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The Honours Arts and Business program enables you to combine an honours degree in arts with a solid foundation in the theory and practice of business.
In addition to fulfilling all the major requirements for the arts degree, you'll also learn:
- Business, marketing, and entrepreneurial principles
- Significance of economic, social, political, and historic developments
- Business communication and leadership skills
- Strategic decision-making and project management
- Professional and business ethics
- Canadian and international perspectives
Honours Arts and Business is unique to the University of Waterloo and available as a regular or cooperative program. In this program, you'll participate in Capsim’s Capstone business simulation designed to provide students with the experience of running their own business. The simulation, delivered in ARBUS 400, enables students to apply concepts such as strategic thinking, marketing strategies and business ethics learned in other Honours Arts and Business courses.
Required courses
In addition to the requirements for your honours major (which you'll select at the end of first year), you’ll take 14 required Honours Arts and Business courses:
| Course code | Course name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ARBUS 101 | Introduction to Business in North America | Cross-listed with AFM 131 |
| ECON 101 | Introduction to Microeconomics | |
| ARBUS 102 | Accounting Information for Managers | Cross-listed with AFM 123 |
| ARBUS 202 | Professional and Business Ethics | Cross-listed with PHIL 215 |
| ARTS 280 | Statistics for Arts Students (or another approved Arts statistics course) | |
| COMMST 204 | Leadership, Teams, and Communication | As of Sept 1, 2023, SPCOM courses are renamed to COMMST |
| ARBUS 200 | Entrepreneurship Principles and Practices | |
| ENGL 210F | Genres of Business Communication | |
| ARBUS 300 | Practical Business Skills | |
| ARBUS 301 | International Business | Cross-listed with AFM 333 |
| ARBUS 302 | Principles of Marketing and Consumer Economics | Cross-listed with MGMT 244 |
| ARBUS 303 | Marketing Strategy | Cross-listed with MGMT 345 |
| ARBUS 400 | Strategy and Program Integration |
And one of:
| Course code | Course name |
|---|---|
| HIST 113 | Canadian Business History: Innovators and Entrepreneurs |
| PSCI 231 | Government and Business |
Core sequence and flexibility: ARBUS 200, ARBUS 300, and ARBUS 400 must be taken in sequence and cannot be taken in the same term. You should plan accordingly to take these classes in the correct order. ARBUS 300 may be taken in 3A, 3B, or 4A.
Required stats course: Students in some majors will NOT take ARTS 280, and will instead take the statistics course required for your major: Economics (ECON 221), Legal Studies (option to take LS 280 in place of ARTS 280), Political Science (take PSCI 314 or ARTS 280), Psychology (PSYCH 292), Sexualities, Relationships, and Families (SRF 220, formerly SMF 220), Social Development Studies (SDS 250R), and Sociology (SOC 280).
Required ARBUS elective: One of HIST 113 or PSCI 231 is required. It is recommended that it be completed by the end of 3B. The actual term you take this course will depend on course offerings.
Spring terms: Students in Arts and Business Regular can also take Spring term courses if desired. The Spring term does not need to be an "off" term.
As of Sept. 1, 2023, SPCOM course codes are renamed to COMMST.
Enhance your learning experience
A minor gives you the opportunity to explore a second area of study alongside your major. Arts students can choose from a wide range of minors offered within the Faculty of Arts, across the University, or through interdisciplinary programs such as Human Resources Management, International Studies, and Cognitive Science. Most Faculty of Arts minors require eight courses to complete.
Interested in learning more about business? Students enrolled in an Honours Arts program (excluding Arts and Business) can complement their degree with a Management Studies minor, offering a flexible introduction to key business concepts and practices.