On October 28, 2025, the University of Waterloo’s Board of Governors voted in support of the proposal from the Dean of Arts to reorganize the Faculty of Arts from its current 15 departments and two schools to a total of six schools. The Board’s support represents the final approval following strong support by the University’s Senate, the Arts Faculty Council, and Arts staff members.
Effective July 1, 2026, the Faculty of Arts will be organized into the following schools:
New schools
School of Critical and Creative Humanities
Composed of the current departments of
- Communication Arts
- English Language & Literature
- Fine Arts
- French Studies,
- Germanic & Slavic Studies
- Spanish & Latin American Studies
School of Social, Political and Historical Research
Composed of the current departments of
- Anthropology
- Classical Studies
- History
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Religious Studies
- Sociology & Legal Studies
Renamed schools
School of Economics
Change from the Department of Economics
School of Psychology
Change from the Department of Psychology
Existing schools
School of Accounting and Finance
No changes
Stratford School of Interaction Design & Business
No changes
Frequently asked questions
Why is Arts reorganizing?
Reorganization was formally identified as a goal in the 2014-19 and current Faculty strategic plans. The objective was to organize into fewer, larger academic units to improve administrative and operational efficiencies. In addition, the reorganization is designed to position the Faculty for resilience and renewal across its academic programming and research. Importantly, the new structure will enable better opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations to support new programming, research and partnerships that respond to evolving educational, societal and economic priorities.
If they are approved, why are the schools not launching until July 2026?
The Faculty is currently in a transition period (fall 2025 to spring 2026) for establishing school governance processes, administrative leadership, and staffing roles for the two new schools.
Will programs be cut?
All current disciplines and programs will remain, and students will continue in their current academic plans. The schools structure is designed for agility in supporting programming needs as they evolve.
How will students be impacted?
Students will continue to be able to choose from the same set of majors, minors, and diplomas, or graduate program options, and will continue to identify according to their major discipline(s) and/or degree program (e.g. BA English, MA Political Science). A change that some students may experience is in their key contacts for program-specific academic advising.
How will researchers be impacted?
Reorganization is not intended to influence or direct individual faculty research. Faculty members who work within a discipline can continue their research in the ways that best fit with their discipline. It’s expected that most faculty members will continue to identify themselves as “Professor of [discipline] at the University of Waterloo.” Reorganization will facilitate more opportunities for collaborative and potentially interdisciplinary research.
How will staff be impacted?
The staffing structure for the new schools includes roles to accommodate all current full-time staff. The staff job descriptions are standardized, equitable, and offer opportunity for specialization and career progression.
Will anything change for the renamed schools?
The two departments to be renamed the School of Economics and the School of Psychology will not have administrative, operational or programming changes, according to the reorganization proposal.
Will anything change for the current schools?
The current School of Accounting and Finance and Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business will not have administrative, operational or programming changes, according to the reorganization proposal.
How did Arts develop this reorganization?
The six-schools structure is the result a two-year development process, including extensive consultations with all stakeholders led by a working group comprised of Arts faculty and staff and university leadership.
I am inspired by the tremendous commitment and work toward the reorganization and I’m confident in our collective capacity to meet the future as a revitalized, energized and vigorous Faculty of Arts.