Indigenous Overview
There are no intakes available for this program.
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The General Arts & Science Diploma provides a broad liberal arts curriculum designed with the advice of our community partners, to prepare students for the workforce, other college programs, or transfer to university. Paired with hands-on instruction, and exciting new experiential learning opportunities, General Arts and Science Diploma graduates leave us prepared for their next steps out into the world.
Core courses provide a solid foundation in communications, critical thinking skills, digital literacy, numeracy, inclusivity, science, and general education. Complementing these are varied electives such as Film, Addictions, Fitness, Psychology, and dozens more. Our students scaffold their studies by earning at least three Advanced Level Learning credits, in both applied and social sciences, math, and/or communications before graduating.
In the third and fourth semesters, GAS Diploma students will learn to research various local issues, and apply the skills and knowledge gained in the program to offer creative solutions to one specific problem in a community.
Program Details
Program Highlights
- All courses are chosen in consultation with the program coordinator, ensuring the right mix to meet each student’s interests and vocational goals.
- General Arts & Science is a flexible program. Course sequence can change subject to student goals and class availability.
- Diploma graduates are prepared to enter the workforce directly, or they may continue their studies in advanced level programs at the college.
- Students who self-identify as Pre-University work with the Program Coordinator to further customize their diploma course selection in preparation for university study. Key academic areas (Communications, Applied Science, Social Science, Math) are emphasized in accordance with the student's goals. Potential transfer opportunities exist at a number of Canadian universities; exploring these possibilities is at the discretion of the student. Please contact the program coordinator for more information.
Program Outline
2024-2025
This course is designed to help students develop and practice the communication skills needed to succeed in college and workforce environments. Emphasis is placed on improving foundational communication strategies-reading, writing, listening, and speaking—and on developing research and critical thinking skills.
This course is designed to help students develop and practice the communication skills needed to succeed in college and workforce environments. Emphasis is placed on improving foundational communication strategies—reading, writing, listening, and speaking—and on developing research and critical thinking skills.
Applied or Social Science course
Humanity/ Inclusivity Studies course
Fine or Applied/Performance Arts course
Students develop skills as writers and researchers in professional areas. Students apply critical thinking and analysis skills to assess, interpret, and extrapolate evidence as they explore issues in their professional areas. Emphasis is placed on the analysis and evaluation of issues within professional literature and communication with a variety of audiences.
In this course, students learn about major issues facing local, national, and international society. Learners will explore topics such as gender and racial inequality, poverty, health care, education, and environmental justice, and how they are interconnected and interdependent. Students develop language and thought processes to speak about the complexity of social issues and how they can be addressed.
Applied or Social Science course
Humanity/Inclusivity Studies course
Fine or Applied/Performance Arts course
In this preparatory course, students begin integrating many of the skills learned from previous G.A.S. courses to begin demonstrating integrated G.A.S. Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) and the Essential Employability Skills (EES). Specifically, in this pre-capstone course, students will explore case studies and be guided in identifying and articulating problems in communities as well as outlining the implications of these problems. Students will work both collaboratively and independently to research a community of interest to identify a problem. By the end of the course, students select one problem in preparation for GAAS 200.
1 course required:
| Course code | Course name | Course description |
| BCOM 17 | INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOSHOP | This course is designed for students who are not professional designers or photographers but who have a personal interest in photo and image editing. BCOM17 explores a range of Photoshop tools, palettes, and functions used for creating, editing, capturing, repairing, resizing, and enhancing digital images. The course includes modules on selection techniques, layers, paint and colour techniques, type elements, filters, sharpening and softening, actions, lighting, repairing and retouching, and printing and publishing. (3 hrs. per week) Prerequisite: None. |
| BCOM 18 | BASIC VIDEO EDITING | An introduction to video editing is a computer lab base course that will study an overview of digital video editing and video production. The students will learn, file management, general editing software layout, basic computing skills, basic non-linear editing techniques specifically timeline editing, video capturing, transitions, visual and audio effects, key framing fixed effects and rendering to final video; as well as an overview of Premiere CS4. By the end the students enrolled will have general non-linear editing skills and knowledge, and will be able to produce a video montage or a basic instructional video. |
| COMP 201 | BASIC COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | This course will allow students to explore the advanced features of word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database packages. They will also learn about the integration of data and graphics between these packages. |
| COMP 203 | NETWORKING 1 | In this course, students are introduced to network terminology, network media, Network Interface Card (NIC) and various topologies and architectures. Students explore the functionality and set up of simple and complex Network operations, Ethernet, Protocols and Network Operating Systems. Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) are discussed and the enterprise and distributed network technology (Internet) are introduced. Students develop foundational networking skills using theoretical and practical approaches to understanding protocols, network architecture and troubleshooting techniques. |
| COMP 205 | WEB DEVELOPMENT | This course provides an introduction to web development using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Students learn to use HTML to create web pages and to link multiple web pages together. Students also learn how to control the layout and style of web pages using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and to make web pages interactive using JavaScript. Students engage in a sequence of assignments designed to familiarize them with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. |
| COMP 222 | COMP APPLICATION FUNDAMENTALS | This introductory computer course familiarizes students with the functionality of internal SLC student-driven systems including the student intranet site and email system. It also explores theory and concepts of computer hardware and software with a hands-on introduction to the Windows operating system, file management techniques, databases, and Internet browsers. Students use the current version of Microsoft Office to explore and apply various features of MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Excel. |
Applied or Social Science course
Humanity/ Inclusivity Studies course
Fine or Applied/Performance Arts course
In this experiential and active-learning course, students integrate many of the skills learned from previous GAS courses to demonstrate integrated G.A.S. Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) and the Essential Employability Skills (EES). Specifically, in this capstone course, students will clearly identify and articulate a problem in a community; outline the implications of this problem, including potential stakeholders; gather data that accurately describes this problem; analyze and present their data; synthesize their research findings; and coherently summarize and present a feasible solution.
Prerequisite(s): GAAS 100
Applied or Social Science course
Humanity/ Inclusivity Studies course
Fine or Applied/Performance Arts course
Requirements
Admission Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with the majority of Grade 11 and 12 courses at the C, U or M level including the following prerequisites:
- Grade 12 English at the C or U level
- Grade 11 Math at the C, U or M level
For OSSD equivalency options, see Admission Requirements
Bonus Points
Full-time General Arts and Science students who achieve a GPA of 3.00 or better for at least one semester will receive an additional 10 percent in their admission assessment when applying to any post-secondary diploma program at St. Lawrence College. This will be particularly beneficial for programs that are highly competitive and therefore ranked.
- Are your transcripts from outside of Canada? Please visit Applying to SLC - With Your Transcripts for more information.
Fees
2025-2026
Fees are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters.
Fees are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters.
Kingston
Our Kingston campus has seen significant renovation over the past few years, including a brand new Student Life and Innovation Centre that houses a new gymnasium, fitness centre, pub, and more.
Program Contacts
Program Contact
Jim Elyot
jelyot@sl.on.ca
613-544-5400 ext.1904
Admissions Information
Click here to message Recruitment.
Credit Transfer Opportunities
SLC graduates have many options to continue their studies with post-secondary institutions across Canada and around the world. Agreements between SLC and other institutions that are specific to this program are listed below. In addition, there are many credit transfer pathway agreements between colleges and universities within the province of Ontario. Please also visit www.ontransfer.ca to search for options relevant to your program area of study.
- Trent University - Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
- Davenport University - Bachelor of Business Administration - Business
- Royal Roads University - Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Practice