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ABOUT THE PROGRAM
General Social Science is a two-year pre-university DEC program that prepares students for university studies in a broad range of topics from sociology and law, to education, psychology, languages, and more. The General Social Science profile is intended to grant students the option to pursue higher education in broad areas of study through the acquisition of scientific learning, based on the integration of knowledge and methods acquired in various social science disciplines.
The General Studies profile, of the Social Science DEC, provides learners with the opportunity to analyze the human experience through the lens of various perspectives such as psychology, geography, economics, political science, sociology, and administration. The Social Science program aims to introduce you to these realities, explore important theories and authors, and also, help you understand the world in a local and global context.
In both of our Social Science profiles, students will be exposed to various disciplines that address the many aspects of human life:
- Psychological processes
- Foundations of life in society
- The challenges of globalization
- The functioning of our organizations
MORE INFO
PROGRAM TYPE
PROGRAM TYPEPre-university DEC
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTIONEnglish
APPLICATION DEADLINES
DURATION
DURATION2 Years
PROGRAM CAPACITY
PROGRAM CAPACITY95
APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR
APPLICATION DEADLINES FORINTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
January 20* (Winter)
May 15* (Fall)
PROGRAM CODE
Comprehensive evaluation
ADMISSION PROCESSWHAT IS SOCIAL SCIENCE?
Social: Society and human beings
Science: Facts and systematic study of a thing, the pursuit of its true nature.
In social science, we seek to understand the nature of people and society. Social Science covers the full span of human behavior, including economics, education, sociology, linguistics, anthropology, psychology, business, and management studies. If this program appeals to you, you will look at how society works as well as how people react and adapt to change.
“Social science can tackle everyday policy questions – how many children will need a school place in ten years’ time? – or pose more fundamental problems – what drives inequality? What stops societies from falling apart? What does ‘freedom’ mean?”
Professor of Sociology, the University of Edinburgh School of Social and Political Science
THE WORLD WILL NEED MORE SOCIAL SCIENCE GRADUATES!
A 2015 report 
published by the Council of Canadian Academies concluded that future innovation and productivity growth will require a workforce with a balance of both STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and non-STEM skills, such as those acquired and used in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. Leadership, creativity, adaptability, and entrepreneurial ability can help maximize STEM skills and allow Canadians to effectively compete within the ever-changing global marketplace.
Having a balanced workforce leads to a prosperous economy. Individuals who are skilled in social science and liberal arts provide for a well-rounded workforce with the skills required to navigate the ever-changing labor market.
A degree in social science provides graduates with foundational skills that serve as the basis for many specialized fields. Social scientists are influential because the work they do helps determine government policy and can change how we interact with the institutions and environments that influence our behavior, such as the legal system, social services, neighborhoods, schools, and universities.
Admission requirements
Visit the entrance requirements webpage for full details.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Students at TAV are encouraged to learn and develop skills outside of the classroom by participating in the various clubs and associations offered at the College. Social Science students, actively studying politics and psychology, may be particularly interested in getting involved with the TCSA , our student government program. Through participating in the TCSA, you may learn about effective communication and teamwork, trust, strategic planning, organization functionality, and the democratic process among other things. The College also offers many other clubs and associations that students can engage with.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
By the end of the General Social Science DEC program, students will be able to:
- Distinguish the main facts, notions, and concepts related to the object of study, i.e., the human phenomena, from a disciplinary and transdisciplinary perspective
- Explain theories, laws, models, and schools of thought in relation to their authors and concrete situations
- Situate various issues related to citizenship in a worldwide context
- Demonstrate the qualities associated with scientific intellect and critical thinking as well as the skills required to apply the qualitative and quantitative methods used in the field of Social Science
- Use the necessary research methods in order to pursue their studies
- Use appropriate information technologies
- Convey their ideas clearly and correctly in the language of instruction
- Read and understand basic Social Science documents conveyed in their second language
- Integrate the learning acquired throughout the program
BILINGUAL STUDY OPTION
At TAV College, we offer students the option of completing their general education courses in French, while completing their program-specific courses in English. For example, if you want to study in the Science program with the bilingual option, you will be able to complete all your science-related courses in English. At the same time, your general education courses – language of instruction and literature, humanities, elective courses, and physical education – will be in French. Of course, the English as a second language course will be in English.
*Note that this option is only available for our pre-university DEC programs.
After the program?
Here are just a few of the many options available to you upon obtaining a DEC in Social Science:
- Accounting*
- Actuarial Mathematics*
- Administration*
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Banking*
- Business and Finance*
- Civil Service
- Communications & Media Studies
- Corporate Law
- Criminology
- Demography
- Design (environment, industrial, interior, fashion)
- Ecology
- Economics*
- Education
- Instructional Design
- Finance*
- Geography
- History
- Human Resources*
- Industrial Relations
- International Relations
- International Studies
- Investment Brokerage*
- Journalism and Broadcasting
- Kinesiology
- Law
- Library Sciences
- Management Information Systems*
- Marketing*
- Mathematics*
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology and Counselling
- Public Policy
- Secondary Education in Mathematics*
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Tourism and Hotel Management
- Urban Planning
The career paths that contain an asterisk symbol (*) signifies that this university program would require the completion of the Social Science math competencies, which are: Calculus I, Calculus II, and Linear Algebra.
Updated: April 15, 2024
Do you have questions or comments?
LEGEND:
SEMESTER 1
202-NYA-05 GENERAL CHEMISTRY: MATTER
Course description:
Designed as an extension of concepts learned in high school, this course prepares students for the chemistry of solutions, organic chemistry, and biology courses while introducing them to laboratory work. The student is called upon to establish the relevant links between phenomena and fundamental concepts and verify them from data provided or observations obtained in the laboratory.
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Apply the probabilistic model of the atom to the analysis of the properties of elements
- Solve problems affecting the structure and states of matter in using modern theories of chemistry
- Apply the laws of stoichiometry to the study of chemical phenomena
- Experimentally verify the physical and chemical properties of matter
203-NYA-05 MECHANICS
Course description:
As an extension of the notions of mechanics already studied in high school, this course will teach students to develop a rigorous working method through the resolution of physical problems and the explanation of various phenomena of everyday life by verifying them experimentally.
This course uses the mathematical concepts and skills acquired in the Differential Calculus course as well as certain concepts addressed concurrently in the Integral Calculus course. The course helps to equip the student with knowledge and know-how specific to a rigorous scientific approach: observation, modeling, comparison of theoretical models with real behavior, and validation of hypotheses.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the translational and rotational movement of bodies
- Apply the concepts and laws of dynamics in the analysis of the movement of bodies
- Perform calculations of work and energy in simple situations
- Apply the principles of conservation of mechanics
- Experimentally verify the laws and principles related to mechanics
The concepts introduced in this course will subsequently be used in the Electricity and Magnetism and Waves and Modern Physics courses.
603-101-MQ INTRODUCTION TO COLLEGE ENGLISH
Course Description:
The objective of this course is to analyze and produce various forms of discourse.
Competencies to be developed are:
- To identify the characteristics and functions of the components of literary texts
- To determine the organizations of facts and arguments of a given literary text
- To prepare ideas and strategies for a projected discourse
- To explicate a discourse
- To edit the discourse
All competencies lead to the production of an approximately 750-word essay.
345-101-MQ KNOWLEDGE
Course Description:
The objective of this course is to apply a logical and analytical process of thinking to how knowledge is organized and used.
Competencies to be developed are:
- To recognize the basic elements of a field of knowledge
- To define the modes of organizations and utilization of a field of knowledge
- To situate a field of knowledge within its historical context
- To organize the main components into coherent patterns
- To produce a synthesis of the main components
602-100-MQ BASIC FRENCH
Course Description:
The objective of this course is to apply basic concepts for communicating in standard French.
Competencies to be developed include:
- Writing and revising a simple text
- Understanding the meaning of a simple text
- Conveying a simple oral message
- Understanding the meaning of a simple oral message
201-NYA-05 CAL I: Differential calculus
Course description:
This course establishes the foundations of differential calculus for its use in pure and applied sciences. It prepares students, in particular, for the courses, Mechanics, Modern Physics, and Integral Calculus. The course explains the conceptual bases of differential calculus, i.e. the notions of a function, variation of a function, and limit, and applies them to concrete situations.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Recognize and describe the characteristics a function represented in the form of a symbolic expression or in graphic form
- Determine if a function has a limit, is continuous, is differentiable, at a point and over an interval
- Apply the rules and techniques of derivation
- Use the derivative and the concepts related to analyze the variations of a function and draw its graph
- Solve optimization and rate of change issues
SEMESTER 2
603-102-MQ LITERARY GENRES
Course Description:
The objective of this course is to apply a critical approach to literary genres.
Competencies to be developed are:
- To distinguish genres of literary texts
- To recognize the use of literary conventions within a specific genre
- To situate work within its historical and literary period
- To explicate a discourse and representative of a literary genre
- To edit the discourse
All competencies lead to the effective presentation of an approximately 1000 word integrated response to a text.
602-TVA-TV FRENCH FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS
Course Description:
The objective of this course is to apply basic concepts for communicating in the French language in relation to the student’s field of study.
Competencies to be developed include:
- Writing and revising a short text related to the student’s field of study
- Understanding the meaning and characteristics of a text related to the student’s field of study
- Conveying a simple oral message related to the student’s field of study
- Understanding the meaning of a simple oral message related to the student’s field of study
109-101-MQ PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH
Course Description:
The objective of this course is to analyze one’s physical activity from the perspective of trends in health relating to lifestyle choices.
Competencies to be developed include:
- Establishing the relationship between one’s lifestyle habits and their health
- Being physically active in a manner that promotes good health
- Recognizing one’s needs, abilities, and motivational factors with respect to regular and sufficient physical activity
- To propose physical activities and nutritional guidance that promote a healthy lifestyle
201-NYB-05 CAL II - INTEGRAL CALCULUS
Course description:
This course establishes the bases of integral calculus with a view of its applications to concrete situations: calculation of the area under a curve, calculation of the area and volume of solids, calculation of the length of a portion of a curve. The course follows and relies heavily on the concepts developed in Differential Calculus by consisting of doing the reverse operation of the derivation.
At the end of this course, students will be able
- Determine the indefinite integral of a function
- Calculate the limits of functions with indeterminate forms
- Calculate definite integral and the improper integral of a function over an interval
- Translate concrete problems in the form of differential equations and solve simple differential equations
- Calculate volumes, areas, and lengths to construct graphic representations in the plane and in space
- Analyze the convergence of a series
202-NYB-05 CHEMISTRY OF SOLUTIONS
Course description:
This second chemistry course deepens understanding, more quantitatively, of the basic theories relating to the nature of matter in aqueous solutions through its physical and chemical properties. Students will establish links between fundamental phenomena and concepts using models of approximations.
Students will experimentally verify certain theoretical models, establish their limits, and analyze them in order to establish the causes of variation in the results obtained. The practical work thus makes students able to criticize their results and to estimate the degree of precision and reproducibility.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze the colligative properties of solutions
- Resolve problems related to the kinetics of reactions in solutions
- Resolve the problems related to chemical equilibrium
- Experimentally verify certain properties of solutions
- Experimentally determine certain characteristics of reactions in solutions
101-NYA-05 GENERAL BIOLOGY I
Course description:
This course is the first biology course in the program, which presents the organization of living things in a hierarchical fashion, from the most fundamental level of life, the cell, to its most global level, the maintenance and the complexity of life on Earth.
At the end of this course, students will be able:
- Distinguish the relationships between the structures and functions of certain levels of organization of living things
- Analyze the mechanisms responsible for the genetic variation of living things
- Appreciate the action of the mechanisms of evolution of diversity and life complexity
- Analyze the integration of living in a community
- Explain the transformation process of matter and of energy
Students will also be able to recognize the characteristics of a rigorous scientific approach in the originality of the approach of some biologists who have marked the evolution of this science and to hold a critical discourse on current technological applications in the domain.
SEMESTER 3
603-103-MQ LITERARY THEMES
Course Description:
The general objective of this course is to enable the student to apply a critical approach to a literary theme. The student will study various examples in English literature in order to understand how well-known authors unify their works around themes.
Further, the student will be able to read various selections of unfamiliar literature, either fiction or non-fiction, and discuss them intelligibly in writing through the understanding of their themes.
By the end of this course, the student will apply their understanding of the theme by writing an analysis of a literary text (an approximately 1000 word paper.)
345-102-MQ WORLD VIEWS
Course Description:
The objective of this course is to apply a critical thought process to world views.
Competencies to be developed are:
- To describe world views
- To explain the major ideas, values, and implications of a worldview
- To organize the ideas, values, and experiences of a worldview into coherent patterns
- To compare world views
- To convey the ideas, attitudes, and experiences of the societies or groups studied
109-102-MQ PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND EFFECTIVENESS
Course Description:
The objective of this course is to improve one’s effectiveness when practicing physical activity.
Competencies to be developed include:
- Planning an approach to improve one’s effectiveness when practicing a physical activity
- Using a planned approach to improve one’s physical health
420-TVB-TV USE OF MICROCOMPUTER SOFTWARE
Course Description:
This elective course approaches the novel technology of 3D printing with an interdisciplinary perspective and opens it up to all DEC program students at the College. The course aggregates several disciplines into one coherent learning experience by drawing on perspectives of:
- Mathematics
- Design
- Physics
- Computer science
- Engineering
- Biology
In today’s world, every field and every industry needs innovative thinkers that can make a difference. Inquiry-based learning is a 21st-century teaching and learning philosophy that requires students to not only be “problem solvers”, but “problem finders” as well. Instead of simply presenting established facts, teachers guide students to discover their worlds and how they could make it better. This is accomplished by posing questions, challenging the norm, and pushing the boundaries. Innovation is a keyword at the core of this philosophy.
No other technology, since the invention of the computer has the potential to positively impact education and learning as the 3D printer. 3D printers are now being used in practically every field. Learning how to use them is becoming as essential a skill as reading and writing.
From the medical field, automotive and aerospace industry, fashion, food, and architecture, 3D printers are becoming a regular on- the scene. Putting the world of 3D printing in the hands of students will help better prepare them to shape their world and be innovative in their field of choice.
This course, on the fundamentals of CAD design for rapid prototyping and 3D printing, provides all of the foundational knowledge necessary to bring the world of 3D printing to the students and start their journey to innovation in whichever field they choose to pursue.
201-NYC-05 LINEAR ALGEBRA AND VECTOR GEOMETRY
Course description:
This course introduces students to the notions of linear algebra and vector geometry and to develop tools that can be used in particular, in the physics course, Electricity and magnetism given in the 4th session, but concurrently in the context of applications specific to the natural sciences, mathematics, economics, and computer science, at the pre-university level. The main subjects of study are matrix calculus, geometric and algebraic vectors, the structure of vector space, and representations and equations of geometric loci in the plane and in space.
At the end of this course, students will be able:
- Translate concrete problems in the form of linear equations
- Solve systems of linear equations using matrix methods
- Establish links between geometry and algebra
- Establish the equation of geometric loci (lines and planes) and determine their intersections
- Calculate angles, lengths, areas, and volumes
- Demonstrate propositions
- Construct representations of geometric places in the plane and in space
203-NYB-05 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM
Course description:
Using several notions seen in mechanics: kinematics, forces, potential and kinetic energies, the moment of force, etc. and using the concepts of mathematics acquired in the differential calculus and integral calculus courses, widely used in the analysis of a continuous distribution system of stationary or moving electric charges, this course is an introduction to electric and magnetic phenomena. Starting from the formulation of the laws of electromagnetism, students will be able to explain the overall functioning of the various devices and the mechanisms describing the electrical and magnetic phenomena and also to apply electromagnetism in situations of everyday life.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze physical situations related to electric charges at rest and to electric current
- Analyze physical situations related to magnetism and magnetic induction
- Apply the laws of electricity and magnetism
- Experimentally verify the laws of electricity and magnetism
420-PRA-TV INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING
Course description:
In this course, students will learn the development of effective algorithmic solutions to simple problems following a correct analysis of the situation, the available data, the desired results, and the necessary treatments as well as the validation of it.
Students will also be able to use a programming language by correctly recognizing
- the characteristics and functionality of a computer and its network
- the correct use of a workstation in a development environment
- the correct translation of algorithms,
- the rigorous application of coding standards
- the efficient use of environmental functionality in tracking and correcting compilation errors
- the correct application of test sets necessary to verify the functioning of the environment program
- the appropriate debugging of the program according to the algorithm
- the basic concepts of object-oriented programming: class, object, method, and attribute.
SEMESTER 4
603-TVE-TV ENGLISH ADAPTED TO PROGRAM
Course Description:
The objective of this course is to communicate in the forms of discourse appropriate to one or more fields of study, focusing on citation styles and preparing the student for university-level writing.
Competencies to be developed include:
- Identifying the forms of discourse appropriate to given fields of study
- Recognizing the discursive frameworks appropriate to given fields of study
- Analyze and succinctly explain the main ideas of an oral and written discourse
109-103-MQ PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND AUTONOMY
Course Description:
The objective of this course is to demonstrate one’s ability to assume responsibility for maintaining a healthy lifestyle through the continued practice of physical activity.
Competencies to be developed include:
- Planning a personal physical activity program
- Combining the elements of a regular and sufficient practice of physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle
- Manage a personal physical activity program
345-TVH-TV CRITICAL THOUGHT APPLIED TO WORLD ISSUES
Course description:
The objective of this course is to apply a critical thought process to ethical issues relevant to the field of study.
Competencies to be developed include:
- Situating significant ethical issues within appropriate world views and fields of knowledge
- explaining the major ideas, values, and social implications of ethical issues
- organizing the ethical questions and their implications into coherent patterns
- Debating ethical issues
203-NYC-05 WAVES, OPTICS AND MODERN PHYSICS
Course description:
In this third physics course in the program, students will have to use the notions of mathematics acquired in the Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, and Mechanics courses. Students will use functions with several independent variables necessary for the description of waves and obtain certain characteristics of them, which have recourse to partial derivatives and to integrals.
From revolutionary discoveries on several aspects of the Universe and of matter, students will be introduced, in particular, to geometric and wave optics, to the structure of matter and to radioactivity, to mechanical waves and vibrations, to the electromagnetic spectrum and relativity, which are notions useful both for students of the health, pure and applied or computer sciences.
The approaches followed will address the history of the main discoveries and will stress the importance of the major fundamental questions in physics, relating to science, technology, and social progress.
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Apply the basic principles of physics to the description of vibrations, waves, and their propagation
- Apply the laws of geometrical optics
- Apply the characteristics of waves to light phenomena
- Analyze situations based on notions of modern physics
- Experimentally verify the laws and principles related to waves, optics, and modern physics
203-EPH-TV PROBLEM SOLVING IN ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Course description:
This course prepares students to apply an experimental/numerical analysis in order to solve physics and engineering problems using MATLAB/Octave.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Represent various situations, drawing upon relevant concepts, laws, and principles of mechanics, electricity, magnetism, waves, and optics.
- Solve problems using numerical methods through MATLAB/Octave.
- Apply experimental/numerical analysis or validation specific to physics and engineering
360-200- TV INTEGRATION PROJECT
Course description:
This course is an extension of the comprehensive assessment that must be successfully completed in order to obtain a DEC in Science. By the end of the course, students will have demonstrated the integration of the general goals of the Science program.
Integration, in the context of this course, means to possess the ability to clearly make: connections between the elements of the student’s learning, to recombine knowledge in various ways, and to put them to use in order to adapt to new situations. To this end, students will be asked to propose, conduct and present a research project on a scientific theme of their choice.
The integration project is multidisciplinary in its approach and should take into account not only the specific components of the program but also, its components of general education as well.
The course is designed to support students throughout their independent projects by providing relevant theoretical guidance as the projects progress. The projects require students to draw on prior knowledge from previous courses as well as provide them with the opportunity to engage in personal, stimulating, and creative work in their chosen area of personal interest. The choice of a project should ultimately reflect the student’s learning goals throughout their DEC.