Liberal Studies Policy

To provide Seneca Polytechnic students enrolled in degree programs with information about their Liberal Studies requirements. 

This policy includes all Seneca students enrolled in degree programs and applies to Liberal Studies requirements. This policy does not apply to Professional Option 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 balance of 20 per cent non-core/breadth for four-year degrees and a minimum of 15 per cent non-core/breadth for three-year degrees are required by the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB).

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 the Humanities and Sciences/Social Sciences disciplines.

A non-breadth degree-level course designed to complement professional courses in degree programs and enhance essential skills, such as critical thinking, quantitative and qualitative reasoning, and communication. It will expand and deepen knowledge and understanding of areas in Humanities and Sciences/Social Sciences. Diploma-level General Education courses and Professional Option courses are not equivalent to Liberal Studies courses.

A Liberal Studies course that is chosen by students enrolled in degree programs and is available to students from a variety of programs.

Courses that students choose to meet the breadth/non-core degree-level program requirements.

A Liberal Studies course that all students in a degree program must complete.

An arms-length advisory agency that makes recommendations to the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development on applications for ministerial consent under the terms of the Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000.

1. Liberal Studies requirements contribute to students’ knowledge of society and culture, skills relevant to civic engagement, and strengthen critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and written and oral communication skills.
2. This policy is aligned with the PEQAB Handbook for Ontario Colleges and the PEQAB Manual for Breadth Review.
   
3. Students have choice over their preferred LSO breadth/non-core Liberal Studies options throughout the duration of their program.
   

1. Every Liberal Studies course at Seneca falls into one of the following two categories:
   • Humanities
   • Sciences/Social Sciences
2. Courses in both categories contribute to the achievement of incorporating knowledge and critical analysis of the theoretical frameworks in areas outside of the student’s core areas of study, with a strong emphasis on critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and written and oral communication skills.

1. Students are responsible for ensuring they meet Liberal Studies requirements for graduation.
2. Students in degree programs must meet the following Liberal Studies requirements:
   
   • successful completion of one degree-level Liberal Studies courses in both categories (Humanities and Sciences/Social Sciences) 

1. Exemptions to these requirements may be granted via explicit PEQAB approval (e.g., professional programs with external accreditation requirements may differ in their Liberal Studies requirements).
2. In exceptional circumstances when students cannot meet the Liberal Studies requirements for graduation (as outlined in 3.2), they can make a request to the School of English & Liberal Studies (SELS) for an exception.
3. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the SELS Chair, or designate.
   

1. Program areas looking to add or modify LSP courses within their program must consult with, and receive approval from, the SELS Chair, or designate.

1. LSP courses supplement, but do not replace core curriculum.
2. LSP course availability is dependent on the capacity to deliver them within SELS.

• None

• General Education Policy
• Transfer Credit Policy

• Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000
• Postsecondary Education Manuals and Guidelines

Approval Date: November 2016

Last Revision:  October 2024