General Arts and Science - Liberal Studies
Program: GASL
Credential: Ontario College Diploma
Delivery: Full-time + Part-time
Length: 4 semesters
Duration: 2 years
Effective: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Location: Barrie
Description
In this liberal studies program, students explore subjects within the humanities and social sciences. Students deepen their critical thinking and analytical skills while widening their worldview. The program opens doors and builds pathways to further studies at either the college or university level. Upon completing the two-year diploma, students are eligible for university articulation agreements that offer excellent credit transfer. With a liberal studies education, students gain confidence in their academic skills and abilities, while developing essential skills for employment.
Career Opportunities
While most students choose General Arts and Science as a pathway to further studies, some graduates of the program find employment in occupations requiring a liberal studies education or with organizations that prefer to administer their own training program. The diploma from this program is recognized by several Ontario universities. Program courses provide students optimum transfer credits to other college and university programs.
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- reflect on knowledge gained in a wide range of Liberal Studies subjects, and their impact on both self and society;
- communicate both orally and in written form at a level required for entry level employment, and further studies;
- apply critical-thinking processes and problem-solving techniques to a variety of issues affecting society;
- use experiential methods to examine various aspects of society in relation to personal and social responsibility and citizenship;
- assess the validity of material and arguments presented in a variety of Liberal Studies disciplines to improve academic research skills;
- develop strategies to communicate effectively with people from other cultures;
- work as an effective member of a team to achieve personal and group goals;
- assess the effect of personal decisions and actions on the environment;
- employ entrepreneurial strategies to identify and respond to new opportunities;
- analyze the impact of colonization on Indigenous cultures and communities.
Program Progression
The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.
Fall Intake
- Sem 1: Fall 2024
- Sem 2: Winter 2025
- Sem 3: Fall 2025
- Sem 4: Winter 2026
Winter Intake
- Sem 1: Winter 2025
- Sem 2: Summer 2025
- Sem 3: Fall 2025
- Sem 4: Winter 2026
Articulation
A number of articulation agreements have been negotiated with universities and other institutions across Canada, North America and internationally. These agreements are assessed, revised and updated on a regular basis. Please contact the program co-ordinator for specific details if you are interested in pursuing such an option. Additional information can be found on our website at https://www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/
Admission Requirements
OSSD or equivalent with
- Grade 12 English (C or U)
Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/
Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/
Graduation Requirements
16 Program Courses
2 Communications Courses
2 Program Option or General Education Courses
4 General Education Courses
Program Tracking
The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more than one intake is offered contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| HUMN 1006 | Exploring Literature | 42 |
| HUMN 1017 | Critical Thinking Foundations | 42 |
| PSYL 1022 | Psychology 1 | 42 |
| SOCL 1003 | Sociology 1 | 42 |
| Communications Course | ||
| Select 1 course from the communications list during registration. | 42 | |
| Program Option or General Education Course | ||
| Select 1 course from the general education list during registration or contact the program co-ordinator about option courses. | 42 | |
| Hours | 252 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Program Courses | ||
| HUMN 1001 | Critical Thinking in Practice | 42 |
| HUMN 1015 | Interpreting Literature | 42 |
| PSYL 1023 | Psychology 2 | 42 |
| SOCL 1004 | Sociology 2 | 42 |
| Communications Course | ||
| Select 1 course from the communications list during registration. | 42 | |
| Program Option or General Education Course | ||
| Select 1 course from the general education list during registration or contact the program co-ordinator about option courses. | 42 | |
| Hours | 252 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| Program Courses | ||
| HUMN 2000 | Canadian Literature | 42 |
| POLS 1000 | Politics in Canada | 42 |
| SCIE 2000 | Science Concepts | 42 |
| SOCL 2000 | Race and Ethnicity | 42 |
| General Education Course | ||
| Select 2 courses from the general education list during registration. | 84 | |
| Hours | 252 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| Program Courses | ||
| HUMN 2007 | Sociocultural Anthropology | 42 |
| POLS 1001 | Global Politics | 42 |
| PSYL 2003 | Developmental Psychology | 42 |
| REAS 2000 | Senior Research Seminar | 42 |
| General Education Course | ||
| Select 2 courses from the general education list during registration. | 84 | |
| Hours | 252 | |
| Total Hours | 1008 | |
Students may be able to select their Communications, General Education, and Program Option courses in a different sequence than shown above. Contact the Program Co-ordinator for further details.
Graduation Window
Students unable to adhere to the program duration of two years (as stated above) may take a maximum of four years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.
Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs.
Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.