Knowledge Integration degree

More than an arts and science degree

If you're looking for a rigorous program that provides the flexibility to combine your many interests, Knowledge Integration (KI) may be the perfect fit.

More customizable than a typical arts and science program, Knowledge Integration is built to be flexible. You can explore and specialize in your many diverse interests while gaining the key skills you’ll need for a fulfilling career in almost any industry.

At its core, KI is a skills-based program that prepares you for a changing workforce facing global challenges like climate change, healthcare, cybersecurity, inequity, hunger, and other impacts that bring together experts from different fields. These interdisciplinary problems require skills such as understanding and solving problems, communicating effectively, thinking critically, and collaborating within teams – all of which are the backbone of the KI program.

You'll develop these skills while specializing in arts, science, technology, environmental issues, design-thinking, psychology, business, or any other topic you find interesting.

KI’s close community provides a supportive environment to learn how to integrate knowledge from different disciplines and offer creative novel solutions to real-world problems. Through hands-on projects and group work, you’ll learn side by side with curious and attentive peers who want to make a difference in a rapidly changing world.

What courses will you take in Knowledge Integration?

First-year courses

In first year, you'll take courses in creative problem-solving, collaboration, public speaking, and critical thinking in addition to courses specific to your interests.

In upper years, you’ll collaborate with your KI classmates on real-world projects; deepen your skills in research, communication, and decision-making; and use your electives to explore or specialize in your passions.

September to December

INTEG 10 – Knowledge Integration Seminar
INTEG 120 – The Art & Science of Learning
ENVS 131 – Communications for Environmental Professions
Three electives

January to April

INTEG 10 – Knowledge Integration Seminar
INTEG 121 – Collaboration, Design Thinking and Problem Solving
COMMST 223 – Public Speaking
PHIL 145 – Critical Thinking
Two electives

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.

Knowledge Integration is designed to be flexible. As early as your first year, you can take courses across all 7 faculties to explore your interests. You're encouraged to use four of your first-year electives to begin completing some of your breadth requirements, particularly the computer science, math, language, and natural/physical science requirements.

After first year

You’ll take a quarter of your classes with your Knowledge Integration peers to develop skills like collaboration, critical thinking, public speaking, and creative problem solving. You’ll have the freedom to use your remaining classes to specialize in topics that interest you and explore new fields you never knew existed from the 100 subjects taught at Waterloo.

View all the courses required for your degree.

Sample upper-year courses

INTEG 220 – Nature of Scientific Knowledge
INTEG 221 – The Social Nature of Knowledge
INTEG 230 – The Museum Course: Preparation and Field Trip
INTEG 320 – The Museum Courses: Research and Design
INTEG 420 A/B – Senior Honours Project

Customize your degree in Knowledge Intergration

Include one or more of the minors available to all Waterloo students or choose to complete a joint major (sometimes referred to as a double major).

You can add additional areas of expertise to your degree by including one or both of the specializations within Knowledge Integration.

Collaborative Design
Science, Technology, and Society

View "Waterloo student Dinesh shares his Knowledge Integration experience" on YouTube

Faculty:
Faculty of Environment

Degree:
Bachelor of Knowledge Integration

Available as a co-op program?
No

Available as a regular program?
Regular only

Available as a minor?
Yes

Specialize in your many interests. Customize your degree by choosing from 120+ areas of specialization. With more electives than any other program at Waterloo, you can pick from over 300 courses across 60 departments.

Get 16+ months of experiential learning opportunities. In your upper years, you’ll travel abroad, build an interactive exhibit in small groups, and design your own independent project fueled by your passions and skills.

What can you do with a degree in Knowledge integration?

What can you do with a degree in Knowledge Integration?

Graduates pursue a broad range of careers depending on what they choose to explore and specialize in. As a result, Knowledge Integration graduates work in financial institutions, consulting firms, law firms, hospitals, research centres, non-profits, high schools, and much more. They are well suited for dynamic work that allows them to think on their feet, problem solve, manage projects, think critically, and work with others. Many also further their education through medical school, law school, teacher's college, and other graduate studies.

Read about what some of our KI graduates are doing.

Sample graduates

Director of Policy – Government of Ontario
UI/UX designer – Descartes Systems Group
Senior consultant – Deloitte
Lawyer – Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General
Program Manager – Lumos Clean Energy Advisors
Senior design researcher – RBC Royal Bank
Professor – York University
Events & Partnerships Officer – Southlake Foundation
Data scientist – Shopify
ESL Teacher – College de Montreal

Further education

While the full range of further education depends on your individual interests, these are common areas that our graduates pursue. Learn about the types of graduate studies KI grads choose.

Professional programs: medicine and other health professions, law, business, and teaching
Master's and PhDs: anatomical science, anthropology, biology, digital experience innovation, environment, global innovation design, international relations, mathematics, neuroscience, planning, philosophy, political science, science and technology, speech language pathology, statistics, vision science
College programs: concept art for animation and video games, environmental visual communication, event management, publishing

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)
Any Grade 12 U Science (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
Any Grade 12 U Mathematics (minimum final grade of 70% is required)

Admission average: High 70s to low 80s

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.

How to apply?

Apply directly to this program on your application.

Related programs

Honours Arts

Honours Science

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Questions about courses, programs, requirements, or careers?

Please contact Megan Muir, our Faculty of Environment recruitment co-ordinator who can answer any questions you have.

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