General Education Electives
- What is a General Education Elective?
- Do I have to take a General Education Elective?
- What courses may I take as a General Education Elective?
- How do I register for my General Education Elective?
- What if the course is full but I really want to take it?
- Are there any other courses I may take for my General Education Elective?
- Is there any way I can be exempt from taking my General Education Elective?
- May I use OAC (Grade 13) credits for exemption from my General Education Elective?
- How do I apply for a General Education Elective exemption?
YOU NEED MORE than the required job skills!
EMPLOYERS WANT people with a broad knowledge base and strong generic skills.
GENERAL EDUCATION courses will help you:
- become more knowledgeable about the world around you
- make thoughtful, creative and positive contributions to the society in which you live and work
- enhance your sense of personal, social and civic responsibility
If you have any Gen-Ed concerns that are not addressed by this FAQ, or if you'd like further information regarding Gen-Ed, please feel free to visit the Humanities & Social Sciences faculty office in Room F175 at the Fennell Campus or call 905 575-2044.
What is a General Education Elective?
General Education courses are those designed to broaden your academic base, extending your education beyond the main focus of your program of studies. Most students will be allowed to choose one or two General Education Electives from a menu of courses, each of excellent academic quality. The courses are taught by knowledgeable and experienced faculty from the Humanities & Social Sciences and Language Studies departments. The General Education Elective courses we offer to students are designed to meet the themes of General Education as defined by the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities. These themes are: Arts in Society, Civic Life, Social and Cultural Understanding, Personal Understanding, Understanding Science and Technology.
Do I have to take a General Education Elective?
Most, but not all programs require you to take a General Education Elective. You can look up your Program of Studies in the Mohawk College course calendar or use the on-line version to find your particular program. If a General Education Elective is required, it will be indicated as:
- OPEL XXXXX General Education (Elective)
What courses may I take as a Gereral Education Elective?
When registering for your semester courses on MoCoMotion, if you are required to make a General Education selection, the choices will be listed in the block below your mandatory program courses.
You can click on each to get a course description to help you make a choice that meets your interests and fits your personal timetable.
There are courses designed for students whose first language in NOT English. If English is not your first language, it is strongly recommended that you choose one from that list, which can be found at the end of the course description section.
Course offerings vary from semester to semester. Some of or all of the following courses may be available to full-time students, please refer to the proposed Gen-Ed Electives section below. All courses may not be suitable General Education Electives for all programs of studies. If that is the case, a message will indicate which programs are unsuitable for each particular elective.
GENERAL EDUCATION ELECTIVES - COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
Art of the Western World - SSCI SS028
Art, in all its forms, is an expression of the human experience. Visual arts are both social and interactive yet, despite the bombardment of visual stimuli that we experience, we live and work in a society that is unsophisticated in matters visual and things aesthetic. This course will provide students an overview of the History of Western Art and an introduction to appreciating and understanding the artistic elements that make up the visual arts.
Canadian Politics - SSCI SS010
An overview of Canadian politics covering the structure of Canadian Government, the practice of politics and a background to major political issues. General Education Goals: Develop knowledge of the structure and function of government in Canada: including the legislative, judicial and administrative arms of government, and the roles of elected officials and public servants. Develop a personal awareness of citizen responsibilities.
Children's Literature - COMM 10155
This course will examine the patterns and trends in children's literature and consider how children's literature both reflects and creates cultural norms and values. Students will be asked to critically explore this enchanting narrative device, used to entertain and instruct, by reading, discussing and writing about a variety of stories, ranging from the classical works to modern stories. Particular emphasis will be placed on teaching students how to make informed choices educational texts, and how to bring stories to life!
Coping with Stress - HLTH SS209
All of us experience stress in our lives, and we deal with it in many ways. This course examines the following: what stress is, what it can do to you and how you can deal with it. As well as considering these subjects from an academic point of view, the course will explore a variety of practical techniques, which can assist the student in dealing more effectively with the normal stresses of our world.
Creative Thinking - PSOL 10007
Today's workplace is built on teamwork, flexibility and collaboration. This course develops thinking skills that many traditional business processes based on efficiency, logic, and control can't achieve. It enables students to use their full range of human abilities, from the logical, to the intuitive, to the interactive. Students will develop skills in decision making, communication, creativity and leadership by employing artistic processes such as improvisation, performance, visual media. Creative Thinking puts art back into business. It gives students transformative skills& the ability to evolve along with a rapidly changing world.
Diversity In Canadian Society - SSCI SS276
Canadians differ greatly. We live in different regions and come from many ethnic backgrounds. Some of us are rich, others poor and most of us somewhere in the middle. We differ according to gender roles and sexual orientation. Some Canadians face physical and mental challenges that others do not. The goal of this course is to develop knowledge and appreciation of this diversity and to promote a fuller understanding of what it means to be Canadian.
Human Sexuality - SSCI SS169
The objective of this course is to develop and promote greater personal awareness and social understanding within the area of human sexuality. The student will develop an integrated understanding of the behavioural and cultural aspects of human sexuality, and a basic knowlege of its biological aspects. This course will also provide students with an understanding of the diversity of viewpoints and values with respect to human sexuality, and to examine ethical issues related to sexuality. In this course, the student will explore a greater understanding of one's own sexuality, and a sensitivity and acceptance of others' sexual attitudes and behaviours that may differ from one's own. The student will develop abilities to aid in the making of realistic personal choices that are appropriate to one's sexual life and are respectful of one's self and others.
Impact of Technology On Society - SSCI SS275
This course is designed to examine a wide variety of technologies that have influenced society significantly. These technologies may be examined both from an historical perspective and for their immediate impact on our lives socially, politically and economically. Students will gain an enhanced awareness of the associated ethical and ecological dilemmas and the implications for the future.
Music, Murder & Culture - COMM 10192
Music, Murder and the Making of Culture is designed to explore the role our stories and songs play in identifying who we are as a people. Students will read short stories, poems and even song lyrics to see what literature has to tell us about our culture.
Power of Pictures: Today's Visual Culture - SSCI 10000
Examine the increasingly visual nature of our culture and society as dictated by the internet, print media, television, film, and video games. Students will be encouraged to analyze the growth and development of the image and its role in society and in their own lives by learning how to critically "read" visual texts and decode their implied meanings. In order to do this, emphasis will be placed on how images represent, and therefore help to create, major parts of our identity, such as citizenship, gender, race, sexuality, and class.
Spanish for NAFTA - LANG LL635
A practical course in Spanish for beginners using the language of business as its context. It is designed for people who through their work, business or studies will find it essential to communicate in Spanish either by phone, letter or in person.
This course concentrates on speaking and listening with the perfection of spelling taking a lesser role. The sounds and idiom of the language are those that are heard in Mexico and Latin America.
This course includes Independent study, mid-term test and final oral testing. One textbook required.
Sustainability - SSCI 10028
Sustainability addresses the recent development of the sustainability movement. The notion of sustainable development is a response to an ecosystem with finite resources and a limited capacity for careless exploitation. Sustainable development may prove to be among the greatest social innovations of our time. We will therefore examine its history and its potential in business, health, education and politics on both the local and global level. We will also examine sustainability’s current and future trends in order to understand its relationship to responsible citizenship for the 21st century.
The Working Game - SSCI 10018
Want to Work? Learn the rules. This course explores the richness and diversity of the human experience in the workplace from the industrial revolution to modern times. Workplaces will be examined in terms of classical management, human relations, culture, systems, and as players in the power structure. Practical interpersonal, group, and organizational activities will be used to illustrate the major organizational theories related to communication and management. Contemporary issues covered include ethics, social responsibility, diversity, work-life balance, teamwork, and leadership.
Video Games and Online Communities - COMM 10147
This course analyzes how video games create a virtual world for players. We assess current research into the impact of video gamers, and explore how online communities form around video games.
War & Society: Through the Ages - HIST 10004
The focus of this course is how war and societal change have affected each other since ancient times. Relevant societal themes to be discussed include: limited and mass democracy; feudalism; the nation state; religion; industrialization; imperialism and pacifism. Students will also gain a basic grasp of the advancements in military technology connected with the above developments as well as an understanding of specific, important conflicts such as World War Two.
General Education Electives for students whose first language in NOT English
This course will survey English pronunciation, including stress, rhythm, and intonation. Students will have the opportunity to work on areas of specific importance to their own pronunciations needs.
Conversation and Discussion - COMM 10124
In this course, students will work to improve their conversational English, both formal and informal. They will be given ample opportunity to engage with the Professor and with each other in both small and large group discussions. They will also make presentations and take part in a debate.
Cultural Do's and Don'ts
This course will introduce students to the acceptable workplace etiquette and practices in North America and International work settings. Students will learn why different cultures demonstrate different behaviours and will learn how to apply tools when dealing with cross-cultural conflict in the workplace.
Culture Through Reading - COMM 10049
This course will help ESL students to develop an understanding of cultural identity. Students will discuss their own values and expectations by examining a variety of literary texts. This is an excellent opportunity to improve spelling, pronunciation and vocabulary development.
Listening and Speaking for Business - COMM 10165
This course will focus on the conversational needs of various business environments. Telephone communication, voice mail, dictation, client services, meeting protocol as well as presentations will be practiced. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone studying in the business field or to prepare for workplace environments.
Reading is an essential skill for success in post secondary programs. Students will examine the strategies that make reading texts easier and faster. This is an excellent opportunity to improve spelling, pronunciation, and vocabulary development.
Students with English as a second language (ESL) background will improve their ability to make presentations. Speaking in small groups or in front of a class can be a problem. There will be an opportunity to do short oral presentations, and practice pronunciation. This course promotes personal and interpersonal development as well as academic skills.
Strategies For Success - Interview Skills - COMM 10024
Students with English as a second language (ESL) background can improve their ability to gain interviewing skills. The focus of the course will be on communication skills. Are you going to a job interview? Do you need to talk about yourself effectively? Do you want to ask good questions? Strategies for Success will promote employability and personal development. There will be special focus on oral practice and pronunciation to increase and improve interviewing skills.
All courses listed may not be available at all times and may not be available to all programs of study.
How do I register for my General Education Elective?
Registration for General Education courses is accomplished on MoCoMotion the same way as you register for your other courses. The only difference is that there will be a variety of courses from which you may make your selection.
When you are required to take a General Education course in a semester, the available courses will appear below the block of your mandatory courses.
When you click on a course name, a description of the course should appear to help you decide which course to choose.
If the descriptions do not appear, you may obtain a hard copy of the course descriptions from the Registration Centre C066 or from F175 Humanities and Social Sciences.
What if a course is full but I really want to take it?
You are advised to register as soon as the registration system will allow (remember to check your Mocomotion mail or targeted announcements for your programs registration date and time). Courses are filled on a first come-first serve basis and seats are limited so, you may need to consider a second or third choice.
Are there any other courses I may take for my General Education Elective?
If you are unable to take your Gen-Ed Elective when required to do so, you may take a General Education Elective course either online through the Distance Education department or in class at night school through the Continuing Education department. Full course fees apply.
Click Continuing Education Calendar to see the current offerings. For your convenience, many of these courses are offered through Distance Education. Please check with the Continuing Education office for details of availability.
Is there any way I may be exempt from taking my General Education Elective?
1. Yes, you MAY be eligible for exemption from a General Education Elective using a course previously taken at a college or university.
The course must have, as its major orientation, at least one of the General Education themes: Arts in Society, Civic Life, Social and Cultural Understanding, Personal Understanding, Understanding Science and Technology.
- The course must be unrelated to the student's main program of studies.
- The course must be at the post-secondary level, usually from an accredited college or university.
- The course must be a regular credit course graded either alphabetically or numerically.
- There must be a minimum of 28 hours of classroom instruction involved (this is subject to change pending CSAC revision)
- If the content of a course is unclear from the transcript, it is up to the student to provide further clarification (eg. course description or outline)
2. OAC credits (grade 13) acceptable for General Eduction Elective. (see May I use OAC courses - below)
3. Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
* We recognize that not all education is gained through formal means. If you have work/life/educational experience that does not meet the above criteria, you may wish to explore the possibility of Credit for Prior Learning.
May I use OAC (grade 13) courses for exemption from General Education Elective?
Yes, you may apply for an exemption from your General Education Elective using some OAC courses. The following restrictions apply:
You must have achieved 66% or higher
AND
The course must NOT be related to your Program of Studies (ie, Nursing students cannot use OAC biology)
The course must be one of the following:
- Biology
- Canada: Environment & Economy
- Canada in a North American Perspective
- Chemistry
- Cinema
- Classical Civilization
- Dramatic Arts
- Economics
- Families in Canadian Society
- Geography World Issues
- History: North American Perspective
- Law
- Modern Western Civilization
- Music
- Philosophy
- Phys.Ed. - Socio-Scientific Perspective
- Physics
- Religion
- Science in Society
- Visual Arts
How do I apply for a General Education Elective exemption?
- The application for course exemption is available on-line.
- Log into MoCoMotion using your personal ID and password.
- Click on the STUDENT tab.
- Scroll to the "Registration Information" block and click on “EXEMPTION REQUESTS”.
- Click on “EXEMPTION MENU” and then on “EXEMPTION REQUEST”.
- Key in your nine digit student number to access the application form.
- Select "GENERAL EDUCATION", NOT Regular Course Exemption.
- Follow directions from there.
- You must PRINT OUT YOUR REQUEST and send or take it to Room F175 at the Fennell Campus, which is the Humanities and Social Sciences Department.
- You must supply an original transcript from any institution other than Mohawk College and a full course outline or syllabus with your request. After delivery of the request and all the required documentation is submitted, check the status of your exemption on the same system to see if it has been approved or denied.
Mohawk College recognizes that not all education is gained through formal means. If you have work/life/educational experience that does not meet the criteria for exemption, you may wish to explore the possibility of having your learning assessed through the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition office, F126 at the Fennell Campus.
To obtain further assistance with information contact the Prior Learning Assessment office at: 905-575-2395
