Courses

Students wishing to qualify for a General Studies Diploma must successfully complete 60 credits according to the following:

Core area: a minimum of 3 credits from each of the following areas from the School of Liberal Arts and School of Natural Sciences for a minimum of 30 credits:

Electives: Any other post-secondary courses to bring total to 60 credits.

 

General Studies Initiative: All students conditionally accepted into General Studies must successfully complete COL120 (General Studies Initiative). Other courses may also be required as part of conditions of admission.

 

The interdisciplinary major in Canadian Studies provides learners with a broad knowledge and understanding of the liberal arts core curriculum as applied to Canada and its place in the world, and citizenship skills. Learners will gain knowledge in the disciplines of history, politics and literature, by considering the diversity of the Canadian experience and the linkages between citizens and state institutions. The program will focus on skill development and lifelong learning by creating a foundation of literacy, numeracy, and citizenship skills. Further, the various methodologies used in liberal arts disciplines will develop highly valued critical thinking, evaluation, research and analytical skills.

Cultural Studies combines elements of social sciences with elements of humanities to study the culture and meaning of everyday life and the social, economic, political, and linguistic practices of post-industrialized societies and how these cultural phenomena relate to matters of gender, race, ideology, power and social class.

 

Culture is seen as an inclusive term that includes traditional “texts” such as books, modern popular “texts” such as television shows, music, advertising, and patterns of consumption (shopping, eating, fashion, etc.), and abstract concepts such as language and beliefs and the surrounding institutions that shape our everyday, popular lives. Cultural Studies is multidisciplinary in approach embracing a number of different disciplines and a variety of methodologies.

Written communication is a key component of all academic inquiry, regardless of discipline. The English major equips students with an array of tools for English expression, providing them a distinctive advantage in both their present and future academic endeavours. Written communication is also a key component in the affairs of business, government, law, education, and science. Therefore, the tools acquired in the English major are also of considerable value beyond the academy. Finally, through the study of various literary genres and the literature of various historical periods, the English major develops the critical thinking skills and creativity necessary for understanding the global phenomenon that is English culture.

The study of psychology and sociology are core elements of a liberal arts post-secondary education. Psychology and sociology courses give students a working knowledge of the major disciplines and methods of inquiry in the social sciences. Students develop a sense of historical perspective and deepen their understanding of their own and other people’s historical and cultural heritage. Students explore a vast array of topics, from the intricate workings of the human mind to the complex social interactions at a family and societal level. As part of a foundation for other educational disciplines, this major will help students understand topics such as culture, race, religion, sex and gender, deviance and crime, and how individuals within society come to understand their roles.

The Physical Education and Leadership Major combines elements of social sciences with those of physical education and leadership for students interested in kinesiology, education, and coaching. The Physical Education and Leadership Major is multidisciplinary and embraces a number of subject areas and a variety of methodologies.

 

Students in the Physical Education and Leadership Major can choose from the following electives in addition to choosing any of the courses on the Liberal Arts Majors Approved Electives List.

 

Other post-secondary courses, open to General Studies, may be considered.