You think outside the box. We won’t box you in.
If your passions don’t fit neatly into a traditional university program, consider Knowledge Integration (KI).
More than just a mix of arts and science, KI is built around a core set of skills that equip you to understand and solve complex problems, communicate effectively, and make a difference in a complex and changing world.
No KI degree is the same. Build your program around your interests, studying topics from technology and software to life and health sciences, environmental issues, and policy making. If you’re a high-achieving student and want the freedom to integrate a broad range of interests, this is your program
What you do with your degree is up to you. Our grads have gone on to careers in everything from design to business systems analysis to speech language pathology. Many also continue their education with graduate studies, medical school, law school, and more.
Build a museum exhibit
In a third-year course, you’ll travel to a major museum city such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, or Barcelona and then work in small teams to design and build an interactive museum exhibit on a topic of your choice.
Pick from 300+ courses
Discover the freedom to pursue all kinds of interests. In a typical year, KI students take over 300 different courses from 60 departments.
Knowledge Integration allows students to combine many interests in order to solve problems and work collaboratively.
About the Knowledge Integration program
Available as a 
Program of its kind in the world
Earn a Bachelor of Knowledge Integration (BKI)
Offered by the Faculty of Environment
Apply directly to this program on your application
Available as a major and minor
Knowledge Integration admission requirements
- Ontario students: 6 Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- Any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of 75% is required)
- Any Grade 12 U Science (minimum final grade of 75% is required)
- Any Grade 12 U Mathematics (minimum final grade of 75% is required)
- Admission average: Low 80s
- An Admission Information Form is necessary
- Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements
First-year courses
September to December
INTEG 10 - Knowledge Integration Seminar
INTEG 120 - The Art & Science of Learning
SPCOM 223 - Public Speaking
3 electives
January to April
INTEG 10 - Knowledge Integration Seminar
INTEG 121 - Collaboration, Design Thinking and Problem Solving
PHIL 145 - Critical Thinking
3 electives
Knowledge Integration is designed to be flexible. 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
About a quarter of the classes you’ll take will be Knowledge Integration courses. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subjects at Waterloo.
View a list of all the courses required for your degree.
Sample upper-year courses
INTEG 220 – The 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
Customize your degree
Explore a topic more deeply by choosing a Collaborative Design or Science, Technology, and Society specialization within Knowledge Integration. You can also add additional areas of interest and expertise by including a minor (or minors) as part of your degree, or pursue a joint degree.
What can you do with a degree in Knowledge Integration?
Waterloo Knowledge Integration graduates pursue a broad range of careers including web development, speech pathology, consulting, design, and research. They work in financial institutions, consulting firms, design firms, and more.
Recent graduates
- Biologist - Fisheries & Oceans Canada
- Widening Participation Officer - University of Sheffield
- Consultant - Deloitte
- Content Manager - Wagepoint
- Product Manager, Brand Tools - Hubba
- Design Intern - Normative Design
- Strategy Coordinator - Overlap Associates
Further education
While the full range of further education depends on your individual interests, these are common areas that our graduates pursue.
- Professional programs: medical school 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
Learn more about Knowledge Integration
- Email Jay Smith, our Environment recruitment co-ordinator, who can answer any questions about Knowledge Integration
- Learn more about how you can design your education with KI
- Visit the Knowledge Integration website
