The Ontario Secondary School Diploma
A prestigious qualification recognized globally, signifying the completion of a rigorous and well-rounded education that prepares students for higher education and the workforce.
Key points
Compulsory courses
These form the foundation of the OSSD curriculum, ensuring students acquire essential skills and knowledge.
- English (4 credits): literacy, communication and critical thinking
- Mathematics (3 credits): algebra, geometry and data management
- Science (2 credits): biology, chemistry and physics
- Canadian History (1 credit)
- Canadian Geography (1 credit)
- Arts (1 credit): visual arts, music or drama
- Health and Physical Education (1 credit)
- French as a Second Language (1 credit)
- Civics and Careers (0.5 credits each)
Examples of elective courses
Electives let students explore interests and specialize in areas aligned with their career aspirations.
- Advanced Functions
- Calculus and Vectors
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics
- Business Studies
- Computer Science
- Social Sciences and Humanities
- Arts and Media Studies
Community involvement & literacy
40 hours of community service encourages civic responsibility and personal growth, and can include volunteer work and approved projects. The OSSLT assesses reading and writing skills up to the end of Grade 9 and is typically taken in Grade 10.
How we support our students
- Certified Ontario teachers
- Virtual labs and interactive learning tools
- Discussion forums and collaborative projects
- Comprehensive academic advising
- Online resources and textbooks
University streams
Discover the academic pathways available at CIC. Whether you're interested in arts, business, STEM or healthcare, our curriculum is designed to prepare you for success in your chosen field.
Humanities & Social Sciences
Education, Law, Data, Hospitality, Tourism, Politics, Sociology, History, Psychology
Business & Commerce
Accounting, Administration, Business, Commerce, Economics, Finance, Management
The Arts
Arts, Fashion, Fine Arts, Film, Drama, Visual Arts, Theatre, Production
Design & Applied Sciences
Architecture, Aviation, Design, Urban Planning, Environmental, Actuarial Science, Digital Health
Health & Medicine
Dentistry, Healthcare, Nursing, Therapy, Midwifery, Medicine, Pharmacy, Radiology
STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
Agriculture & Food
Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agrotech, Soil Science, Biotech, Agronomy, Food Science, Horticulture
Technology & Computing
Machine Learning, Big Data, Networks, Programming, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Graduation requirements
Students must meet specific requirements to earn the OSSD. The rules depend on when you started Grade 9.
Compulsory credits (18)
- 4 credits in English (1 per grade)
- 3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 in Grade 11 or 12)
- 3 credits from Groups 1, 2 and 3 (1 from each)
- 2 credits in science
- 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)
- 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)
- 1 credit in the arts
- 1 credit in health and physical education
- 1 credit in French as a second language
- 0.5 credit in career studies
- 0.5 credit in civics and citizenship
Groups and optional credits
- Group 1: English, French, Native languages, First Nations, Métis and Inuit studies, classical and international languages, social sciences and humanities, Canadian and world studies, guidance and career education, cooperative education, ASL, LSQ.
- Group 2: Health and physical education, the arts, business studies, French, cooperative education, ASL, LSQ.
- Group 3: Science (Grade 11 or 12), technological education, French, computer studies, cooperative education, ASL, LSQ.
- Maximums: up to 2 credits in French (1 from Group 1 and 1 from Group 2 or 3); up to 2 credits in cooperative education from any group.
- Optional: 12 optional credits from the school's program calendar; up to 4 from approved dual-credit programs.
Compulsory credits (17)
- 4 credits in English (1 per grade)
- 3 credits in mathematics (Grade 9, Grade 10, and 1 in Grade 11 or 12)
- 2 credits in science
- 1 credit in technological education (Grade 9 or 10)
- 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)
- 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)
- 1 credit in the arts
- 1 credit in health and physical education
- 1 credit in French as a second language
- 0.5 credit in career studies
- 0.5 credit in civics and citizenship
- 1 credit from the STEM-related course group
STEM group and optional credits
- STEM-related courses: business studies, computer studies, cooperative education, additional mathematics or science credits, technological education.
- Optional: 13 optional credits from the school's program calendar; up to 4 from approved dual-credit programs.
- Financial literacy: starting in 2025, students must achieve 70% or higher on the financial-literacy component of the compulsory Grade 10 mathematics course.
Literacy requirement
Students must meet the provincial literacy standard by passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test or completing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC4O), which CIC offers. If you've already passed the literacy test at another school, this requirement is satisfied.
Community involvement hours
Complete a minimum of 40 hours of unpaid community service to gain civic awareness, impact your community and explore career options. A Community Involvement Guide and tracking sheet are provided, and our Guidance Team can help you find suitable activities.
English as a Second Language
Our comprehensive ESL program helps students from various linguistic backgrounds achieve fluency in English, focusing on both everyday communication and academic language skills. Each student begins with a placement test to determine their current level, ensuring instruction that is appropriate and effective for their individual needs.
The curriculum is structured into five levels, from beginner to advanced. Alongside ESL, students may also take English Literacy Development (ELD) courses, particularly if they have gaps in prior education or require additional support. Students typically complete one ESL and one ELD course per semester. Our program emphasizes maintaining students' cultural identities while helping them become both bilingual and bicultural.
Level 1 · ESLAO / ELDAO
For beginners with limited proficiency.
Level 2 · ESLBO / ELDBO
For students with basic English skills.
Level 3 · ESLCO / ELDCO
Intermediate level focusing on expanding vocabulary and comprehension.
Level 4 · ESLDO / ELDDO
Advanced level emphasizing complex sentence structures and academic language.
Level 5 · ESLEO / ELDEO
Proficiency level preparing students for mainstream English courses.
CIC course calendar
For a detailed overview of all our courses, download the comprehensive PDF course calendar. This in-depth guide includes everything you need to plan your academic journey with confidence.