Whether generating social insights or making meaningful change, your journey starts here.
In Social Development Studies (SDS), you’ll explore how people grow, how societies function, and how change happens.
Learn how human interactions are influenced by individual, collective, and structural forces such as mental health, social relationships, economic conditions, education and politics, and movements for social justice and social change.
Through courses in areas such as psychology, sociology, and social work, you'll gain a toolkit for understanding individuals and communities – and the systems that shape them.
Dive deeper by including paid co-op work terms to explore potential careers, adding a minor or second major, or pursuing opportunities such as research and an honours thesis on a topic of personal interest. You can also add business skills to your degree by choosing SDS as a major within the Honours Arts and Business program.
Upon graduation, you’ll be well-prepared for a meaningful career in helping professions such as counselling, teaching, social services, human resources, social work, and law.
Faculty:
Faculty of Arts
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts in Social Development Studies
Available as a co-op program?
Yes
Available as a regular program?
Yes
Available as a minor?
Yes
Interested in professional training? Take your studies further by applying to the Bachelor of Social Work program through Waterloo's new SDS/Social Work double degree pathway – earning two degrees and gaining the credentials and skills needed for a career in a helping profession.
Experience the best of both worlds. With many of your courses taught at Renison University College, you’ll be part of a close-knit community with a more personal learning environment. Enjoy the benefits of a smaller, on-campus University College while still accessing everything Waterloo has to offer.
Co-op = relevant paid work experience
Alternate school terms and paid co-op work terms throughout your degree, exploring career areas and types of employers as your career interests evolve.
Sample co-op job titles
- Child and youth worker
- Client and sales support
- Educational assistant
- English teacher
- Project coordinator
- Research assistant, digital innovation and design
- Training and documentation associate
Co-op work-study sequence
Starting in second year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.
If you choose to study Social Development Studies through Honours Arts and Business, your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2028).
| Year | September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Study | Study | Off |
| Second | Study | Co-op | Study |
| Third | Co-op | Study | Co-op |
| Fourth | Study | Co-op | Co-op |
| Fifth | Study | Study | - |
Or, if you choose to study Social Development Studies through Honours Arts, your first work term will be in the spring term after your second year (May to August 2028).
| Year | September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Study | Study | Off |
| Second | Study | Study | Co-op |
| Third | Study | Co-op | Study |
| Fourth | Co-op | Study | Co-op |
| Fifth | Co-op | Study | - |
Admissions
Apply to Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business and choose Social Development Studies as your major at the end of first year.
Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- English 4U (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
Mathematics of Data Management is recommended as helpful background for the program.
Admission average: Low 80s
Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements for Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.
Learn about transfer credit pathways from college Social Service Worker programs.
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From the Missing Manual
Pursuing a double major in Psychology and Social Development Studies, Abby wasn’t afraid to say “yes” to an opportunity that helped her grow as a person. Read our article about Abby.