General Education and Degree Breadth Policy

To ensure programs of instruction provide learners with general education and breadth knowledge in compliance with the Minister’s Binding Policy Directive – Framework for Programs of Instruction and the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB) requirements.

This policy applies to all ministry-approved post-secondary programs of instruction offered by Cambrian College (“the College”).

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

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 Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES) mandated fields: humanities, science, social sciences, mathematics, and/or global cultures.

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

General education course: a course that contributes to student development and learning. Its purpose is to strengthen a student’s essential employability skills, such as critical analysis, problem solving, and communication, in the context of an exploration of topics with broad-based personal and/or societal importance.

General education course standard: the criteria within the Minister’s Binding Policy Directive where courses must provide a broad theoretical overview of a topic of personal and/or societal importance (categorized as arts in society, civic life, social and cultural understanding, personal understanding, and science/technology) with little or no applications training.

Post-secondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB): an arm’s length agency to which the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES) refers proposals for initial consent and renewal of consent to deliver degree programs for assessment against quality standards dictated by the OQF.

Program of instruction: a group of related courses typically leading to a diploma, certificate, degree, or other credential (funded or non-funded) awarded by the College.

1. Credential Validation Service (CVS) Approved Programs

1.1. The College’s general education requirements are as follows:

a. Certificate

• General Education courses are not required for certificate programs, but they may be included in the core curriculum. Where included, students must complete the general education course to earn the credential.

b. Diploma

• Students will complete three (3) General Education courses.

c. Advanced Diploma

• Students will complete three (3) General Education courses.

d. Graduate Certificate

• Where included, students must complete the general education course to earn the credential.

1.2. General Education courses adhere to the General Education Course Standard as stipulated in the Minister’s Binding Policy Directive.

1.3. To be designated a General Education course, a course shall meet the following criteria:

1. Clearly contributes to learning that is distinct from specific program vocational skills/outcomes.
2. Enable learners to effectively meet the societal challenges that face them as they take their place in community, family, and working life.
3. Ensure the focus of the course is sufficiently broad to be of value to learners regardless of their vocational interests.
4. Be three (3) credits in value.
5. Be discrete courses designed to meet one of the five themes outlined in the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES) General Education program requirements – Arts in Society, Civil Life, Personal Understanding, Science and Technology, and Social and Cultural Understanding;
6. Identify the theme(s) being addressed.
7. Be delivered in alternative delivery formats when feasible.
8. Not require a pre-requisite.

2. Degree Programs

2.1. The College’s non-core/breadth requirements are as follows:

a. Three (3) Year Degrees

• Non-core/breadth courses normally represent 15% of the total program hours.

b. Four (4) Year Degrees

• Non-core/breadth courses normally represent 20% of the total program hours.

c. Applied Masters

• At this time there is no non-core/breadth requirements identified.

2.2. Non-core/breadth courses are designed to meet or exceed all requirements of PEQAB and MCURES.

2.3. Breadth courses must 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.

2.4. Breadth courses are classified by field and level.

FIELDS There are five (5) mandatory fields:

• Humanities
• Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Global Cultures
• Mathematics

LEVELS

• Introductory-Level Course introduces students to key concepts and theories, establishing foundational theoretical and methodological knowledge of the discipline.
• Advanced-Level Course provides 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.

2.5. At least one Breadth course is an elective, freely chosen by the student.

2.6. Students must complete Breadth courses in at least two (2) of the five (5) mandated fields.

2.7. Students must complete at least two (2) Advanced-Level courses

2.8 All faculty teaching non-core/breadth courses must:

• Have, where relevant, professional credentials and related work experience.
• Hold an academic credential at least one level higher than that offered by the program.
• Engage in a level of scholarship, research, or creative activity sufficient to ensure their currency in the field.

2.9 At least 50% of the non-core/breadth courses in a four (4) year degree and 40% of the non-core/breadth courses in a three (3) year degree must be taught by faculty holding the terminal credential in the field or in a closely related field/discipline.

Vice President, Academic is responsible for:

• Ensuring this policy and associated procedures are communicated and fully implemented.

Deans/Chairs are responsible for:

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

Chair, Interdisciplinary Studies is responsible for:

• Developing and overseeing general education programming and processes.
• Reviewing the recommendations of the General Education Committee to inform decisions regarding the College’s suite of General Education and Degree Breadth Courses.

The Program Quality Assurance Committee is responsible for:

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

The General Education Committee (a sub-committee of the Program Quality Assurance Committee) 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 Dean/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.