Arts Degree Requirements

The degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA) is awarded by the University of Waterloo upon successful completion of any of the undergraduate academic plans described under Available Arts Academic Plans. Students must successfully complete all program- and plan-level requirements. These include:

1. Program-Level Requirements
   • Common to All Bachelor of Arts Degrees
     • 60-70% overall cumulative average,
     • the Faculty of Arts Breadth Requirements,
     • the Faculty of Arts Residency Requirement,
     • the English Language Proficiency Requirement 

     Note: For 0.25 credit course maxima, see Unit Weights in the Faculty of Arts section of the calendar.

   • Specific to the Particular Bachelor of Arts Degree
     • Three-Year General Academic Program
       a) 15 academic course units,
       b) minimum academic course units above the 100-level: 8.0.
     • Four-Year General Academic Program
       a) 20 academic course units,
       b) minimum academic course units above the 100-level:
       • Liberal Studies: 12.5
       • all Major plans: 8.0.
     • Honours Academic Program (Regular)
       a) 20 academic course units,
       b) minimum academic course units above the 100-level: 8.0.
     • Joint Honours Academic Program (Regular)
       a) 20 - 21 academic course units as specified by the discipline,
       b) minimum academic course units above the 100-level: 8.0.
     • Honours Academic Program (Departmental Co-op)
       Joint Honours Academic Program (Departmental Co-op)
       a) 20 - 21 academic course units as specified by the discipline,
       b) minimum academic course units above the 100-level: 8.0,
       c) minimum work term units: 2.0,
       d) minimum Professional Development (PD) units: 2.0.
     • Honours Arts and Business (Regular) 
       a) 20 academic course units as specified by the discipline,
       b) minimum academic course units above the 100-level: 8.0
       c) specific Arts and Business requirements.
     • Honours Arts and Business (Co-op)
       a) 20 academic course units as specified by the discipline,
       b) minimum academic course units above the 100-level: 8.0,
       c) minimum work term units: 2.0,
       d) minimum Professional Development (PD) units: 2.0,
       e) specific Arts and Business requirements.
     • Joint Honours Arts and Business (Regular)
       a) 20 - 21 academic course units as specified by the discipline,
       b) minimum academic course units above the 100-level: 8.0
       c) specific Arts and Business requirements.
     • Joint Honours Arts and Business (Co-op)
       a) 20 - 21 academic course units as specified by the discipline,
       b) minimum academic course units above the 100-level: 8.0,
       c) minimum work term units: 2.0,
       d) minimum Professional Development (PD) units: 2.0,
       e) specific Arts and Business requirements.
2. Plan-Level Requirements
   • specific academic plan average and course requirements (see individual Academic Plan sections of the Faculty of Arts section of the calendar for specific information).