What are General Education courses?
General Education courses are a required part of all Ontario college diploma programs and are designed to complement your program specific learning by helping you explore perspectives and disciplines beyond your main field of study. General Education courses provide you with opportunities to engage with contemporary social, cultural, and civic issues while strengthening transferable skills such as critical thinking, creativity, inclusivity, communication, collaboration, self-awareness, and ethical reasoning. These skills are highly valued by employers and essential for success in both work and everyday life.
General Education courses are organized around broad themes established by the Ministry in the Framework for Programs of Instruction (2009): Arts in Society, Civic Life, Social and Cultural Understanding, Personal Understanding, and Science and Technology. Through these themes, students are encouraged to think critically about issues connected to Truth and Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, Environmental Sustainability, and Emerging Technologies. Ultimately, General Education helps you become a more informed, adaptable, and well-rounded individual who is prepared to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.
General Education Themes
Arts in Society
Image: Mural by Philip Cote, Kanaktí:yo Indigenous Gathering Space, Mohawk College Fennell Campus
The theme of Arts in Society involves an examination of how artistic and creative expressions reflect, influence, and challenge individuals, cultures, and society. Students may explore the significance of visual art, literature, media, performance, and other artistic forms within diverse cultural and social contexts (Adapted from Ontario General Education Program Requirements, 2023).
Civic Life
The theme of Civic Life involves an examination of the systems and institutions that shape society and public life at the local, national, and global level. Students may explore topics related to citizenship, politics, rights and freedoms, community engagement, social activism, and/or environmental sustainability (Adapted from Ontario General Education Program Requirements, 2023).
Social & Cultural Understanding
The theme of Social and Cultural Understanding involves an examination of the historical, social, and cultural forces that influence societies. Students may explore how social structures and institutions shape social life, diverse cultural beliefs and practices, Indigenous histories and perspectives, and how societies and cultures persist and change over time (Adapted from Ontario General Education Program Requirements, 2023).
Personal Understanding
The theme of Personal Understanding involves an examination of the factors that shape who we are and how we think, feel, behave, relate to others, and find meaning in our lives. Students may explore personal development and the emotional, psychological, physical, social, and spiritual dimensions of human experience (Adapted from Ontario General Education Program Requirements, 2023).
Science & Technology
The theme of Science and Technology involves an examination of the natural world, scientific inquiry, and the role of technology in society. Students may explore foundational concepts in the natural sciences, such as biology or environmental science, as well as the social and ethical impacts of technology (Adapted from Ontario General Education Program Requirements, 2023).
