College Programs

There are two types of programs that lead to a diploma of college studies: pre-university programs and technical programs.  Pre-university programs prepare students for university studies while technical programs prepare students for the workforce without closing the doors to university where the main admission requirement is the DEC (diploma of college studies).

Every pre-university or technical program consists of:

  1.  A common general education component for all programs :

• three courses in the language of instruction and literature for a total of 7 1/3 units,
• one second language course, 2 units,
• two philosophy or humanities courses for a total of 4 1/3 units,
• three physical education courses for a total of 3 units.

  2.  A general education component related to a program:

• one course in the language of instruction and literature, 2 units,
• one second language course, 2 units,
• one philosophy or humanities course, 2 units.

  3.  A complementary general education component

• two courses, for a total of four units in one or two of the following areas that are not covered in specific education,
• social sciences,
• science and technology,
• modern languages
• language of mathematics and computers,
• art and esthetics.

  4.  An education component specific to programs

• 28 to 32 units of pre-university sector courses
• 45 to 65 units of technology sector courses

N. B. One course unit = 45 learning activity hours (theory courses, laboratories, assignments).

Examples of program grids can be found by consulting each cégep’s website.