Knowledge Integration

More than an arts and science degree

A student in the Knowledge Integration program at the University of Waterloo.

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.

1st Program of its kind in the world

Briefcase Available as a regular program, with the option to do KI Works

Graduation Cap Earn a Bachelor of Knowledge Integration (BKI) degree

Admission requirements

Ontario students: six 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

We recommend completing the Admission Information Form once you've applied.

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.

A student shares his Knowledge Integration experience

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Questions? Ask a student!

Contact an Environment student ambassador to learn about their experience.

Ask them questions such as why they chose their program, what the classes are like, and how you can get involved on campus.

First-year courses and beyond

September to December

INTEG 10 - Knowledge Integration Seminar
INTEG 120 - The Art & Science of Learning
SPCOM 223 - Public Speaking
Three electives

January to April

INTEG 10 - Knowledge Integration Seminar
INTEG 121 - Collaboration, Design Thinking and Problem Solving
PHIL 145 - Critical Thinking
Three 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

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

Collaborative Design
Science, Technology, and Society

You can also include one of the minors available to all Waterloo students.

What can you do with a degree in 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

Read about what some of our recent graduates are doing on our Beyond Ideas website.

Offered by the Faculty of Environment

Click Apply directly to this program on your application

book Available as a major and minor

Ready to learn more?

Visit the Department of Knowledge Integration website
Download our program brochure
Email Graham Barnes who can answer any questions about the program
Learn more about how you can design your education with KI

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 at Waterloo.