First-year courses
As an Arts student, you’ll choose your major at the end of first year. You’re encouraged to explore a second major in first year to discover potential new interests.
In your Arts First courses, instead of going to a lecture hall, you and your classmates will work together to respond to an intriguing challenge. With only 25 students in each of the two first-year courses, you might address topics such as The Science of Happiness, Are We Erasing History?, Games and Culture, and Writing About Poems and Songs.
You can choose to study Social Development Studies through Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.
Students interested in co-op Social Development Studies must apply to Honours Arts co-op.
Honours Arts/Direct entry
September to December
- PSYCH 101R – Introductory Psychology
- SOCWK 120R – Introduction to Social Work
- SOC 101R – Introduction to Sociology
- Arts First Requirement 1
- One elective
January to April
- SDS 131R – Political Ideologies and Social Development
- SDS 150R – Lifespan Processes
- PSYCH 253R/253 – Social Psychology
- Arts First Requirement 2
- One elective
This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.
Honours Arts and Business
September to December
- ARBUS 101 – Introduction to Business in North America
- ECON 101 – Introduction to Microeconomics
- Arts First Requirement 1
- Prospective major #2
Plus one course from
- PSYCH 101R – Introductory Psychology
- SOC 101R – Introduction to Sociology
January to April
- ARBUS 102 – Accounting Information for Managers
- ARBUS 202 – Professional and Business Ethics
- Arts First Requirement 2
- Prospective major #2
- SOCWK 120R – Introduction to Social Work
This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.
After first year
About half of the classes you’ll take will be SDS courses. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.
Sample upper-year courses
PSYCH 334R – Theories of Individual Counselling Psychology
SDS 350R – Adult Life Crises and Events
SOCWK 321R – Social Work with Families
SDS 425R – Educational Equity in Canada
Advisors are here to help
With so much flexibility, you might have a lot of questions. We're here to help! If you're applying for admission, contact our Faculty of Arts recruitment team.
Once you're a Waterloo student, you'll have access to academic advisors who can help you
- choose your courses,
- select minors and specializations,
- ensure that you're meeting the requirements for your degree, and more.
Learn more
Overview of Waterloo's Social Development Studies program.
