This fall, York University’s Glendon College launched its new Core Curriculum, an academic framework providing all undergraduate students with a common foundation of knowledge and skills while also fostering intellectual growth, community engagement and global awareness.
“The Glendon Core Curriculum is a series of courses designed to offer a common experience regardless of program while building a sense of community among students from different disciplines,” said Marco Fiola, principal of Glendon College. “Core Curriculum courses support students’ transition to university, feed their curiosity, and enhance their critical thinking skills and technological competencies."
The new curriculum also prioritizes inclusivity and intercultural competence, ensuring students can confidently navigate future careers in an increasingly globalized landscape.
“Students will grow intellectually by engaging with their classmates on issues linked to [United Nations] Sustainable Development Goals such as social justice, decolonization and indigenization, climate change and environmental sustainability, global citizenship and engagement,” explained Fiola.
The Glendon Core Curriculum is divided into a structured, four-year sequence, with each stage offering a blend of academic learning and opportunities for personal growth. This framework ensures that students not only gain a broad range of expertise but also develop a sense of ownership over their educational journey.
Since one of the primary objectives of the curriculum is to help students transition smoothly from high-school to university, first-year students will build essential skills through four foundational courses in areas such as studying efficiency, critical thinking and reasoning, language proficiency, research techniques and digital literacy.
As students advance to their second and third years, they will complete two additional courses – in global issues – that will broaden their perspectives beyond their primary fields of study.
In their final year, students will take a series of four courses culminating in a capstone project and a “big ideas” seminar. Designed to challenge students to demonstrate mastery of a particular topic, this final stage prepares them for life beyond graduation by putting their critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership skills to the test.
These courses are designed to ignite curiosity, inspire critical thinking, and prepare students to achieve both academic success and meaningful societal contributions.
“What makes the Glendon Core Curriculum unique is that it also focuses on global issues, multilingualism and intercultural competencies throughout the upper-year courses,” said Professor Valérie Florentin, who is overseeing the new curriculum’s introduction. “Regardless of which combination of courses students may take as they move through the Core Curriculum, they will all acquire a comparable set of skills, knowledge and values.”
Beyond the academic benefits, the curriculum fosters a sense of community at Glendon College by bringing together students from various disciplines in shared learning experiences, helping to build networks rich with diverse perspectives.
As Glendon College continues to innovate its academic offerings, the new Core Curriculum exemplifies its dedication to student success.
For more information, visit the Glendon Core Curriculum web page.