree Breadth Courses in at least two (2) of the five (5) MCU mandated fields: humanities, sciences, social sciences, mathematics and/or global cultures.
      2. Successful completion of at least two (2) Advanced Level Courses.
         • Successful completion of at least one (1) Introductory Level Course is required before enrolling in an Advanced Level Course.
5. The College’s Curriculum Review Committee (the “CRC”) facilitates the review, development and approval of Degree Breadth Courses available to students.
6. Each term, as required by their program curriculum, the College provides students a list of approved Degree Breadth courses from which they can select.

Vice President, Academic is responsible for:

• Ensuring that this Policy and associated procedures are communicated and fully implemented

Deans/Chairs are responsible for:

• Being familiar with the requirements of this policy.
• Ensuring the policy requirements are clearly communicated to their staff.
• Ensuring full compliancy with the requirements of this policy.
• Supporting full participation of their faculty and staff in the development and review of curriculum in accordance with the requirements of this policy.

Chair Justice and General Studies is responsible for:

• Developing and overseeing general education programming and processes.
• Reviewing the recommendations of the GEBCC (as defined below) to inform decisions regarding the College’s suite of Degree Breadth Courses.

The Curriculum Review Committee is responsible for:

• Ensuring a mechanism for the review, development and approval of Degree Breadth Courses.
• Where necessary, establishing sub-committees to facilitate the review, development and approval of Degree Breadth Courses.

The General Education/Breadth Curriculum Committee (the “GEBCC”), a sub-committee of the CRC, is responsible for:

• Reviewing General Education and Degree Breadth Course offerings.
• Recommending new General Education and Degree Breadth Courses for development.
• Recommending General Education and Degree Breadth Course suspensions.

Planning, Institutional Research and Quality is responsible for:

• Ensuring the management and quality assurance of the associated processes involving program development and approval.
• Supporting the development and review of curriculum in alignment with the requirements of this policy.

Office of the Registrar is responsible for:

• Working with Planning, Institutional Research and Quality and Deans/Chairs in support of the development and review of curriculum in alignment with the requirements of this policy.
• Managing the official curricular records.

Faculty are responsible for:

• Being familiar and complying with the requirements of this policy and related procedures.
• Participating in the development and review of curriculum as required.

Curriculum Development Operating Procedure

Program Development Framework