Major and minor information sessions

Learn about Arts majors and minors

Want to learn more about a specific major or minor? Stuck between two (or more) choices for your major? Want to add a minor? Take this opportunity to talk with faculty and staff in each major department before you make your decision.

Every major department on the chart offers a minor, but there are additional minors as well. Some of these have information sessions (scroll down to the bottom of the page).

2025 sessions 

Major Contact information and/or session details Time (ET) and Room Register for Virtual Session

Anthropology

Contact Miljana Kovacevic for information about the Anthropology program (major or minor)  

 

email only

Classical Studies

Contact Brigitte Schneebeli for information.

Communication Arts and Design Practice

Please join the Communication Arts Advisors to learn more about our programs, including the Communication Arts & Design Practice major. We’ll walk through a brief overview and answer your questions.  Afterwards, stay for some light refreshments and time to connect informally with the advisors.

If you aren’t able to attend, feel free to contact  Katie Honek  or  Vay Young  with any questions.

Tuesday, March 18; 12:00pm -1:00pm

Theatre of the Arts, Modern Languages

No registration required. 
Communication Studies

Please join the Communication Arts Advisors to learn more about our programs, including the Communication Studies major. We’ll walk through a brief overview and answer your questions.  Afterwards, stay for some light refreshments and time to connect informally with the advisors.

If you aren’t able to attend, feel free to contact  Katie Honek  or Anders Bergstrom with any questions.

Tuesday, March 18; 12:00pm -1:00pm

Theatre of the Arts, Modern Languages

No registration required.

Economics

Please join the Economics advising team and the UW Economics Society to learn more about the Economics and Mathematical Economics majors! Refreshments provided.

If you cannot make it, send us an email or utilize our Drop-in hours!

March 25 5:30 p.m.– 6:30 p.m.

HH 1102

No registration required.

English

Meet virtually with Jenny Conroy or Heather Smyth with any questions regarding English majors, minors (including the Technical Writing minor), and our many specializations!

Major Plans:

  • Literature
  • Literature and Rhetoric
  • Rhetoric, Media, and Professional Communication
  • Creative and Professional Writing. 

We are also happy to meet with you personally, or in virtual appointments via Microsoft Teams. Just send us a note if you would like to talk!

Tuesday, March 11th
3:30-4:30pm on Microsoft Teams

Registration not required. Join the virtual meeting at the below link.

Teams Meeting Link

Meeting ID: 265 571 897 427

Passcode: fo3xw9d6

Fine Arts

Contact Brett Roberts berobert@uwaterloo.ca to learn more about programs in Fine Arts including our Studio Practice major and minor, Visual Culture major and minor, and our available specializations.

 

French

Contact Claire Newbigging (ML 333) or Élise Lepage (M 335) at frenchundergrad@uwaterloo.ca for information about French majors and our specializations, the $3,000 FSL bursaries, exchange programs, minor, and diplomas.

We are happy to meet with you in person or virtually via  Microsoft Teams. 

 
Gender and Social Justice Drop-in to our information session about Gender & Social Justice plans, or contact Carla Fehr at   
gsjadvis@uwaterloo.ca to schedule a virtual appointment.

March 14th 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Hagey Hall, room 335

Drop in anytime on March 14th between 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, if you cannot make it at this time mail gsjadvis@uwaterloo.ca to set up an appointment.

History

Email hist-advising@uwaterloo.ca to contact: Akashia Smith or Katherine Bruce-Lockhart

The History Department will have weekly drop-in sessions for students interested in pursuing a History major or minor

March 6th 10:30am – 12:00pm (HH 113)

March 11th 11:00am – 12:00pm (HH 117)

March 18th 11:00am – 12:00pm (HH 117)

March 25th 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Legal Studies

Email: soc-ls-undergrad@uwaterloo.ca to contact: 

Catalina Garcia (last name A - F)

Maren Butcher (last name G - Z)

 
Liberal Studies

Contact libstadvising@uwaterloo.ca with any questions regarding Honours Liberal Studies (co-op or regular), Honours ARBUS-Honours Liberal Studies (co-op or regular), 4 Year General and 3 Year General Liberal Studies.

email only

Medieval Studies

Contact Brigitte Schneebeli for information.

Music

Contact Kate Steiner (Undergraduate Music Advisor) to set up an appointment.

   

Peace and Conflict Studies

Meet with Ndagire Brendah in person during a two-day drop-in information session to learn more about PACS (Peace and Conflict Studies) Major, Minor, and a Specialization in Restorative Justice as a PACS Student.

Or book an appointment with Ndagire Brendah, PACS Academic Advisor, by using this link:
Book Time/Advising Appointment with Ndagire

Thursday, March 6th, 2025, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
(in-person, drop-in) - Room CGR 2400/Private Dining Room

Or

Thursday, March 13th, 2025, from 1:30 pm to 3pm (in-person, drop-in) - Room CGR

Register for the information sessions here.

Philosophy

Contact Greg Andres at philug@uwaterloo.ca for information.

March 14, 11:30am - 1:30pm in Hagey Hall, room 335. f you cannot make the drop in session on March 14th then email philug@uwaterloo.ca to set up an appointment

Political Science

Meet the Political Science Advising Team for information regarding the major in political science at the Declare your Major event on March 12, 2025.  We will also provide information on minors in Global Affairs, International Trade, Canadian Politics and Public Policy and Politics and Business.

We are also happy to meet you by appointment in-person or virtual.  Email us at PSCIadvising@uwaterloo.ca for information.

March 12, 2025 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm pm in HH341

Registration for the Declare your Major advising event is not required. 

Psychology

Meet with Ceylan Enver about any questions you may have regarding majoring in Psychology.  Contact Claudia Labahn with any questions about the various minors we offer.

  • Human Resource Management minor
  • Cognitive Science minor
  • Psychology minor

We are also happy to meet with you personally, or in virtual appointments via Microsoft Teams. Just send us an email to set up an appointment if you would like to talk!

You can also watch this short video about Psych Information session recording

Religious Studies

(Note: name changing to Religion, Culture and Spirituality in fall 2025)

Contact Jeremy Bergen (jbergen@uwaterloo.ca) for information or to set up a meeting.

Religious Studies Information video

Sexuality Marriage and the Family

(Note: name changing to Sexualities, Relationships and Families in Fall 2025)

Contact SMF Advisor John Arnou with questions OR, set-up an appointment (in-person and online available) OR, access drop-in advising on Tuesday afternoons from 2pm – 5pm in Sweeney Hall, SH 1014A at St. Jerome’s to discuss the SMF major/minor and options for specialization. 

 

Social Development Studies

Email to book an individual appointment (in-person, video, or phone). See below or email sds@uwaterloo.ca at any time.

Sociology

Contact Dr. Sarah Wilkins-Lafamme, the Sociology Undergraduate Associate Chair, for additional information.

Friday March 7th, 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST, virtual session on Teams

Link to join the Information Session

Theatre and Perfomance

Please join the Communication Arts Advisors to learn more about our programs, including the Theatre & Performance major. We’ll walk through a brief overview and answer your questions.  Afterwards, stay for some light refreshments and time to connect informally with the advisors.

If you aren’t able to attend, feel free to contact  Katie Honek  or Jay Havens with any questions.

Tuesday March 18; 12:00pm -1:00pm

Theatre of the Arts, Modern Languages

No registration required.

 Minor Sessions

Most of the above majors also offer minors, so if you'd be interested in any of the subjects above, attend those sessions to learn about possible minors as well. The below minors are additional options that are not connected to a major but are still open to you! 

  Minor Contact information and/or session details Time (ET) and Room Register for Virtual Session
Applied Language Studies

Contact Pia Grizzle for more information or to book a 1-on-1 advising appointment.

 

Canadian Studies

The Canadian Studies minor is offered through United College. 

For more information contact  John Abraham. 

 

 

Cognitive Science Contact Claudia Lebhan for more information.   
Cultural Identities

The Cultural Identities minor is offered jointly by Spanish and Latin American Studies and Germanic and Slavic Studies departments. See their contact information if you have questions.

Contact the CI advisor for more information or to book an in-person or virtual appointment.

 
Digital Arts Communication Contact Katie Honek for more information or to book an in-person or virtual appointment.    
East Asian Studies
 

Contact Pia Grizzle for more information or to book a 1-on-1 advising appointment

Germanic and Slavic Studies For information about programs and courses offered by Germanic & Slavic Studies (German, Dutch, Russian, Croatian, including the cross-departmental Minor in Cultural Identities), exchange opportunities, and about how learning languages can support your personal and professional goals, contact the Germanic & Slavic Studies Undergraduate Office.    
Human Resources Management

Join us on Thursday, March 6 for a live session to learn about the HRM Minor.


Or contact the HRM advisor for more information or to book an appointment.

Wednesday, March 12 from 10:00am - 10:30am Click here to join the meeting
Human Rights

The Human Rights minor is offered through United College.
 

Contact Professor Anna Purkey for more information

 
Indigenous Entrepreneurship

The Indigenous Entrepreneurship minor is offered through United College.

To learn about this minor, contact Ashley Richard.

 

 

Indigenous Studies 

The Indigenous Studies minor is offered through United College.

To learn about this minor, contact Professor Sara General.

 

 

Studies in Islamic and Arabic Cultures

Contact Pia Grizzle for more information or to book a 1-on-1 advising appointment.

Italian Studies Contact Roberta Cauchi-Santoro for more information or to book a virtual appointment.    

International Studies

International Trade

Canadian Politics and Public Policy

Politics and Business

Meet the Political Science Advising Team on March 12, from 12 to 2 pm for information regarding the  minors in Global Affairs, International Trade, Canadian Politics and Public Policy and Politics and Business.

We are also happy to meet you by appointment in-person or virtual.  Email us at PSCIadvising@uwaterloo.ca for information.

Wednesday, March 12, from 12:00pm to 2:00pm in HH341

Jewish Studies

Jewish Studies minor is offered by the Religious Studies department.  

To learn about the Jewish Studies minor, contact Jeremy Bergen.

 
Management Studies Contact Kelli Macculloch with any questions regarding the Management Studies minor.    
Social Innovation and Impact

Contact John Abraham for more information.

 
Spanish and Latin American Studies Please email Mario Boido to set up a virtual appointment to learn about programs in Spanish, Latin American Studies, and Cultural Identities!    
Technical Writing

Contact Jenny Conroy or Heather Smyth with any questions regarding the Technical Writing minor.