Dean of Arts Office:
PAS building, room 2401
Tel 519 888-4567 ext. 48246
Arts Undergraduate Office:
PAS building, room 2439
Tel 519 888-4567 ext. 45870
Information for faculty and staff
Arts computing support for students, faculty, and staff
Liberal Studies is a flexible academic plan available to students in the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program, allowing students to take a wide variety of courses, full-time or part-time, at a pace that suits them.
Students registered in the Liberal Studies academic plan include:
For students transitioning between majors or seeking to regain standing in a prior major, the Liberal Studies plan provides support for your continuing education with respect to these expectations. For more information see the Arts Declare your Major webpage.
For UW internal faculty transfer students, the Liberal Studies plan enables you to get a start in the Faculty of Arts and establish yourself in an Arts major. For more information see the Transfer to Arts webpage.
For many external transfer students (who arrive with up to 10.0 units of transfer credit from other post-secondary institutions), the Liberal Studies plan offers the opportunity to complete your undergraduate education without having to spend more than an additional two years acquiring credit towards a major plan. For more information see the Arts Transfer students course selection webpage.
Students taking online courses are an important part of the University of Waterloo's community and each term there are more than 100 Arts courses offered online to help students complete their studies no matter where they are. Online learners are also welcome to utilise most of the resources and support services provided on campus. For more information see the Centre for Extended Learning website here.
The Honours Liberal Studies plan can be completed with co-op, and Honours Liberal Studies co-op can also taken in combination with the Honours Arts and Business co-op academic plan. Note that co-op is not available for students pursuing fully online degrees. Learn more about Arts co-op eligibility and speak with an academic advisor to discuss your eligibility.
The Faculty of Arts offers an Honours Bachelor of Arts (Liberal Studies) degree as well as 3-Year and 4-Year General Bachelor of Arts (Liberal Studies) degrees. Students pursuing the Honours Liberal Studies academic plan can also combine this with the Arts and Business academic plan.
Students should consult the undergraduate academic calendar for further information about their Liberal Studies requirements. Students pursuing a BA with Liberal Studies must meet common degree requirements, minimum program-level (BA degree) requirements, and plan-level (Liberal Studies) requirements, as well as maintain minimum cumulative averages to be in satisfactory standing. More information about these requirements can also be found in the Liberal Studies section of the BA Degree Requirements page, and students are encouraged to consult with their Liberal Studies academic advisor to plan their studies effectively.
Liberal Studies students have access to an academic advisor on main campus, and also at Renison University College and St Jerome’s University College for students co-registered at those institutions.
Your academic advisor can help you understand your degree requirements, choose courses, navigate Quest and LEARN, discuss further education, campus resources and more.
For students who are resuming their studies after time away from the University, here are some key resources to help you prepare.
Yes, Liberal Studies may be taken in combination with any minor plan open to Arts students.
The Honours Liberal Studies plan can be completed with co-op, and Honours Liberal Studies co-op can also taken in combination with the Honours Arts and Business co-op academic plan. Note that co-op is not available for students pursuing fully online degrees. Students are encouraged to contact their academic advisor to discuss whether they are eligible for this academic program.
Yes, there are currently four Arts majors currently available through online learning. Not every course taught on campus at Waterloo is offered online, so the majority of Arts academic plans (majors, minors, certificates) can only be completed with a combination of online and on campus courses.
No, Honours Liberal Studies may not be taken in combination with other Arts Major plans.
Yes, for more information see the following course list: BA Breadth Requirements - UW online course options (2019).
Absolutely. One of the joys of being a university student is having time for reflection to think about the larger issues in the world and within your own life. Spending some time thinking about what your values are, and how you could express them within a particular profession, is one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself while a university student.
Waterloo's Centre for Career Action can help guide you through this process. Students have access to Career Advising and Further Education advising for information on postgraduate programs such as Law and Teaching.
Jennifer completed a Bachelor of Arts (General) in Liberal Studies, graduating on the Dean’s Honours List and winning the J.D. Leslie Prize, awarded to a graduating student who has achieved a first-class standing and earned at least half of their credits through online courses.
Dean of Arts Office:
PAS building, room 2401
Tel 519 888-4567 ext. 48246
Arts Undergraduate Office:
PAS building, room 2439
Tel 519 888-4567 ext. 45870
Information for faculty and staff
Arts computing support for students, faculty, and staff
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations.