First Year Course Selection Frequently Asked Questions

When do we register for the ARTS 160 course?

We will enrol you into ARTS 160 for the fall or winter term depending on your program. 

Are ARTS 160 available online?

The majority of Arts 160 sections are offered in person. There are only two online sections offered in Fall 2025. Class times will not be posted until early July.

What are breadth requirements?

Breadth requirements are courses all Arts students in the Bachelor of Arts degree plans have to complete. BA Breadth are designed to provide a broad range of study as part of your degree. Read the full list of BA requirements. 

Who has to complete breadth requirements?

All Arts students in Honours Arts and Honours Arts and Business must complete the Breadth Requirements. Global Business and Digital Arts students do not complete the Breadth Requirements.

Does the ARTS 160 course count toward our breadth requirement or do we have to take other arts courses?

The Arts Undergraduate Communication Requirement course (ARTS 160) does not fulfil any of the breadth requirements. You will need to select other courses to fulfil your Breadth requirements.

When should we start thinking about fulfilling our breadth requirements? Is that something I should be worried about right now?

You can get started right away if you would like and some of your required courses may cover them, but you can also take them throughout your degree studies. Just remember to complete them prior to graduation.

Can I change my prospective major(s) for the second term?

Yes. First year is a time to explore so if you change your mind, you just have to choose different prospective major courses for the Winter term. We’ll let you know in late September about Winter course selection. Consult the Prospective Major Chart for guidance. Once you are on campus in September make an appointment with your academic advisor.

How do I know who my advisor is?

You can find your advisor on this list of advisors.

Are there different advisors in Arts?

All students are assigned to an academic advisor. If you are registered on main campus (UW), your first year advisor is assigned by the first letter of your last name. Students co-registered at St. Jerome's and Renison have dedicated advisors (see link above).

We have an upper year Arts and Business advisor that supports ARBUS students. If you have a major, you will have a departmental advisor that helps you with your major. We have a Liberal Studies advisor, as well as advisors for minors, etc. This means an ARBUS student majoring in Economics will have access to the ARBUS advisor and ECON advising team for support throughout their studies.

Does co-op affect course selection at all?

Co-op affects course selection in that you need to ensure that you have not completed more than 13 courses before your first co-op recruitment term. For first year, you should aim for 4-5 courses per term for your 1A and 1B terms.

Are there any requirements that I need to take to do co-op?

The co-op process does not start until your second year. Once you reach this point there will be communication about all the information you need to start co-op.

Do the courses explain if they are held at the college campus or the university campus?

The Course Offerings List shows where the course is being held. Most courses are only offered at one campus. A few are offered at two different campuses (see PSYCH 101 that is offered at both the UW (main) campus  St. Jerome's and Online), but the course content and learning outcomes are similar.

Will any courses be offered online/remotely?

The majority of our Fall and Winter courses will be offered in-person but a few will be offered online. The Schedule of Classes (Fall 2025 term code is 1259) indicates how courses will be delivered. Note that studying entirely remotely will be a challenge given that most courses are in-person. The first year Arts and Business core course are offered in-person.

I might defer

If you aren't certain about deferring your offer to Fall 2026 let us know at artsadvisor@uwaterloo.ca. But if you know for certain that you are deferring, please email artsadvisor@uwaterloo.ca so we won't bother you with emails throughout the summer.

How do I defer?

Visit the Admissions website for more information.

Can I take biology as my second prospective major, if I have psychology as my first?

The CAF only allows you to list two majors from the Faculty of Arts. If you want to pursue a joint honours plan in a non-Arts area, list this in the box at the end so your advisor is aware of your plans.

Note however that some subjects can’t be taken as a second major, or you may not be able to enrol in some non-Arts courses in 1A. If you are interested in a non-Arts second major, reach out to the appropriate academic advisor for guidance.

Can I complete two Arts majors in the same department?

Some Arts majors cannot be combined:

• Classical Studies and Classics
• Economics and Mathematical Economics
• Communication Studies and Communication Art and Design Practice
• Any of the four English majors (you can only select one): Creative Writing; Literature; Literature and Rhetoric; Rhetoric, Media and Professional Communication.

Note: Students in the Arts and Business program cannot major in Mathematical Economics.

I'm an ARBUS student planning to major in ECON but see that it is also a required course in the Fall term. Do I still have to pick two prospective majors this fall?

It is encouraged that you still have two prospective majors. ECON 101 will count toward ARBUS and your ECON major. You should select a course for a different prospective major and then your final course can be an elective. It is important to have the second prospective major as a Plan B for your first year in case you do not do well in your first choice major, or in case you decide that you don't want to pursue that major anymore.

I'm thinking of majoring in Economics, what courses should I take?

ECON 101 will be one prospective major, and you could enrol in one or two more prospective majors if you wish. Your courses will contribute to your degree count and requirements. Also refer to information below in the Math preparation section as Economics is a math intensive discipline.

The upper year requirements can be found in the Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar.

I'm not certain if I should major in Economics or Mathematical Economics. What courses should I take?

If you would like to prepare for a major in Economics or in Mathematical Economics, it is best to follow the recommendations for Mathematical Economics since both majors require ECON 101 and ECON 102. If you change your mind in first year you will have the required ECON courses to move into the Honours Economics major.

Keep in mind that Mathematical Economics requires a strong background in math.

Note: Students in the Arts and Business program cannot major in Mathematical Economics.

How do you suggest we choose electives? Based on personal interest or courses that help with our prospective major?

The Faculty of Arts has a wide range of course offerings, so you can choose electives based on interest or to prepare for an eventual minor (note that formally declaring a minor happens at the end of first year). The BA Breadth requirements, that all Arts students must complete prior to graduation, is a resource for elective ideas.

Do I need to select multiple 100-level English courses if I want to prepare for two of the four English majors?

The course recommendations for all four English majors are the same, so you will only take one 100-level ENGL course in the Fall term and one in the Winter term. These two courses will equally prepare you for any of the English majors: Literature; Literature and Rhetoric, Rhetoric; Media, and Professional Communication; and Creative and Professional Writing.

What are the required first year GBDA courses?

Consult the list on our First-year Course Selection website.

Where can I view the available major/minor degrees for GBDA?

GBDA students are admitted directly to the major. Students have been able to take different minors and diplomas over the years but this takes careful planning because, starting in second year, GBDA students take all of their courses at our Stratford campus. Contact the GBDA advisor for guidance.

I'm entering GBDA and not sure which electives to choose

Contact your GBDA advisor for advice: gbda.advising@uwaterloo.ca.

I want to take CS 115 instead of CS 105

If you are interested in completing the Computing Minor you will need to take CS 115 (CS 105 and CS 106 do not count for the Computing Minor). If you want to take it in 1A instead of CS 105, indicate in the CAF free-form box that you want to take CS 115 and we will ensure that you are put into it.

Is Spanish (language) offered to GBDA for first year students?

Yes, all first year GBDA students must take two language courses. If you have previous language instruction, see the "language courses" section below for further information.

Is it possible to change my entry program from ARBUS to GBDA ?

Perhaps. Email artsadvisor@uwaterloo.ca with your name and 8-digit student ID number to see if this is possible.

Who do I contact if I'm awaiting information about possible transfer credits?

Contact your GBDA advisor for advice: gbda.advising@uwaterloo.ca.

I'm an incoming GBDA student looking to take ECON 101 in the Fall instead of Winter, is this ok?

All GBDA students will take ECON 101 in the Winter 2026 term. The Economics department mounts a special section of ECON 101 for GBDA students (no other students can take it) and we want you to experience the course along with your fellow GBDA students.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this please contact your GBDA advisor.

Do students in GBDA need to take all of the GBDA courses? Or do we get to select the ones we would like to take?

Yes, GBDA students must take all of the required GBDA courses. You also need to follow the year-by-year course requirements (can't jump ahead or miss something thinking you can catch up later).

Are all the ARBUS courses listed in the Undergraduate Calendar required?

Yes, all of those courses are required if you are in the ARBUS program. ARBUS program requirements are also listed on our Arts and Business website.

How does picking courses change for ARBUS students? For example, do the ARBUS required courses take over the regular elective spaces?

Yes, the required first year ARBUS courses (ECON 101 and ARBUS 101 in 1A) leave only three course spaces in the fall term. Honours Arts students will see one additional spot for an elective. The First-Year Course Selection page shows which courses ARBUS students have to take in the Fall and Winter terms.

Do we have space for an elective in ARBUS 1A (Fall term)?

ARBUS students will need to take ARBUS 101 and ECON 101 courses. The thre remaining spaces should be used for your two prospective majors and an elective.

I'm interested in the Human Rights and Law program. Is there anything I need to do in first year to prepare?

The Double Degree in Human Rights and Law program allows students to complete a B.A. degree at Waterloo followed by law school at the University of Essex (UK). Students must also complete the Human Rights minor.

Interested students must prepare by taking HRTS 101 (Introduction to Human Rights) in the fall term of first year in order to complete the Human Rights minor courses in sequence. Ensure you select HRTS 101 during course selection in early July.

Please reach out to the Program Director (email) if you have questions.

I'm interested in the Research Intensive Specialization for Psychology so should I worry about specific courses required for this specialization in second year?

You can request to declare the Psych Research Intensive Specialization at the end of your first year when you declare your major. The courses for this specialization are upper year courses (300 and 400 level courses).

You will want to start focusing on that specialization after you have been admitted into the major. You can always reach out to your Psychology advisor to help plan course sequencing after you have been admitted to this major.

I'm interested in taking an advanced level language course because I have prior background in the language. I took two years of Spanish in high school but a prerequisite for SPAN 102 is SPAN 101 - does that mean I have to take SPAN 101?

If you have previous high school language credits or other experience for any of the language courses we offer, you will need to reach out directly to the department in order to verify that you are qualified to take an advanced level course:

• Arabic: complete a Placement Application Form
• China: complete a Placement Application Form
• French: email frenchundergrad@uwaterloo.ca
• German, Dutch, Croatian, Russian: email gssugrad@uwaterloo.ca
• Japanese, Korean: contact the Culture and Language Studies Department at cls@uwaterloo.ca for an assessment
• Spanish: email slas@uwaterloo.ca

Legal Studies students have to pick LS 101 and SOC 101 in first year, correct?

Yes, these are two of the first recommended courses for future Legal Studies majors. They are the pre-requisites for many upper year courses you may need to take. If you are in Arts and Business you may not have enough room to take SOC 101 in first year since you are preparing for two different majors. You can delay taking it until the spring term (should be offered online) or the following fall term.

Since Legal Studies majors are recommended to take SOC 101, should I put it in one of my majors, or as an elective?

SOC 101 can be added either as a prospective major or elective. If you are planning on a Legal Studies major plus a second major other than Sociology, put SOC 101 down as your third course choice.

For majoring in Legal Studies, is SOC 101 necessary? As well, PSCI 100 and PSYCH 101 are not included in student LS major average. What does this mean?

Yes, SOC 101 is a requirement for Legal Studies majors. If you take PSCI 100 and PSYCH 101, those will count towards your overall 40 courses that you will need to finish your degree. The grades for PSCI 100 and PSYCH 101 will not factor into your major average (Legal Studies), but they will factor into your cumulative (overall) average and your Arts average.

For example, LS 272 - Psychology and Law (cross-listed with PSYCH 230), has a pre-requisite of PSYCH 101, so you'll need to successfully complete PSYCH 101 before taking LS 272 or PSYCH 230. But PSYCH 101 won't count as part of your Legal Studies major average.

I'm debating between MATH 104 and MATH 127. I have taken Calculus and Vectors in Grade 12 but I'm unsure how difficult MATH 27 is. Any tips?

MATH 127 is designed for students who are studying Math as part of their degree requirements. MATH 104 is designed for Arts students to prepare you for calculus-based theory you might learn. With that in mind, MATH 127 is more difficult, but it is also important to consider why you are taking this course. (i.e. is a prerequisite for something, or is it out of interest? Is it to work toward a minor, etc?).

Do we have to take MATH 104 if we have not taken calculus or advanced functions in grade 12 but want one of our prospective majors to be ECON?

Yes, if you don't have Grade 12 Calculus or the equivalent, add MATH 104 as an elective in first year. You need to take ECON 101 in the Fall term and ECON 102 in the Winter term of first year.

I am in Psych and want to minor in Human Resource Management. It says I need to take an AFM or ARBUS class but all of the ones listed are reserved for certain majors that are not mine. What can I do?

If you are referring to AFM 123/ARBUS 102 requirement (see UG calendar HRM link) you will need to wait until second or third year to take AFM 123, as there are always a few reserved spaces for HRM students. Note that the HRM minor can't be formally declared until completion of HRM 200. HRM 200 cannot be taken until students reach the 2A level.

Can we minor in a subject outside of the Faculty of Arts?

Yes, you can choose minors outside of the Faculty of Arts. You can review the list of minors offered. Each minor will have information to let you know if you are able to pursue that minor or if that minor is restricted for students in that Faculty/program.

How do I declare a minor? Do I declare it in my second year along with my major?

You can declare minors when you declare your major at the end of your first year. If you want to add a minor after the declare you major process, you can still do so through the Plan Modification Form. If you want to minor you can always discuss it first with your advisor about the best time to submit.
Note that all Arts minors require 8 term courses.

How do I declare a diploma?

We offer a number of diplomas which require fewer courses than minors. Diplomas are never formally declared until the point of graduation. Follow the required courses outlined in the Undergraduate Calendar and discuss your plans with the diploma advisor.

Do you have to have a second prospective major? 

It's not required to have a second prospective major but it highly advisable that you do! Once you start your studies in university, you may discover that a subject you once were interested in may not be right for you or another subject may be better. Maybe your grades will not be high enough or another passion of yours may become more obvious through engaging in a variety of disciplines. 

Can I take Biology as my second prospective major, if I have Psychology as my first? 

The CAF only allows you to list two majors from the Faculty of Arts. If you want to pursue a joint honours in a non-Arts area, write this in the free-form box at the end so your advisor is aware of your plans. 

Note however that some subjects can’t be taken as a second major, or you may not be able to enrol in some non-Arts courses in 1A. If you are interested in a non-Arts second major, reach out to the appropriate academic advisor for guidance. 

I am an Honours Arts and Business student. Do we have the list of courses that we can choose to be the prospective major?

Yes, you can refer to the ARBUS Prospective Majors Chart to see what majors are available and what courses you should take for each major.

Where can we find the requirements for each major?

Check out the Honours Arts Prospective Majors Chart. 

Do the prospective majors carry over for two terms or do you choose different ones each term?

It depends. Ideally you are taking two prospective major courses that lead to the next course in a series of courses to pursue a major. If, after the first term, you find that you do not like or want the prospective majors you initially chose, you can pick two different prospective majors in the Winter term. Or maybe you have many interests and are using this first year to figure out what your path is, then maybe taking two prospective major courses in Fall and then two different ones in Winter may be what you need to do.

Keep in mind, to declare a major, most disciplines want to see one course from the major completed with the required averages. Some, such as Economics, require two courses before you can declare the major.

What is a prerequisite? 

Prerequisites are courses you need to take before you can enrol in a subsequent course. For example, PSYCH 101 is a prerequisite for almost all upper-year PSYCH courses.

What is an antirequisite?

The course content is too similar and so you can't take both courses for credit.

For one of the courses it says there’s an antirequisite: Antireq: WS 101, what does this mean? 

GSJ 101 (Introduction to Gender and Social Justice: the Global North) has an antireq of WS 101. Our Women’s Studies program was changed to Gender and Social Justice in Fall 2019, at which time all WS labelled courses became GSJ. A student who took WS 101 prior to Fall 2019 cannot take GSJ 101 for credit as they cover similar content. You cannot enrol in a course for which you also have the antirequisite course. 

Is it possible for there to be a 200 level course with no prerequisites?

Yes, there are many 200 level courses that don't have specific course prerequisites (such as the SOC 101 prerequisite for SOC 227). Some courses don’t have any prerequisites while others have level prerequisites such as “level 2A”. This means that you can only take the course once you reach the beginning of your second year.

The undergraduate calendar has a full list of courses offered by subject that include any prereqs.

What prerequisites are there to getting into Digital Arts Communication as a minor?

The Digital Arts Communication (DAC) minor includes some courses that require specific prerequisite courses, but not all of them do. The undergraduate calendar lists specific course links that you can view to see if there are any prerequisites. Note that you cannot formally declare minors until the end of your first year. Most of the DAC courses can't be taken until you reach level 2A.

Can I switch my program at this time?

If you have any questions about the program you are in or want to switch, email  artsadvisor@uwaterloo.ca if you are registered on main campus (UW). If you are co-registered with St. Jerome's or Renison, contact your advisor. 

Movement between programs is not guaranteed, but we can review your file to see if it is possible. Your advisor will assist you with this.

If you decide that you don't want to continue in co-op we can move you to the regular stream.

Is it possible to transfer to another faculty?

If you want to transfer to another faculty you will need to contact their internal transfer advisor to see if you are eligible to transfer. They will look at what courses you have from high school and academic performance in first term in order to advise you. Your first step is to reach out to your Arts Academic Advisor.

I'm an incoming ARBUS student hoping to transfer to AFM, are there any courses I should take and what level of GPA would it require?

It's best to reach out to the School of Accounting and Finance. An advisor will give you direction regarding admission expectations.

If I want a reduced course load, should I just leave the "electives" section blank? 

Yes, you can leave the electives blank and add a note in the text box to let us know that you want to take a reduced course load. One or two courses will be part-time status. Three to five courses will be full-time status - in case you need to be full-time for any reason such as financial aid.

What are the implications If I take a reduced course load in first year? 

Normally a four-year degree consists of five courses each fall and winter term spread over four years. If you take fewer than 10 courses in your first year it will take you a bit longer to finish your degree, or you can take one or two courses during a Spring term to make up the difference.  

Taking a reduced course load is fine, but keep in mind that three or more courses equals a full time course load. If you only take two courses you will be part-time which will have implications if you rely on OSAP or financial aid. 

If I am in Social Development Studies (SDS) do I have to choose two prospective majors or is that only if I want to have a second major? Do I need to have a second major?

If you've been admitted directly into SDS you don't need a second prospective major, but your SDS advisor can answer any specific questions you might have.

If you are in Honours Arts and Business or Honours Arts Co-op and plan to major in SDS you are encouraged to select courses for a second major. The Prospective Major Chart for Honours Arts Co-op or Prospective Major Chart for Honours Arts and Business list the recommended first year courses for both first and second majors.

By selecting the typical SDS first year courses (PSYCH 101, SOC 101, SOCWK 120R) you would automatically set yourself up for a prospective major in SDS and PSYCH.

For SDS students, are the BA Breadth Requirements required?

Yes, SDS students are Faculty of Arts students so they complete the Breadth Requirements. Please note - SDS students will automatically fulfil Breadth Requirements in the Social Science and Transdisciplinary Studies areas.

I'm an incoming SDS student and I was wondering how choosing electives work. I'm only seeing two electives for first year.

Most of your courses for the fall are chosen for you if you are in SDS. During course selection, you only need to choose two elective course as your three SDS major courses are required and will be automatically added for you.

Are the first year courses for SDS different if you're choosing it as Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business prospective major rather than direct entry? I have seen two different lists for what classes you need first year for that program.

Students admitted directly to SDS are required to take SOC 101R, PSYCH 101R and SOCWK 120R in the Fall term. But students in Honours Arts and Arts and Business can also prepare for a major in SDS by taking PSYCH 101 and SOC 101 in first year. This is probably a time where you want to talk directly with your academic advisor.

I am transferring from another university and haven't heard anything about transfer credits. Who can I contact?

Check that your final official transcript has been received by the University. Final official transcripts are usually available about three weeks after term ends. We strongly recommend you send your final grades to our admissions team as soon as possible.

I may receive some transfer credits for high school IB or AP courses. Do I use the Course Approval Form?

Yes! All students who are coming from a Canadian high school will use the CAF.

If you are receiving IB or AP transfer credits, you should still continue to use the Course Approval Form. The credits you receive will count towards your overall degree requirements. This means that you may continue to take up to 5 courses during your Fall and Winter terms, and possibly take a term with a reduced course load later in your studies since you already have some transfer credits. Or, if you prefer to take a lighter course load during your first two terms, that may also be possible. Mention the fact that you may receive some IB or AP transfer credits on the CAF free-form text box so your advisor can provide guidance.

More information on IB and AP transfer credits

How will we know if certain courses fill up quickly, and will we be put on a waitlist?

If there are any issues of getting into a course, you can check our Enrolment Problems and Course Overrides page for specific information about waitlists and steps to take.

Our Quest system does not have an automatic waitlist so you need to manually add your name to a department's course waitlist form.

How do I reset my WatIAM password?

Step-by-step password reset instructions  

1. Log into idm.uwaterloo.ca/watiam/ (copy and paste this link into your browser) using your 8-character UWaterloo username (e.g. myuserna) and your current password (refer to the WatIAM website if you have forgotten your username or password).
2. Click on the Change Password button.
3. Enter your new password into the Password and Confirm Password fields. The new password must be different from your old password - do not reuse a previous password.
4. Once submitted, click on your name at the top-right corner of the page and select Logout.      
5. Your password is now reset across all of your UWaterloo accounts such as Quest, Learn,  WaterlooWorks, and Outlook.  

Who do I contact if I'm having problems with my WatIAM password or login?

Contact IST helpdesk at 519-888-4567, ext. 44357 or helpdesk@uwaterloo.ca

When will I get my UWaterloo email account?

Starting the week of July 4th, you will be able to set up your UWaterloo email and access your UWaterloo Office 365 account.

In addition to email, you will also have access to the Microsoft suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

When do I choose my Winter term courses?

Normally Winter term course selection is held in late September into early October. Your advisors will email you in September about the next steps for Winter course selection.

Can I take courses are Laurier?

The University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University have a cross-registration agreement that allows students to take some courses and count them toward your undergraduate degree. However, students must successfully complete 4 graded UW courses before requesting to take a Laurier course, so you can't do this in your first term. This is something you'll want to discuss with your advisor.