Arts Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is awarded by the University of Waterloo upon successful completion of all program-level (BA degree) and plan-level (major) requirements.

Program-Level (BA) Requirements

Common to All Bachelor of Arts Degrees

• a minimum cumulative overall average of 60%, see Academic Standing Definition,
• the Faculty of Arts Bachelor of Arts Breadth Requirements, and
• the Undergraduate Communication Requirement.

Specific to the Particular Bachelor of Arts Degree

Note: Most courses have a 0.5 unit weight; see Unit Weights for specifics.   

• Three-Year General Academic Program
  • 15 academic course units (30 courses),
  • minimum academic course units at the 200-level or above: 8.0.
• Four-Year General Academic Program
  • 20 academic course units (40 courses),
  • minimum academic course units at the 200-level or above:
    • Liberal Studies: 12.5,
    • all other Arts major plans: 8.0.     
• Honours Academic Program
  • 20 academic course units (40 courses),
  • minimum academic course units at the 200-level or above:
  • Liberal Studies: 12.5,
  • all other Arts major plans: 8.0.     
  • for co-op:
    • minimum work-term units: 2.0,
    • minimum Professional Development (PD) units: 2.0

Students who have received transfer credit(s) or had grades cleared (that is, grades achieved in previous course work not counting in their cumulative average) should refer to the Faculty of Arts' Transfer Credit page as well as the Common Degree Requirements page of this Calendar for further details. Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisor.

Plan-Level (Major) Requirements

• specific academic plan average and course requirements (see individual Academic Plan sections of the Faculty of Arts section of this Calendar). 
• Liberal Studies plans function as majors for the purposes of plan-level requirements, calculation of averages, academic progression, and plan combinations.

Which Calendar to Follow for Requirements?

As per the University's regulations: "Academic program and/or plan requirements listed in this Calendar apply to those students commencing their studies in their chosen academic plan (Honours Arts or Arts and Business) during the 2023-2024 academic year. Students are normally governed by the requirements current for their plan at the time they commence studies in that plan, except when plan selection is required only after a specified period of registration (e.g., declaring a a major at the end of first year). Students who select a plan within the time limits specified by the faculty will be governed by the requirements current in the term in which they entered the faculty."

In the Faculty of Arts, the above text means that students in Honours Arts or Arts and Business normally choose their major in their 1B term, and thus enter their 2A term with a declared major (e.g., Student A in table below). Those students are governed by the degree and major requirements in the Calendar in effect when they started at the University of Waterloo.

If students do not declare their major until after their 2A term (e.g., Student B in table), they are governed by the major requirements in the Calendar in effect when they declared their major.

For Bachelor of Arts requirements (i.e., program-level requirements), students are governed by the requirements in effect in the Calendar when they first started in the Faculty of Arts.

Exceptions to the above rules do exist. Students who are unsure of which Calendar they should be following should seek advice with their academic advisor or with the Arts Undergraduate Office. Students returning after a Failed - Required to Withdraw decision or after a lengthy absence must confirm applicable Calendar dates when resuming studies.

Per University regulations: "When academic program and/or plan requirements change, a student may continue to be governed by the set of requirements as specified in the first paragraph or can elect to be governed by the new set of requirements, unless the faculty specifies otherwise when the change is introduced." Students must notify their advisor of this selection by completing and submitting a Plan Modification Form.