More than an arts and science degree
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 at Waterloo.
Victoria and four of her classmates created an exhibit based on the United Nation's (UN) sustainable development goal of mental health and wellbeing.
Program of its kind in the world
Available as a 
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.
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First-year courses
September to December
January to April
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
Offered by the Faculty of Environment
Apply directly to this program on your application
Available as a major and minor
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
Ready to learn more?
- Visit the Department of Knowledge Integration website
- Email Graham Barnes who can answer any questions about the program
- Subscribe to our newsletter to get tips and advice from current students
- Learn more about how you can design your education with KI
