General Education Policy

To provide students enrolled in diploma and advanced diploma programs with information about their General Education requirements. 

This policy includes all Seneca students enrolled in diploma and advanced diploma programs, and applies to General Education requirements. This policy does not apply to Professional Option courses or College English courses. 

The part of a program that enables students to explore a range of topics and issues separate from their program / Professional Option courses.

A diploma-level course designed to enhance essential skills, including critical thinking, quantitative and qualitative reasoning, and communication. It will expand the knowledge and understanding of courses that fall into Arts and Humanities, or Sciences and Social Sciences. 

A General Education elective that is chosen by students enrolled in a diploma or advanced diploma program and is available to students from a variety of programs. 

A General Education prescribed course that all students in a diploma or advanced diploma program must complete. 

An elective course of interest that is directly linked to a student’s program. These are not General Education courses. They do not satisfy the General Education requirement of a diploma or advanced diploma program. 

1. The General Education curriculum includes a broad range of courses falling into one or more of the following themes mandated by the ministry:
   • Arts in Society – Seneca courses that fall within this theme will typically be designated as Arts and Humanities
   • Civic Life – Seneca courses that fall within this theme will typically be designated as Sciences and Social Sciences
   • Social and Cultural Understanding – Seneca courses that fall within this theme can be designated as Sciences and Social Sciences or Arts and Humanities, depending on the course content
   • Personal Understanding – Seneca courses that fall within this theme will typically be designated as Sciences and Social Sciences
   • Science and Technology – Seneca courses that fall within this theme will typically be designated as Sciences and Social Sciences.

1. To graduate, students in diploma or advanced diploma programs must successfully complete a minimum of three (3) General Education courses with the following conditions:
   • one (1) General Education course from the Arts and Humanities category
   • one (1) General Education course from Sciences and Social Sciences and
   • one (1) course, which can be chosen from either category.
2. Students are responsible for ensuring they meet Seneca’s General Education requirements.
3. Some certificate programs require General Education courses. 

• None

• Liberal Studies Policy
• Transfer Credit Policy

• Framework for Programs of Instruction Minister’s Binding Policy Directive (2003, rev. 2009)

Approval Date: November 2016

Last Revision:  June 2021