Honours Arts prospective major chart

What's a "prospective major"?

  • Your first year is “general”. You should explore as many subjects of interest as you can.
  • Your prospective majors are the subject areas you are most interested in studying.
  • You should have at least two prospective majors.
  • You'll normally declare/choose your major at the end of first year.

Required courses

All Arts students take two Arts First courses in first-year:

  • ARTS 130 - Inquiry and Communication
  • ARTS 140 - Information and Analysis

Arts First courses help build foundational competencies in communication and analysis, with a focus on practice-based learning.

Class size is limited to 25 students and there are many course topics to choose from each term.

You will take one of ARTS 130 and ARTS 140 in each term of your first year - they can be taken in either order, but not simultaneously. You can only enroll in ARTS 130 and ARTS 140 during the course drop/add period (see the Important dates page for current drop/add dates).

Other resources

Anthropology (ANTH)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • One of:
    • ANTH 100
    • ANTH 106
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • ANTH 201 or 202
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Classical Studies (CLAS)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • One of:
    • CLAS 100
    • CLAS 103
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 or 2 electives
  • One of:
    • CLAS 103
    • CLAS 104
    • CLAS 105
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Note: The Classical Studies department offers two separate majors.

  • The Honours Classics major requires both Latin and Greek.
  • The Classical Studies (both Honours and General degrees) does not require Latin and Greek. 

Classics (CLAS)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • One or two of:
    • CLAS 100
    • CLAS 103
  • LAT 101 and/or GRK 101
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 elective
  • One of:
    • CLAS 103
    • CLAS 104
    • CLAS 105
  • LAT 102 and/or GRK 102
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 elective

 Note: The Classical Studies department offers two separate majors:

  • The Honours Classics major requires both Latin and Greek
  • The Classical Studies (both Honours and General degrees) does not require Latin and Greek 

Communication Arts and Design Practice
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • One of:
    • COMMST 101
    • COMMST 149/THPERF 149 (see note 2 below)
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • One of:
    • COMMST 101
    • COMMST 149/THPERF 149 (see note 2 below)
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Notes:

  1. Communication Arts and Design Practice (CAPD) includes courses in COMMST (Communication Studies), THPERF (Theatre and Performance) and DAC (Digital Arts Communication). DAC courses are not taken by first year students.  
  2. There is limited space in COMMST/THPERF 149. If you select this course, have indicated you are interested in the CADP major, and do not get in, you will be enrolled in COMMST 101.

Communication Studies (COMMST)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • One of:
    • COMMST 100
    • COMMST 101
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • One of:
    • COMMST100
    • COMMST 101
    • COMMST 223
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Economics (ECON)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • ECON 101
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives (see Note)
  • ECON 102
  • MATH 104 (see Note)
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 elective

Note: If you have not taken or struggled in 4U Advanced Functions and Introductory Calculus or 4U Calculus and Vectors you should take MATH 103 and MATH 104 in your first year. If you can only take one of the Math courses, take MATH 104 in the Fall term. MATH 103 and MATH 104 are offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. 

Mathematical Economics
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • ECON 101
  • MATH 127
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 elective
  • ECON 102
  • MATH 128
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 elective

Note: Mathematical Economics is only available as a major for students in Honours Arts. Students interested in Mathematical Economics must have completed 4U Advanced Functions and Introductory Calculus or 4U Calculus and Vectors. 4U Calculus is a pre-requisite for MATH 127. Consult the Mathematical Economics requirement list for further information. 

English (ENGL)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • One of:
    • ENGL 101A or ENGL 101B (recommended) or
    • One 100-level ENGL course
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • One of:
    • ENGL 101A, ENGL 101B, or ENGL 101C (recommended) or
    • One 100-level ENGL course (see Notes 2 and 3)
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Note 1: There are four major options beginning in 2nd year: English - Literature, English - Literature and Rhetoric, English - Rhetoric, Media, and Professional Communication and English - Creative and Professional Writing.

Note 2: Students interested in the Creative and Professional Writing major may want to take ENGL 210C - Genres of Creative Writing in the Winter (1B) term instead of, or in addition to, a 100-level ENGL course.

Note 3: If you plan to major in English you may only count two 100-level courses toward your major requirements, including any ENGL transfer credits (e.g. ENGL 1XX). If you have ENGL transfer credit, please contact an English advisor for advice. 

Fine Arts (FINE) Studio Practice
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • FINE 100
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • FINE 101/VCULT 101
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Note: FINE 150 does not count towards the Fine Arts Studio major or minor plans. Do not take it if you plan to major or minor in Fine Arts Studio Practice. 

Fine Arts (FINE) Visual Culture (VCULT)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • VCULT 100/FINE 102
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • VCULT 101/FINE 101
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Note: If you plan to take studio courses as part of the Visual Culture plan, you should also take FINE 100 in your first year. Consult the Fine Arts advisor to discuss course planning. 

French Studies or French Teaching (FR)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • One of the following, depending on previous experience:
    • FR 151 (completed Gr. 9 or 10 core French)
    • FR 152 (completed Gr. 11 core French)
    • FR 192A (completed Gr. 12 core French)
    • FR 192B (completed Gr. 12 Immersion or extended French)
    • Graduates of école francophone take two courses: FR 251 or FR 252 and one of: FR 250, FR 276, FR 296
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 or 2 electives (see Note)
  • One or two of the following, depending which course you took in Fall term:
    • FR 152 (after FR 151)
    • FR 192A (after FR 152)
    • FR 192B (after FR 192A) and one of FR 250, FR 276, or FR 297
    • FR 251 or FR 252 (after FR 192B) and one of FR 250, FR 276, or FR 297
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 or 2 electives (see Note)

Notes:
Prospective majors are welcome to touch base with frenchundergrad@uwaterloo.ca if they have placement questions/concerns.

FR 251 and FR 252 are not consecutive; they can be taken in any order or even at the same time.

Students interested in the French Teaching Specialization are encouraged to take PSYCH 101 and/or SOC 101 in first year. These courses are pre-requisites for the education course requirements.

Gender and Social Justice (GSJ)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • GSJ 101
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • GSJ 102
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

History (HIST)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • One 100-level History course
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • One 100-level History Course
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Note: If you plan to major in History you may only count two 100-level courses toward your major requirements, including any HIST transfer credits (e.g. HIST 1XX). If you have HIST transfer credit(s), please contact the History advisor for advice. 

Legal Studies (LS)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • LS 101
  • SOC 101
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 elective
  • One 200-level LS course
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Note: You should also consider taking PSCI 100 and PSYCH 101. They are not Legal Studies major courses but are pre-requisites for some upper-level LS courses. These courses are not included in a student’s LS major average. 

Liberal Studies
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • 100 level course from Faculty of Arts/prospective minor
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • 100 level course from Faculty of Arts/prospective minor
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Note: All courses offered by the Faculty of Arts will be used in the calculation of Liberal Studies cumulative major average.  

Medieval Studies (MEDVL)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • Language course (see Note)
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • MEDVL 105
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives or continuation of language course from fall term

Note: You should consider taking an introductory language course in your first year from one of the following: French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian, or Spanish. 

Music (MUSIC)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • MUSIC 110
  • MUSIC 226 and MUSIC 116 (see Note 1) or MUSIC 111 (see Note 2)
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 elective
  • MUSIC 270 (see Note 2)
  • MUSIC 226 and MUSIC 116 or MUSIC 227 and MUSIC 117 (see Note 1)
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 elective

Note:

  1. Your music ensemble course (MUSIC 116 and MUSIC 117) is 0.25 units and can be taken as a sixth course. Music ensembles and studio courses (MUSIC 226) require an audition during the first week of the term.
  2. If you have little or no experience with Western Arts music theory or with reading notated music, you should take MUSIC 111 in the fall term before you take MUSIC 270. However, this course will not count towards your music major, but will count as an elective.

Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS)
Fall Term Courses   Winter Term Courses
  • One of:
    • PACS 101
    • 200-level PACS course 
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives (see Note)
  • One 200-level PACS course
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives (see Note)

Note: You should also consider taking PSYCH 101, SOC 101, and/or PSCI 150 in first year. They are pre-requisites for many upper-year PACS Approved courses. These courses are not included in a student’s PACS major average. 

Philosophy (PHIL)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • One of: 
    • PHIL 101 or PHIL 110B
    • PHIL 121
    • PHIL 145
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • One of:
    • PHIL 101 or PHIL 110A
    • PHIL 121
    • PHIL 145
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Political Science (PSCI)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Course
  • PSCI 100
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • PSCI 150
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Psychology (PSYCH)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • PSYCH 101
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • One of (see Note):
    • PSYCH 207
    • PSYCH 211
    • PSYCH 238
    • PSYCH 253
    • PSYCH 257
    • PSYCH 261
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Note: The Psychology department recommends that students take a maximum of one PSYCH 200-level course in their 1B term. 

Religious Studies (RS)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • One 100-level or 200-level RS course, or RS 260
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • One 100-level or 200-level RS course
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Sexuality, Marriage and Family Studies (SMF)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • SMF 101
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives (see Note)
  • SMF 204
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives (see Note)

Note: Students are encouraged to take PSYCH 101 or SOC 101. These courses are pre-requisites for upper-year SMF Approved courses. These courses are not included in a student’s SMF major average. 

Social Development Studies (SDS) - admitted to Honours SDS
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • PSYCH 101R
  • SOC 101R
  • SOCWK 120R
  • ​ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • 1 elective
  • SDS 131R
  • SDS 150R
  • PSYCH 253R
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • 1 elective

Social Development Studies (SDS) - admitted to Honours Arts
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • PSYCH 101R/PSYCH 101
  • SOC 101R/SOC 101
  • ​ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 elective
  • SDS 131R or SDS 150R
  • SOCWK 120R
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 1 elective

Sociology (SOC)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • SOC 101
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • One SOC 200-level course
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives

Theatre and Performance (THPERF)
Fall Term Courses Winter Term Courses
  • One of:
    • THPERF 102
    • THPERF 149
  • ARTS 130 or ARTS 140
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
  • One of:
    • THPERF 100
    • THPERF 102
    • THPERF 149
  • ARTS 140 or ARTS 130
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives