General Education Information
Preparing you for life and work.
- Arts in Society
- Civic Life
- Social and Cultural Understanding
- Personal Understanding
- Science and Technology
If you have questions that are not answered here, please don’t hesitate to call us at (705) 728-1968 ext. 1621 or email us. We’re here to help you!
The Role of General Education in the College Curriculum
In the 1990s, employers’ had concerns that college graduates needed a more broadly based education to cope with the ever-shifting needs of the workplace. In response, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities introduced a requirement that all college programs include a general education component to help students acquire a broader understanding of the world around them.
Georgian College responded to this Ministry initiative by creating a program of courses which would achieve two aims: (1) increase students’ understanding of the larger social context and their rights and responsibilities as citizens; and (2) develop the essential employability skills necessary to working in an increasingly complex, interdependent world.
Georgian’s general education program contains an array of elective courses that fall into three major categories:
- Arts and Humanities
- Social Science
- Science and Technology
General education requirements vary by program. To find out how many general education courses you need to take, consult your program area. You can also review the academic policy for general education.
Previous Learning
Assessment of Previous Learning
A number of ways are provided to enable students to have a previous learning experience assessed for credit toward a certificate or diploma. The student may be interested in pursuing assessment of previous learning if he or she has any of the following:
- post-secondary credits that match Georgian College course learning outcomes in the student’s program of study (Exemption);
- a number of completed related accredited courses or semesters or years of post-secondary education (Advanced Standing);
- equivalent skills and knowledge acquired through life and work experience that match the learning outcomes of Georgian College course(s) in his or her program of study (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition).
For more information regarding previous learning, please refer to the academic policies and procedures.
Exemptions
An exemption based on another credit course or courses may be granted for a credit course that is part of a student’s program. Normally, credit will only be granted for courses taken at accredited institutions with a grade of 60 per cent (C) or better. Exemptions are granted on an individual basis and involve the examination of previous educational credentials. If the exemption is granted, the transcript will show the code “EX” and no course mark will be recorded.
For more information regarding exemptions, please refer to the academic policies and procedures.
Process
In order for the student to properly plan his or her academic progress at the College, all requests for exemptions should be made prior to initial registration. To avoid complications arising from possible denial of requests, exemptions should be requested two months prior to the start of the course. In all cases, exemption requests must be submitted no later than 10 working days after the start of the course or co-op work term. A fee of $25 per course is required for exemption requests, to a semester maximum of $50 except where noted otherwise.
For more information regarding process, please refer to the academic policies and procedures.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
PLAR is an evaluation of prior formal and informal learning acquired through life and work experience. It involves the assessment and evaluation of acquired equivalent knowledge and skills that match the learning outcomes of a Georgian College course. The focus of assessment is on evaluation of learning using a variety of techniques. Learning is assessed on an individual basis. If PLAR is granted, the transcript will reflect the course challenged and the mark earned for PLAR. The result of a PLAR assessment is final and is NOT subject to appeal.
For more information regarding PLAR, please refer to the academic policies and procedures.
For assessment of General Education courses, contact:
- Terry Heittola
- Co-ordinator
- General Education
- Office: B228, Founders Building
- (705) 728-1968 ext. 1619
- theittola@georgianc.on.ca
Course Offerings
Course listings are available for the current semester only and are only available for courses offered on the Barrie Campus. Please contact other campuses for their current offerings.
General education course offerings vary from term to term. You will be able to choose your gen ed from a range of subject areas: social sciences, humanities, arts and literature, and science and technology.
While gen ed is designed to offer you a breadth of content areas, your program may recommend that you take certain courses because they are closely related to the vocational objectives of the program. Consult your program information literature or ask your program co-ordinator for advice.
In YEAR 1 of your program, your choices during registration may include:
- 20th Century Canada
- Contemporary Ethical Issues
- Developing Leadership
- Environmental Concerns
- Health & Safety in the Workplace
- Human Behaviour in the Workplace
- Introduction to Psychology
- Introduction to Sociology
- Personal Finance
- Social Impact of Technology
- Understanding Science
After year 1, you will choose your courses based on a selection of upper level General Education courses.
Part Time Studies
Some General Education courses are offered in the evening through Part-time Studies. These courses can be credited towards the General Education requirements for most Georgian College post-secondary certificate and diploma programs.
Registration for all part-time courses for all semesters begins around mid-July. A listing of the courses offered through Part-time Studies can be accessed through the Part-Time Studies Annual Calendar at http://www.georgianc.on.ca/part-time.
