Bachelor of Behavioural Science - Postsecondary Education Quality ...

feedback were received verbally and in writing by a number of key stakeholders. The
nature and purpose of breadth education was also discussed with a number of degree
program advisory committee members. In addition, the Task Force reviewed the
definitions and practices in a wide variety of postsecondary institutions in Canada and the
U.S. as well as institutions in Europe, Britain, Australia and parts of Asia.
Working from the PEQAB breadth requirements and its own findings, the Breadth Task
Force formulated a plan for the future of breadth at Humber and submitted its
recommendations to the office of the Vice President. The recommendations were also
posted on the Humber breadth web site and presented to a range of committees including
Degree Council, the Academic Operations Committee, Academic Council and the Deans‘
Council. The breadth recommendations included:
Definitions of core and non-core courses
The introduction of new breadth categories for all breadth courses and one
foundations course per category.
The characteristics and requirements expected of lower and upper level breadth
courses
The need to release designated breadth courses in current programs of study in
order to give students more choice and more options
The opportunity for any academic school to offer breadth courses provided faculty
members associated with the development and delivery of the courses possess
the appropriate graduate credentials.
The need for a breadth course approval and implementation committee to manage
the process for breadth course submission and approval. Included in this
recommendation was the need to ensure that the breadth courses would meet
PEQAB requirements for degree level study and breadth.
Clarification with regard to the role of the Registrar‘s Office in the management of
breadth course offerings to ensure the appropriate rotation of courses to meet
breadth category requirements as well as to ensure that all students gain access
to an appropriate range of upper and lower level courses in each category. In the
scheduling and timetabling process, the committee also recommended that
Registration Office maintain the responsibility to ensure that the capacity of the
school to offer the course is verified, appropriate facilities are in place to support
delivery and that there is a mechanism to track student progress.
The committee also included a recommendation regarding future degree design and had
the following two recommendations as a result of its discussions:
With regard to existing degrees, it is recommended that Schools be encouraged to
consider releasing designated breadth courses from their schedules of study. This
will serve to increase the amount of choice for our existing degree students.
With regard to new degree development, it is recommended that, the maximum
80% core: minimum 20% breadth ratio be examined, so that our degree programs
provide additional breadth opportunities for students.
Breadth Implementation Committee – Current Status & New Courses
After reviewing the Task Force Recommendations, the Vice President Academic agreed
that a breadth implementation committee should be struck. The mandate of this
committee (combination of faculty, administrators and representatives from the Office of
Bachelor of Behavioural Science Section D, Page 7