When applying to university, you may notice a lot of terminology that you’re not used to. But there’s no need to worry! Below is a list of common terms — with explanations — that you may come across as you do your research.
A lot of this information will be relevant no matter which university you’re considering, but some of it may be specific to Waterloo. Remember, you should always look into each of the universities you’re planning to apply to, as they all have their own unique policies and offerings.
Explain your studies by program, faculty, or degree
What is an undergraduate program?
An undergraduate program is the first level of university studies and you apply after finishing high school.
It normally takes three to five years to complete and leads to a bachelor's degree, e.g., Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), etc. Students pursuing an undergraduate degree are called undergraduate students.
Once you finish your undergraduate studies, you can apply to a graduate or professional program (e.g., master's degree, law school, medical school). Waterloo offers nearly 200 graduate programs.
What is a double major or joint honours?
In some programs, you can choose a double major or joint honours degree.
This allows you to focus on two main areas of interest. Of the 40 or so courses needed to earn your degree, most would be in your two majors and you would start this in second year.
You can choose two majors in the same faculty, e.g., Political Science and Spanish (both majors within the Faculty of Arts) or in different faculties, e.g., Environment, Resources and Sustainability (Faculty of Environment) and Biology (Faculty of Science).
What is a faculty?
A faculty is a group of departments and professional schools that offer programs with a similar theme.
There are six faculties at Waterloo. Faculties are not only home to your program, but also where you’ll find the offices of your professors and academic advisor, classrooms, labs, and spaces to study and relax with friends.
Customize your degree with a major, minor, option, or specialization
What is a major?
A major is the subject that's the main focus of your degree.
Most of your courses will be in your major and you'll graduate with a degree in that major, e.g. Public Health, History, Architecture, Geomatics, Statistics, Biochemistry. The terms major and program are often used interchangeably. View Waterloo's programs.
What is a minor?
A minor is a secondary subject that complements your major.
Minors require 8-10 courses (of about 40 needed for your degree) and provide breadth to your degree. They can be related to your major or totally unrelated. The minors available at Waterloo allow you to study two or more subjects.
What is an option?
Options are available only within your home faculty.
For example, only students within the Faculty of Engineering can choose Engineering options. An option provides depth to your degree and usually requires six to eight courses.
What is a specialization?
Specializations are available only within your major.
These require four to seven courses and will be closely related to your major. For example, only students majoring in English can choose the Digital Media Studies or Technical Writing specializations
What's the difference between a program and a major?
Program and major are often used interchangeably, but they do differ slightly.
At Waterloo, your major is your program when you apply to it directly from high school, e.g., Kinesiology, Geomatics, Civil Engineering. These are also called entry programs because you "enter" university through them. In other cases, you'll apply to an entry program such as Honours Arts or Life Sciences and then choose a major such as History or Biology.
How do you choose a major, minor, option, etc.?
Customizing your degree can be challenging — luckily you can reach out for help!
An academic advisor in your major/program can help plan which courses you'd like to take, including any minors, options, or specializations (if those are possible with your major). If you have questions now about majors, minors, options or specializations, contact the faculty that offers your program for advice.
Find out more about university by checking out these links.
What's the difference between scholarships and bursaries?
What is a scholarship?
A scholarship is money awarded based on academic, extracurricular, or athletic excellence.
Scholarships allow us to celebrate and recognize your achievements! Entrance scholarships are available if you're starting full-time first-year degree studies and are beginning university or college for the first time.
There are some scholarships that you are automatically considered for, while others you must complete an application for.
What is a bursary?
A bursary is awarded based on financial need. A variety of bursaries exist and can be easy to obtain.
For example, each term I have received the Ontario First Generation Bursary, which is open to students who are Ontario residents, are in good standing with the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), and whose parents haven't attended a post-secondary educational institution
Learn more financial vocabulary →
Co-op
Co-op is an opportunity to use what you learn at school in the workplace, and to apply what you learn in the workplace at school.
How co-op works will vary from university to university. At Waterloo, you'll normally alternate between four months in class and four months on a work term. It’s a great way to learn by doing and gain work experience before graduation. Co-op is similar to paid internships — learn more about the difference between co-op and internships.
Insider tip: Waterloo has North America's largest co-op education program, which allows you to apply to co-op jobs with some of our 7,500+ employers!
