Declare your major

Honours Arts and Honours Arts and Business students should declare their major before the end of their 1B term. Declaring your major before your Winter term ends and before your grades are final is okay!

Complete these steps to declare your major

STEP 1: Attend/watch the virtual Declare Your Major Information Session

The information session was held onTuesday, March 5, 2024 at 2:30 pm (ET) and covered the process for declaring your major, the timelines, future course selection, and more.

STEP 2: Attend a Department Information Session

Attend a session for EVERY major and minor that interests you to get answers to specific questions about your major(s).

Interested in Co-op? Unsure how a possible major fits with your career goals?

Co-op and our Arts Career Advisor hosted an information session for first year Arts students that reviewed considerations for how your prospective major fits with career opportunities. They also discussed the co-op and EDGE programs at Waterloo. You can watch a recording of the session on YouTube.

STEP 3: Complete the Declare your Major Online Form by the deadline.

  • The step-by-step online form will open on March 5 after the main information session. 
  • Winter 2024 form deadline is April 5, 2024.

Need help completing the form?

This short video tutorial explains how to fill out the form if you want to see an example from previous years.

You can also attend one of our drop-in help sessions where academic advisors can help you with the form or answer any questions. There will also be a career advisor present to discuss co-op and longer term career goals.

  • Wednesday, March 6 from 10:00-11:30am and 1:00-3:00pm in PAS 2438
  • Wednesday, March 27 from 10:00-11:30am and 1:00-3:00pm in PAS 2438

STEP 4: Add your Fall 2024 classes

You can do this on Quest during the course selection period when it opens. Add courses for Fall 2024 by following the requirements, listed by major, on these charts:

HOW DO I FILL OUT THE FORM TO DECLARE MY MAJOR?

You can fill out the online Declare Your Major Form on your own, but if you want guidance you can watch the how to declare your major video which walks you through how to fill out the online form.

We will also host two drop-in help sessions in March where you can pop by and an advisor will be available to answer questions and do the form with you. Details for the drop-in sessions will be posted above once confirmed.

HOW MANY COURSES DO I NEED TO DECLARE MY MAJOR?

You’ll need to complete at least 8 courses (4.0 units) in total and have at least 1 or 2 courses in the major area, depending on the major. If you don't have 8 courses complete, it may be possible to take courses during the Spring term. If you have questions, please contact your academic advisor.


Note: If you were directly admitted to Social Development Studies or Global Business and Digital Arts students — you’re already admitted to your plan, but you can use electives to explore other Arts-related subjects. 

WHAT IF I'M TAKING COURSES IN SPRING TERM IN ORDER TO DECLARE MY MAJOR?

If you are not eligible for your requested major by the end of your Winter (1B) term, you may need to return to take some classes in Spring. This could be the case if you have less than 8 courses completed, don't meet the minimum required average for a major, or don't have enough courses completed in the major you're requesting.

It is recommended that you speak with your academic advisor about your course load if you plan to take courses in the Spring term. A full-time course load may or may not be advised depending on how many courses you've already completed.

CAN I DECLARE TWO MAJORS?

Yes, absolutely! You can personalize your degree by declaring two Honours majors.

  • Any two Arts Honours majors can be combined for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. (Note that there are three exceptions: Liberal Studies, Mathematical Economics (BA) and the French Teaching Specialization cannot be combined with any other major.)
  • Many Honours Arts majors can be combined with a few honours majors offered in other faculties.

If you want a second area of interest, but don’t want to complete the 16 courses required for a second major, consider a minor! However, most minors will not be declared now and instead you may wait until after level 2A to officially declare a minor.

Note: If you plan to enrol in a co-op program, the first major that you select will be the co-op sequence that you follow.

WHAT IF I'M NOT READY TO DECLARE MY MAJOR?

If you’re in Honours Arts and aren’t sure you wish to declare a major, or you don’t have the required courses or grades to declare your major yet, you’ll start your second year as either an Honours or General Liberal Studies student. It’s okay to take the time to try out different subjects if you don’t find the right one in your first year! Students are welcome to talk to the Liberal Studies academic advisor about second-year courses if they plan to become a Liberal Studies student. 

If you’re in Honours Arts and Business, you must declare an Honours major, or be eligible for Honours Liberal Studies, at the end of first year.

If you plan to become a Liberal Studies student and would like to be in a co-op program, you must enrol in co-op by the end of your 1B term to be eligible.

CAN I DECLARE A MINOR AS WELL?

Yes, you can declare a minor at the same time as your major. There is a field for this right on the Declare Your Major form. To be admissible to a minor, you must have at least one course completed and have an average of at least 65% in that subject for most minors in Arts.

If you’d like to minor in a plan outside of the Faculty of Arts, please consult the advisor for that department. In most cases this is possible, but you’ll need to check. These minors can be added later via a Plan Modification Form. 

HOW DO I DECLARE A SPECIALIZATION, DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE?

Specializations are available in some major plans. These are a package of courses based upon a theme within a major and will be listed on the printed graduation diploma and official transcript. For example, a History major can add a specialization in Digital and Public History by completing four specific courses as part of their 16 History major courses required for the 4 year plans. The Undergraduate Calendar lists available departmental specializations.

Note that students cannot pursue a departmental specialization if they are not registered in that specific major plan. For example, a Psychology major cannot add the Social Work specialization that is available to Social Development Studies (SDS) majors. Only SDS majors can add one of the SDS specializations.

Diplomas and certificates are also a package of courses based upon a theme. Many of them are offered as Arts minors (such as Applied Language Studies, Black Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies) but the diploma requires fewer courses than the 8 course minors offered by the Faculty of Arts.

Students do not formally declare diplomas or certificates until the point of graduation. Contact the department offering the specialization, diploma or certificate to ensure you are selecting appropriate courses as you progress towards your degree.

WHEN WILL I KNOW IF I GOT ACCEPTED INTO MY MAJOR?

You should be able to see your major plan name updated on Quest in late May by logging into Quest (click "My Academics" and then view the "my undergrad program" tab to see your current program and any future changes).

Once you are admitted to your major your advisor will change from first year. You will have an advisor for every plan that you are in (major, double major, ARBUS, Liberal Studies, minor, etc.). These advisors will be there to assist you for the remaining years you are in Arts at Waterloo!

IF I'M ALREADY IN CO-OP, DO I NEED TO PUT THAT ON THE FORM?

Yes, if you’ve already been admitted to Waterloo for Honours Arts Co-op or Honours Arts and Business Co-op, you’ll need to select “co-op” on the Declare Your Major form to confirm that you want to continue in the co-op program.

If you were admitted to Waterloo for a regular program, you can apply for co-op by selecting it on the Declare Your Major form.

WHAT COURSES DO I TAKE IN 2ND YEAR?

WHAT ARE THE FALL TERM COURSE SELECTION DATES?
What's happening When it's happening
Fall 2024 course selection
(Request your classes. This is your best chance of getting into the classes you really want)		 TBD
View your class schedule in Quest
(If you requested your classes during the course selection period)		 TBD
Drop/add appointment period begins
(Make any necessary changes to your schedule or add courses if you did not do so during course selection)

Appointment timesTBD
Last day to add classes for Fall 2024 TBD

IS CO-OP RIGHT FOR ME?

What co-op looks like for Arts students

Co-op is available to both Honours Arts and Business and Honours Arts students, no matter what major you choose.

Co-op can be a great way to test drive careers and gain experience before graduation, but there are some key things to know before you choose to enrol in co-op.

Learn about what co-op looks like for Arts students and how it can help you prepare for your future career in the co-op section of our website.

Co-op eligibility

To be admitted to an Arts co-op plan before second year (2A), you must meet the eligibility standards outlined on the Arts co-op webpage.

Co-op sequences

You will need to complete a minimum of four work terms in your study/work sequence. The sequence you follow is determined by when you start your studies, as well as your program and major. If you’re unsure of which sequence to follow, consult with your academic advisor.

Note: Switching from Honours Arts and Business Co-op to Honours Arts Co-op prior to completing any work terms will not be permitted. If you’re on the Arts and Business sequence and don’t find employment for your first winter work term, you cannot change your first work term to spring to follow the Honours Arts sequence.

HOW DO I SUBMIT MY PLAN MODIFICATION FORM?

For first year students declaring their major for the first time, the form will be completed online so you don't have to take a paper copy anywhere! 

If you are declaring your major or minor after the Declare Your Major deadline (above), for example if you're taking Spring courses to be eligible, then you'll need to complete a Plan Modification Form and submit to artsadvisor@uwaterloo.ca