Bachelor Of Arts - Honours Arts - English - Rhetoric, Media, And Professional Communication at University of Waterloo - Program overview

Program overview

Admission Requirements

Intakes

Last updated on 2025-11-18

Program overview

+40

Program overview

Earn an English degree at Waterloo and explore your passion for communication through a variety of specialized areas. This program offers a unique opportunity to delve into Digital Media Studies, Global Literature, or Technical Writing. With more than 150 undergraduate courses available, students can choose to study in either the regular or co-op streams. The program emphasizes the development of essential skills in communication, critical thinking, analysis, and persuasion, preparing graduates for diverse career paths in various fields.

Program structure

The Bachelor of Arts - Honours Arts - English - Rhetoric, Media, and Professional Communication program is designed to provide a comprehensive education in English studies. The program length is four years, allowing students to immerse themselves in a rich curriculum that includes:

Choice of four majors at the end of the first year: Creative and Professional Writing, Rhetoric, Media, and Professional Communication, Literature, or Literature and Rhetoric.
Co-op program option available, providing students with relevant paid work experience.
Opportunity to study abroad and earn credits toward the degree.
Integration of classroom learning with real-world experience through a structured co-op work-study sequence.

Students will take a mix of English courses and electives, with 40% of their classes focused on English studies after the first year. The program encourages exploration of additional areas of expertise, such as Communication Design, Creative Writing, and Digital Media Studies.

Featured Experiences

Co-op program that allows students to gain relevant paid work experience while studying.
Small class sizes, capped at 40 students, fostering connections with classmates and professors.
Hands-on learning opportunities through projects and collaborative courses.
Access to internationally recognized scholars in the Department of English.
Possibility to customize the degree with minors or additional areas of focus.

Career Options

Marketing and Communications Specialist: Develop and implement marketing strategies to promote products or services.
Communications Coordinator: Manage internal and external communications for organizations, ensuring consistent messaging.
Teacher: Educate students in English language and literature, fostering a love for reading and writing.
Content and Project Specialist: Oversee content creation and project management in various media and publishing environments.
Technical Writing Specialist: Create clear and concise documentation for technical products and services.
Digital Publishing Assistant: Support the production and distribution of digital content across platforms.
Communications Specialist: Develop communication strategies and materials to enhance public relations efforts.

DISCLAIMER: The information above is subject to change. For the latest updates, please contact LOA Portal's advisors.

Visit University of Waterloo official website

Last updated on 2025-11-18

Program overview

Academic Requirements

To apply for the Bachelor of Arts - Honours Arts - English - Rhetoric, Media, And Professional Communication program at the University of Waterloo, students must meet the following Academic Requirements:

Minimum GPA: Not specified.
Transcripts may be required to be evaluated by WES in some cases.
Prerequisite courses:
- English and Mathematics with a minimum grade of 7.5 in each.
Overall average of 8.3 is required.

For international students, particularly those from Vietnam and other Asian countries, the following general requirements apply:

Bàng Tốt Nghiệp Phố Thông Trung Học (Secondary School Graduation Certificate) is required.

It is advisable to apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is processed in a timely manner. For any clarification and support, please contact LOA Portal's advisors.

Language Requirements

At the University of Waterloo, English is the primary language of instruction, and a high level of English language proficiency is essential for success in our programs. If you are applying for undergraduate admissions, you will need to provide an English language test score if:

Your four most recent years of full-time education have NOT been in an English-language school system AND
Your first language is NOT English.

However, you may be exempt from submitting English language test scores if you meet one or more of the following exceptions:

You have studied in Canada and your first language is English.
You are a bilingual Francophone Canadian.
You have studied in an English-language school system for your four most recent years of full-time education.

Here are the accepted English language tests and their required scores:

Test	Minimum Score
Internet-based TOEFL (iBT)	90 overall, 25 writing, 25 speaking
IELTS Academic	6.5 overall, 6.5 writing, 6.5 speaking, 6.0 reading, 6.0 listening
CAEL	70 overall, 60 per band
PTE Academic	63 overall, 65 writing, 65 speaking
Cambridge English (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)	180 overall, 176 in each component
Duolingo English Test	120 overall (with specific subscores depending on the test date)
EFAS - English for Academic Success	75% overall in 400 levels

It is important to note that all test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to Waterloo's Office of the Registrar. Unofficial results will not be accepted.

DISCLAIMER: The information above is subject to change. For the latest updates, please contact LOA Portal's advisors. The listed minimum requirements are a guideline and do not guarantee admission. Do not worry, we will notify you of any changes during the application process.

Not meeting the minimum language requirements?

You may still be able to apply!