All Bachelor of Arts (BA) academic plans (e.g., majors, minors) should be drawn up in consultation with the appropriate academic advisor(s); see Restrictions on Multiple-Plan Combinations.
General
The University of Waterloo offers a General Bachelor of Arts degree upon successful completion of either a Three-Year General or Four-Year General major.
Honours (including Arts and Business)
The University of Waterloo offers an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in either the regular or co-operative system of study.
Note
See the Arts and Business Co-op and Regular section and the appropriate Arts Honours major section for details.
Double Majors
Many Honours plans may be combined within and between faculties. However, before choosing to pursue two majors, students are required to consult with the undergraduate advisors of both majors. Students must meet all the requirements of both majors as stated in this Calendar and should be aware that combining some Honours majors may require more than the normal number of academic terms to complete. When an Arts major is combined with a major in another faculty, it is referred to as Joint Honours (see below for further details).
Double Majors (Within the Faculty of Arts)
Any two Honours majors may be combined for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, with the exception of French Teaching Specialization, Liberal Studies, and Mathematical Economics (BA).
Co-op students (either Arts and Business or departmental co-op) who are interested in declaring a double major must understand that the co-operative dimension adds considerably to the complexities of doing so and may require more than the normal number of academic terms to complete.
Notes
- Enrolment by a co-op student in a double major does not provide grounds for changes to the study/work sequence.
- In the case of combining a major which offers departmental co-op with one which does not, the departmental co-op major is always listed first on the diploma and will be the cohort with which the student attends convocation.
Joint Honours (Honours Arts Major with Honours Major in Another Faculty)
When an Arts major is combined with a major in another faculty, it is referred to as Joint Honours.
- Faculty of Applied Health Sciences or Faculty of Environment
- Arts students who wish to pursue Joint Honours with a major in one of Applied Health Sciences or Environment should consult the major requirements listed in the appropriate Faculty's section of this Calendar. Also refer to the Arts Academic Plans section of this Calendar for the Honours requirements of the particular Arts major.
- Students enrolled in the Faculties of Applied Health Sciences or Environment who are contemplating Joint Honours with a major in Arts (exceptions may apply) should refer to the Honours requirements of the particular Arts major.
- Faculty of Engineering
- Arts students may not pursue a Joint Honours with the Faculty of Engineering.
- Students enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering may declare a Joint Honours with any Honours major offered by the Faculty of Arts (exceptions may apply). Refer to the Arts Academic Plans section for the Honours requirements of the particular Arts major and to Joint Honours Plans in Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering section of this Calendar.
- Faculty of Mathematics
- Faculty of Science
International Joint Education Programs
The Faculty of Arts has negotiated agreements with several key universities in China to implement joint education programs at the undergraduate level. These programs operate under a 2+2 model where students spend their first two years at the Chinese university and the final two years at the University of Waterloo. Degrees are awarded by both the University of Waterloo and the Chinese university. Current 2+2 programs in Arts include Economics, History, and Mathematical Economics. The 2+2 program is currently available only to international students at the partner Chinese universities.
Minors
A minor in Arts requires the successful completion of four academic course units (eight courses) in the minor discipline. Students should consult with the appropriate undergraduate advisors for details of more specific requirements.
A minor in Arts may be pursued by students enrolled in degree plans. Students enrolled in degree plans in other faculties should consult with their home faculty regarding their eligibility before pursuing a minor in Arts.
Minors offered by other faculties may be pursued by Arts students. Some minors are limited to students enrolled in Honours or Four-Year General BA major plans. Students should consult with the appropriate Faculty for their regulations.
See Arts Academic Plans for further information.
Diplomas, Certificates, and Specializations
Diplomas, Certificates, and Specializations are offered by certain Arts disciplines. See Arts Academic Plans for further information.