Transferring from another university or college?
Your next steps are different. Review course selection information for transfer students.
Applied to Honours Arts ONLN via OUAC?
Your next steps are different, as there are limited options for online majors. Our Centre for Extended Learning maintains a list of all Waterloo courses that are available online. You will be contacted by your academic advisor.
Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) student?
You will be automatically enrolled in your required first-year courses. Your academic advisor will contact you in July with your next steps.
Get ready for September
Review the Important Dates and Activities below for deadlines and due dates.
Important Dates and Activities
Follow Faculty of Arts SPECIFIC DATES regardless of other published dates you may encounter.
Date | Activity |
---|---|
After accepting your offer |
Join the Waterloo Arts Discord channel and start connecting with current and incoming students! If you haven’t received your server invite and wish to join, email arts@uwaterloo.ca. |
May 25, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT | |
June 5, 3:30-5:00 p.m. EDT |
Course Approval Form Live Q&A - Virtual event to help guide students through the course selection process. |
June 6 |
Course Approval Form (CAF) - The CAF is now closed. Missed the deadline? Email the Arts Undergraduate Office. Have Questions about completing the CAF? Review our FAQ page before contacting your advisor. Review your program specific information: |
June 17 |
Course Approval Form due (closes end of day). Missed the deadline? Email the Arts Undergraduate Office. |
Week of July 2 |
Start checking your Waterloo Microsoft 365 account daily. All email communication from the University of Waterloo will be sent to your @uwaterloo.ca email account. To set up your account, see the Accessing your Microsoft 365 account page. Waterloo undergraduates have access to an Office365 account including Outlook (email), Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Teams. If you have trouble with the Microsoft 365 login, visit the FAQ page. |
July 11 |
Arts Ready Day |
July 17 |
View your fall class schedule in Quest. Don't see all of the classes you requested? You can make changes to your schedule starting on July 18. |
July 18 |
Add your Arts First course (ARTS 130 or ARTS 140) and, if needed, adjust your fall schedule.
|
Early August | Fall fees listed in your Quest account. Learn how to view your fees and account summary. |
August 20 |
Fall fees due (to be paid). Learn how to pay your fees. |
Late September |
Winter course selection in Quest.
|
Course selection information by program
Honours Arts
Transferring from another university or college? Your next steps are different. Review course selection information for transfer students.
Applied to Honours Arts ONLN via OUAC? Your next steps are different, as there are limited options for online majors. Our Centre for Extended Learning maintains a list of all Waterloo courses that are available online. You will be contacted by your academic advisor.
First-year Honours Arts course requirements
All of our courses are four months in length. You'll normally take five courses in your fall term and five courses in your winter term.
Fall (1A)
- ARTS 130 or ARTS 140 (see Important course selection notes)
- Prospective major choice 1
- Prospective major choice 2
- Elective or prospective major choice 3
- Elective
Winter (1B)
- ARTS 130 or ARTS 140 (see Important course selection notes)
- Prospective major choice 1
- Prospective major choice 2
- Elective or prospective major choice 3
- Elective
# | When | What |
---|---|---|
1 | Early June | REVIEW the Honours Arts prospective major chart. |
2 | Early June |
EXPLORE the first-year course list and descriptions.
|
3 | Early June |
WATCH the course selection videos (available at the beginning of June). These videos will help prepare you for course selection: |
4 | June 6-17 |
SUBMIT your Course Approval Form (CAF) - The CAF is now closed.
Have questions about completing the CAF? Review our FAQ page before contacting your advisor. |
5 | July 17 |
VIEW your fall class schedule in Quest. Don't see all of the classes you requested? You can make changes to your schedule starting on July 18 at 9 am (EST). |
6 | July 18 |
ADD your Arts First course (either ARTS 130 or ARTS 140) in Quest starting at 9 am (EST).
MAKE approved changes to your schedule, if needed.
ALERT! ALL Waterloo students have access to Quest to add fall courses as of July 24. This means available spots in classes will likely fill up quickly after this date. |
Important course selection notes for Honours Arts
-
All new Arts students are required to take both Arts First courses, ARTS 130 (Inquiry and Communication) and ARTS 140 (Information and Analysis), in order to fulfil the Undergraduate Communication Requirement.
- Each section of ARTS 130 and ARTS 140 covers a different topic from various Faculty of Arts disciplines, however the overall learning outcomes and goals are the same for all topics in each course. Course descriptions can be found on the Arts First website.
- Both courses should be completed in your first year, one in the fall term and one in the winter term. For example, if you completed ARTS 130 in fall, you should enrol in ARTS 140 in winter, and vice versa.
-
Within the Faculty of Arts, Honours Arts is offered through three campuses to best serve our students:
Note: Academically the Honours Arts program is identical and a dedicated advising team is available wherever you are registered. The University Colleges offer a cohesive living and learning environment. For some students this smaller environment is a real plus!
Honours Arts and Business
Transferring from another university or college? Your next steps are different. Review course selection information for transfer students.
First-year Honours Arts and Business course requirements
All of our courses are four months in length. You'll take five courses in your fall term. You'll take five different courses in your winter term.
Fall (1A)
- ARTS 130 or ARTS 140 (see the Important course selection notes below)
- ARBUS 101 - Introduction to Business in North America
- ECON 101 - Introduction to Microeconomics
- Prospective major choice 1
- Prospective major choice 2
Winter (1B)
-
ARTS 130 or ARTS 140 (see the Important course selection notes below)
-
ARBUS 102 - Accounting Information for Managers
-
ARBUS 202 - Professional and Business Ethics
-
Prospective major choice 1
-
Prospective major choice 2
Required course selection steps
# | When | What |
---|---|---|
1 | Early June |
REVIEW the Honours Arts and Business prospective major chart and the first-year course list and descriptions |
2 | Early June |
WATCH the course selection videos (available at the beginning of June). These videos will help prepare you for course selection: |
3 | June 6-17 |
SUBMIT your Course Approval Form (CAF) - The CAF is now closed.
Have questions about completing the CAF? Review our FAQ page before contacting your advisor. |
4 | July 17 |
VIEW your fall class schedule in Quest. Don't see all of the classes you requested? You can make changes to your schedule starting on July 18 at 9am (EST). |
5 | July 18 |
ADD your Arts First course (either ARTS 130 or ARTS 140) in Quest starting at 9 am (EST).
MAKE approved changes to your schedule, if needed.
ALERT! ALL Waterloo students have access to Quest to add fall courses as of July 24. This means available spots in classes will likely fill up quickly after this date. |
Important course selection notes for Arts and Business
-
All new Arts students are required to take both Arts First courses, ARTS 130 (Inquiry and Communication) and ARTS 140 (Information and Analysis), in order to fulfil the Undergraduate Communication Requirement.
- Each section of ARTS 130 and ARTS 140 covers a different topic from various Faculty of Arts disciplines, however the overall learning outcomes and goals are the same for all topics in each course. Course descriptions can be found on the Arts First website.
- Both courses should be completed in your first year, one in the fall term and one in the winter term. For example, if you completed ARTS 130 in fall, you should enrol in ARTS 140 in winter, and vice versa.
-
Electives:
-
Do not take BUS 111W or AFM 123 as a substitute or elective.
-
If you intend to major in Economics, you cannot take ECON 101 and ECON 102 in the same term.
-
-
Within the Faculty of Arts, Honours Arts and Business is offered through three campuses to best serve our students:
Note: Academically the Honours Arts program is identical and a dedicated advising team is available wherever you are registered. The University Colleges offer a cohesive living and learning environment. For some students this smaller environment is a real plus!
Global Business and Digital Arts (GBDA)
Transferring from another university or college? Your next steps are different. Review course selection information for transfer students.
First-year Global Business and Digital Arts course requirements
All of our courses are four months in length. You'll take five courses in your fall term and five courses in your winter term.
Notes:
- GBDA 101 can be taken in either fall or winter term. Space in the fall term is limited so if you request it but are not enrolled you will need to add an elective course in Quest starting July 18. Since some elective courses may only be available in the fall or winter term you will need to carefully plan your first year course requests.
- If you are considering a minor or diploma, select one or two courses in that subject area in your first term
- Students interested in pursuing a Computing minor are encouraged to speak with their GBDA advisor about the option to take CS 115 and CS 116 instead of CS 105 and CS 106.
- Notes about second language courses:
- The second language requirement can't be fulfilled by taking a course taught in English (e.g., a culture course).
- Students choosing Chinese or Arabic are required to submit a placement form before enrolling.
Required course selection steps
# | When | What |
---|---|---|
1 | Early June |
EXPLORE the first-year course list and descriptions.
|
2 | June 6-17 |
SUBMIT your Course Approval Form (CAF) - The CAF is now closed.
Have questions about completing the CAF? Review our FAQ page before contacting your advisor. |
3 | July 17 |
VIEW your fall class schedule in Quest. Don't see all of the classes you requested? You can make changes to your schedule starting on July 18 at 9 am (EST). |
4 | July 18 |
ADD your Arts First course (either ARTS 130 or ARTS 140) in Quest starting at 9am (EST).
MAKE approved changes to your schedule, if needed.
ALERT! ALL Waterloo students have access to Quest to add fall courses as of July 24. This means available spots in classes will likely fill up quickly after this date. |
Important course selection notes for GBDA
-
All new Arts students are required to take both Arts First courses, ARTS 130 (Inquiry and Communication) and ARTS 140 (Information and Analysis), in order to fulfil the Undergraduate Communication Requirement.
- Each section of ARTS 130 and ARTS 140 covers a different topic from various Faculty of Arts disciplines, however the overall learning outcomes and goals are the same for all topics in each course. Course descriptions can be found on the Arts First website.
- Both courses should be completed in your first year, one in the fall term and one in the winter term. For example, if you completed ARTS 130 in fall, you should enrol in ARTS 140 in winter, and vice versa.
Social Development Studies (SDS)
Transferring from another university or college? Your next steps are different. Review course selection information for transfer students.
First-year Social Development Studies course requirements
Fall (1A)
- PSYCH 101R - Introductory Psychology
- SOC 101R - Introduction to Sociology
- SOCWK 120R - Introduction to Social Work
- ARTS 130 or ARTS 140 (see the Important course selection notes below)
- Elective
Winter (1B)
- PSYCH 253R - Social Psychology
- SDS 131R - Political Ideologies and Social Development
- SDS 150R - Lifespan Processes
- ARTS 130 or ARTS 140 (see the Important course selection notes below)
- Elective
Required course selection steps
# | When | What |
---|---|---|
1 | Early June |
Review the Honours Arts prospective major chart.
|
2 | Early June |
Explore the first-year course list and descriptions.
|
3 | Early June |
WATCH the course selection videos available at the beginning of June.
|
4 | June 6-17 |
SUBMIT your Course Approval Form (CAF) - The CAF is now closed.
Have questions about completing the CAF? Review our FAQ page before contacting your advisor. |
5 | July 17 |
VIEW your fall class schedule in Quest. Don't see all of the classes you requested? You can make changes to your schedule starting on July 18 at 9 am (EST). |
6 | July 18 |
ADD your Arts First course (either ARTS 130 or ARTS 140) in Quest starting at 9 am (EST).
MAKE approved changes to your schedule, if needed.
ALERT! ALL Waterloo students have access to Quest to add fall courses as of July 24. This means available spots in classes will likely fill up quickly after this date. |
Important course selection notes for Social Development Studies
-
All new Arts students are required to take both Arts First courses, ARTS 130 (Inquiry and Communication) and ARTS 140 (Information and Analysis), in order to fulfil the Undergraduate Communication Requirement.
- Each section of ARTS 130 and ARTS 140 covers a different topic from various Faculty of Arts disciplines, however the overall learning outcomes and goals are the same for all topics in each course. Course descriptions can be found on the Arts First website.
- Both courses should be completed in your first year, one in the fall term and one in the winter term. For example, if you completed ARTS 130 in fall, you should enrol in ARTS 140 in winter, and vice versa.
-
SDS students may wish to enrol in the SDS-themed topics of ARTS 130 (“Social Justice and Social Development”) or ARTS 140 (“Social Change and Social Development”), however they may enrol in any topic.