General Education

What are general education courses?

General education courses are one component of all degree programs.

For BSc degrees, it provides you with both the general foundation you need in science, mathematics, and computing, as well as some non-science courses intended to enhance your critical skills in reading, writing, and thinking while broadening your perspective on scholarship and the diversity of human experience.

For BA degrees, it provides a general foundation in the broad disciplines of social science and humanities, as well as exposure to scientific thought, processes, and impact on society. These courses are also intended to enhance your critical skills in reading, writing, and thinking.

The requirements are occasionally modified. Current requirements are for those beginning degrees in Fall/Winter 2012-2013.

BA and iBA programs

A minimum of 24 credits chosen from the areas of Humanities, Modes of Reasoning, Natural Science, and Social Science as it follows:

• a minimum of 6 credits but no more than 9 credits of the required 24 must be from Humanities.
• a minimum of 6 credits but no more than 9 credits of the required 24 must be from Natural Science.
• a minimum of 6 credits but no more than 9 credits of the required 24 must be from Social Science.

Please refer to the Undergraduate Academic Calendar for details on this requirement according to your program.

BSc, iBSc, and BSc Tech programs

27 credits in total as it follows:

• Non-Science: 12 credits from at least 2 different non-science disciplines chosen from the approved list of courses. No more than 9 credits in one subject area will be counted towards the general education requirements.
• Mathematics: 6 credits in mathematics at the 1000 level (excluding SC/MATH 1510 6.00, SC/MATH 1515 3.00, SC/MATH 1520 3.00).
• Computer Science: 3 credits in computer science at the 1000 level.
• Foundational Science: 6 credits from courses with laboratories at the 1000 level in any of the following areas: biology, chemistry, and physics (excluding SC/BIOL 1500 3.00, SC/CHEM 1500 4.00, SC/PHYS 1510 3.00).

Your major program requirements specify which mathematics, computer science, and foundational science courses are required. For details on the courses you need to take for your program, please refer to the Undergraduate Academic Calendar.