5. Curriculum

5.1 Curriculum Pattern

Students entering a program beyond semester one are advised that certain subjects are prerequisites for others, and are, therefore, to be completed in a specific sequence. It is solely the student's responsibility, regardless of the sequence in which subjects are taken, to ensure that all the academic requirements of the diploma or certificate program in which he/she is registered are met.

General education subjects form an integral part of the post-secondary program of studies for students at Seneca College. Fact sheets published under the authority of the Schools of English and Liberal Studies will list the approved pattern of subjects, and will indicate the requirements for completion of the students' general education component.

Each School will list the approved pattern of subjects for their programs, and will indicate the number and sequence of subjects on a published fact sheet.

5.2 Development Program

Depending on the individual learning needs and capabilities, as assessed at the beginning of the first semester and/or as recommended by the Promotion Committee at the end of any semester, students may be counselled, or required, to register in one or more subjects designed specifically to assist them.

5.3 Program

A program is a prescribed sequence of semester subjects which meets the requirements for a College certificate, diploma or degree. All such programs lead to approved College credentials, and are developed and offered under the authority of one or more of the Faculties of the College.

Under the provisions of this policy, a comprehensive listing of all degrees, diplomas and certificates issued by Seneca College is maintained.

5.4 Subjects

Specific subjects are those in which the primary emphasis is on material related directly and practically to the field of work for which the student is preparing. Successful acquisition of appropriate skills and satisfactory performance in field placements are the required ingredients for success in certain subjects. For these, a satisfactory level must be achieved in both theory and field placement before a passing grade may be granted.

All subjects offered by the College with the same subject code will have learning outcomes common to all sections, regardless of program, Faculty/School, campus, mode of delivery or individual faculty member.

5.5 Duplicate Use of Credit & Subject Equivalency

Where Seneca subject credits (whether earned directly, granted as equivalent, or obtained through Advanced Standing) have been used toward the granting of a certificate or diploma, these subjects may be used toward the granting of subsequent certificates or diplomas when:

1. a specific subject is common to both certificates or diplomas, or
2. a specific subject required in the subsequent program is deemed to be the equivalent of a subject completed in the first program.

In some program clusters, residency requirements may include provisions for a minimum of twenty-five percent new material.

Notwithstanding the above, duplicate use of credit may be denied by the receiving College official(s) where competence in the current learning outcomes of the relevant subject(s) cannot be clearly demonstrated or documented.

(Also see 16.1 "Conditions for Graduation")

Seneca College provides every opportunity for students to build on their previous education. In some program areas, the College offers laddered credentials such that students may complete certificate and diploma programs and subsequently build on these toward the completion of more advanced credentials. However, a student that is enrolled in a diploma or an advanced diploma will not normally be eligible to receive an embedded certificate or diploma at a lower level retroactively. Exceptional circumstances will be considered on an individual basis.

Requests for credit towards a degree program will be assessed on an individual basis, except where an approved diploma to degree pathway exists.

5.6 New Programs

A student applying for credit towards a certificate or diploma for subjects taken at Seneca College prior to the introduction of that certificate or diploma shall be granted credit in accordance with the College's policy on Advanced Standing, which requires that the learning objectives for each subject as defined in the current calendar have been met and can be demonstrated by the applicant.

5.7 Normal Program

A normal full-time or part-time program for a semester at Seneca College consists of a specified number of semester subjects which may vary from program to program, School to School and from student to student. Promotion from semester to semester is on an individual semester subject basis. The College encourages individual programs adapted to the specific learning needs of the student and delivery mechanisms that allow for individualized program approaches. Consequently, the particular combination of semester subjects may not be the same for all students in a given program. Each student, as a condition of graduation, must successfully fulfill the requirements for professional semester subjects as well as the general education component. Specific requirements for each program are available from the School offering the program.

5.8 Partial and Part-Time Day Programs

A partial program student is one who is registered in a program, but is not taking a full course of study.

A part-time student is registered in one or more curriculum subjects, but is not registered in a specific program.

5.9 Residency Requirement

A Faculty of Seneca College may recommend a student for a certificate, diploma or degree only after the student has earned a minimum of twenty-five percent of the credit for that program at Seneca.

5.10 Semester Subject

The basic instructional unit is the semester subject. Most two-year equivalent Diploma programs consist of approximately 20 semester subjects. Generally, college programs are defined in terms of the number and titles of the semester subjects required for their completion.

5.11 Subject Outlines

All subjects at Seneca College follow a standard subject outline approved by the School. Subject outlines will be made available to all students registered in that subject.

Subject outlines comprise the following 3 elements: College-common section, School-specific section and in some cases, an Addendum.

The College-common section contains the following elements:

• Subject Code and Title;
• Subject Description;
• Credit Status, including any additional requirements for credit such as successful completion of Field Placement;
• Subject Vocational Learning Outcomes – common to all sections of a subject regardless of campus and/or mode of delivery;
• Subject Essential Employability Skills (EES) Learning outcomes - common to all sections of a subject regardless of campus and/or mode of delivery;
• Reference to College Academic Policy on Academic Honesty; (implementation ongoing)
• Reference to College Policy on Discrimination and Harassment, and
• Statement regarding accommodation for students with disabilities.

The School-specific section includes further information:

• Prerequisites, including references to any documentation which details prerequisite skills and/or experience, and type and level of competencies which would be considered equivalent to the stated prerequisite;
• Topic Outline;
• Mode of Instruction;
• Prescribed Texts;
• Reference Material, both required and recommended;
• Required Supplies;
• Promotion Policy which details any extensions to College grading policy, and
• Mode of Evaluation which details the means by which students will be assessed and the relative weight of each, the treatment of failed or missed tests or assignments, any exceptional requirements for attendance and participation, the treatment of late assignments, and the standards and treatment of language usage in tests and assignments.

The following information will be provided to students on the School-specific section or on an approved Addendum:

• Name of faculty for that section and his/her contact information;
• Planned schedule of topics, tests and assignments, and
• Any other information relevant to the section (e.g. hours and/or means of consultation, detailed grading schemes, any variations on the mode of delivery or textbooks, audio/videotaping as methods for learning and/or evaluation, additional learning resources/equipment, etc.).

Students are expected to be knowledgeable of the contents of the subject outline and to discuss with the faculty any areas where clarification is required.

College-common and School-specific elements of the subject outline are available on the College web site.