Honours Arts

Rushing into a major is a rookie mistake. So, give it a year.

You’re all about “try before you buy.” That’s smart! Use your first two terms to test the waters before choosing your major.

Sample courses from the humanities, social sciences, fine and performing arts, and languages and cultures. Discover subjects you weren’t exposed to in high school, or delve deeper into your favourite subject.

Use paid co-op work terms to explore potential career areas, gain valuable work experience, and earn money to help pay for school.

Whatever direction you end up taking, Honours Arts will give you the critical thinking skills to analyze issues, make persuasive arguments, write well, and speak with conviction — skills that will serve you well along any career path.

You can also co-register and complete your Waterloo degree through St. Jerome's University, a smaller academic community located on campus.

Faculty:
Faculty of Arts

Degree:
Bachelor of Arts

Choose from 28 majors

Music
Peace and Conflict Studies
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Religion, Culture, and Spirituality
Sexualities, Relationships, and Families
Social Development Studies (including the SDS/Social Work double degree)
Sociology
Theatre and Performance

What courses will you take in Honours Arts?

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.

After first year

About 40% of the classes you’ll take will focus on your honours major. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.

You can also add additional areas of interest and expertise by including a minor (or minors) as part of your degree.

Available as a co-op program?
Yes

Available as a regular program?
Yes

Include minors and options?
Yes

Choose from 28 majors. At the end of first year, it’s your choice. Pick one (or two!) of 28 different Arts majors. And then you can easily combine majors and minors to customize your degree to your interests.

Room for extracurriculars. Honours Arts gives you plenty of time outside the classroom to join clubs, run for student government, study abroad, volunteer, or explore other interests.

Co-op = relevant paid work experience

In Waterloo's co-op program, you'll normally alternate between four-month school terms and four-month paid work terms throughout your degree. With thousands of employers hiring Waterloo co-op students each year, you can explore careers by applying to jobs related to your major.

It's a great way to get relevant experience, make connections with potential future employers, and identify careers you might like to pursue.

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.

Option one: If you choose a major in Economics, English, or Fine Arts, your first work term will be in the winter term of second year.

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	-

Option two: All other Honours Arts majors will have their first work term in the spring term after second year.

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	-

Learn more about co-op →

What can you do with an Honours Arts degree?

The flexibility of Honours Arts and the choice of 30 majors provides an incredible range of possible careers to pursue.

The careers listed below are examples of what you might be able to pursue. Through the courses you take, specializations you choose, extracurriculars, and any work experience you gain, you'll graduate with a degree that's uniquely you and be ready to pursue a career that's right for you!

Policy or research analyst

You would research social, cultural, or economic issues and help organizations or governments make informed decisions. Your honours training prepares you to analyze data, evaluate sources, and write clear, evidence‑based reports.

Graduate studies and academic researcher

Many Honours Arts graduates continue into master’s or doctoral programs. You’d build on your undergraduate research experience to specialize in a subject and contribute new ideas through scholarly work.

Law school and legal careers (with further study)

You’d use your ability to read complex texts, build arguments, and write persuasively. Honours Arts is especially strong preparation for legal reasoning and structured thinking.

Communications specialist

In this role, you would write and manage content for organizations, such as reports, websites, or internal communications. Employers value your ability to explain complex ideas clearly to different audiences.

Journalist or nonfiction writer

You’d research topics deeply and tell accurate, engaging stories. The research and writing skills from an honours degree help you check facts carefully and provide strong context.

Nonprofit program coordinator

You would help plan, manage, and evaluate programs that serve communities. Your ability to understand social issues and assess outcomes is especially useful in mission‑driven organizations.

Public service or government officer

You’d support public programs, research initiatives, or administrative work in government. Honours Arts graduates are valued for their critical thinking and strong communication skills.

Human resources coordinator

In this career, you’d support hiring, training, and workplace policies. Understanding people, culture, and communication helps you navigate professional environments effectively.

Market or social research assistant

You’d help design surveys, conduct interviews, and analyze results. This role is ideal if you enjoy research and working with both qualitative and quantitative information.

Education or academic advising professional

You would support students as they navigate academic programs and university life. Your honours background helps you guide others through goal‑setting and problem‑solving.

Publishing or editorial assistant

You’d work with manuscripts, authors, and editors to prepare content for publication. Attention to detail and strong writing skills are key strengths in this field.

Consulting associate

You would help organizations solve problems by researching issues and presenting recommendations. This career suits students who enjoy fast‑paced, analytical work across industries.

Cultural or heritage sector professional

You’d work in museums, cultural organizations, or archives supporting research, programs, or exhibitions. Honours Arts training helps you handle historical and cultural material with care and insight.

International development or global affairs assistant

You would support projects focused on education, sustainability, or social development around the world. Strong research skills and cultural awareness are essential in international settings.

Professional school pathways (education, policy, library science)

Honours Arts provides strong preparation for a wide range of professional degrees. You’ll already be comfortable with independent research, analysis, and academic writing.

If you enjoy deep thinking, independent research, and making connections across subjects, a Bachelor of Arts in Honours Arts offers a flexible and academically strong foundation for many future paths.

Learn about the future of careers in arts, humanities, social sciences, languages, and creative arts.

Common questions about the program

Can I change my major after I apply? Can I do a double major?

When you apply to Waterloo, you'll indicate a major that you'd like to pursue. (A major is the subject you'd like to be the focus of your degree.) You’re not committed to this major — and you don’t need to solidify the major(s) you want to explore in first year until June, which is when you'll select courses for the term starting in September. You’ll begin your major in first year even though you don’t officially choose it until the end of first year. We recommend that you explore two majors in first year to keep your options open.

You can definitely do a double major as an Honours Arts student. You could also do a minor. Not sure what a major or minor are? Check out our guide to university terminology. Advisors in the Faculty of Arts will be able to help you with choosing courses and potential majors.

Can I switch to co-op if I change my mind?

If you’re even slightly interested in including co-op work terms as part of your degree, you should apply to co-op when you apply to Waterloo. You’ll automatically be considered for the regular system of study if you aren’t accepted for co-op, but the admission ranges are often very similar between the two systems of study.

If you’re in good academic standing it is possible to switch into co-op later in your studies, but it's not guaranteed as decisions are based on how many spaces are available in co-op and how far through your degree you are.

What's the difference between Honours Arts and Business and Honours Arts?

Most of the requirements are similar, however, Honours Arts and Business requires 14 business courses, which means less time for electives, but a strong business foundation. Watch this video for more details on both programs.

View "What's in a Bachelor of Arts degree?" on YouTube

Admission requirements

Ontario students

Six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including

any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of 70% is required)

Admission average: High 70s

Recommended courses

Plan to major in Economics? Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors is recommended as helpful background.
Plan to major in Political Science; Psychology; Sexualities, Relationships, and Families; Social Development Studies; or Sociology? Grade 12 Mathematics of Data Management is recommended.