Students who have a wide variety of interests, Honours Arts gives them the freedom to explore it.

In the University of Waterloo's largest and most flexible first-year program, students will use their first two terms to test the waters. Sample courses from the humanities, social sciences, fine and performing arts, and languages and cultures. Students can discover subjects they weren’t exposed to in high school, or delve deeper into their favourite subject at the university level.

Honours Arts will give students the critical thinking skills to analyze issues, make persuasive arguments, write well, and speak with conviction — skills that will serve them well along any career path.

Students will able to explore how human interactions are influenced by individual, collective, and structural forces such as mental health, social relationships, economic conditions, education and politics, and movements for social justice and social change. A common goal of those who study Social Development Studies is to help people, communities, and nations flourish.

Through courses in areas such as psychology, sociology, and social work as well as hands-on community engagement opportunities, students will be well prepared for a meaningful career in social work, counselling, education, public services, human resources, law, or community and international service organizations. Students can also enhance their learning experience by enrolling in co-op and applying what they learn in class to real work situations.