Title
New Minimum Education Requirements DECS 1993
Law
Decs Order No. 3
Decision Date
Jan 6, 1993
DECS Order No. 3, s. 1993 establishes new minimum requirements for initial bachelor's degree programs, allowing students to graduate in three years with a total of 126 units, while mandating a 63-unit general education component and providing institutions with the flexibility to tailor their curricula.
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Minimum Graduation Requirements for Initial Bachelor's Degree

  • The minimum total units required for graduation is set at 126 units.
  • This enables students to possibly complete the degree within three school years if qualified.
  • Exceptions apply where professional subjects required for board examinations necessitate more than 126 units.

General Education Component Minimum Units and Distribution

  • General education requirements must total at least 63 units for courses covering four academic years.
  • Distribution includes:
    • English: 18 units
    • Filipino: 6 units
    • Mathematics: 9 units
    • Natural Sciences: 6 units
    • Social Sciences: 15 units
    • General Education Electives: 9 units

Flexibility in General Education Subjects and Mandatory Topics

  • Institutions may select specific subjects to fulfill general education, allowing variation per course.
  • Recommended inclusion of introductory and sequential courses.
  • Mandatory topics required by law (e.g., Rizal, land reform, taxation, drug prevention) must be covered.
  • Subjects credited for general education can also count towards major requirements.
  • Physical Education and military training units do not count toward general education minimums.

Requirements for Major and Professional Components

  • The major field must have a minimum of 24 units.
  • Professional component requires a minimum of 18 units where applicable (not required in liberal arts).
  • Overlap allowed where subjects can count toward both general education and major.

Implementation and Adoption by Institutions

  • Institutions must submit revised curricular requirements to Regional Offices before June 1993 classes start.
  • Schools can set higher minimum requirements than those prescribed.
  • The new requirements take effect starting the 1993-94 academic year.
  • Current students prior to 1993-94 must comply with older requirements.
  • Institutions may phase in, adopt immediately, or retain old requirements but must publicly indicate their compliance method.

Revocation of Previous Orders

  • All prior DECS issuances conflicting with this order are revoked.

Suggested General Education Subjects

  • English (18 units): Grammar and Composition, American/English Literature, Essay Writing.
  • Filipino (6 units): Balarila, Panitikan.
  • Mathematics (9 units): College Algebra, Statistics.
  • Natural Sciences (6 units): Introductory Natural Science.
  • Social Sciences (15 units): Economics, Philippine Government, Sociology, Rizal's Life and Times.
  • Electives (9 units): Survey of Fine Arts, Foreign Languages.

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