The Faculty of Arts invites students to explore ideas, challenge perspectives, and build practical skills across the humanities, social sciences, and the fine, performing, and media arts. With Waterloo’s strengths in work-integrated learning, Arts students gain real-world experience through co-op, international study, and hands-on creative and entrepreneurial opportunities. Arts students come to Waterloo ready to explore big ideas — and your support helps them turn those ideas into action. Donor generosity fuels scholarships, student research, community projects, and the experiences that give students confidence in the classroom, at work, and in the world. Together, we're opening doors and helping students build the futures they imagine.
My co-op term with STEPS was truly transformative. I had no idea how vibrant the public art community is or how deeply creative initiatives can impact neighbourhoods. At STEPS, I supported social media, digital storytelling, and marketing for public art projects across the country — work that pushed me creatively and strengthened my confidence as a communicator. I also learned how powerful it is to love what you do, especially in the non-profit sector, where every project feels connected to a larger purpose. I’m deeply grateful to alumni and donors for making opportunities like this possible. — Raquel (BA ’25 - English Rhetoric, Media, and Professional Communication))
My co-op term with STEPS was truly transformative. I had no idea how vibrant the public art community is or how deeply creative initiatives can impact neighbourhoods. At STEPS, I supported social media, digital storytelling, and marketing for public art projects across the country — work that pushed me creatively and strengthened my confidence as a communicator. I also learned how powerful it is to love what you do, especially in the non-profit sector, where every project feels connected to a larger purpose. I’m deeply grateful to alumni and donors for making opportunities like this possible.
Many Waterloo students dream of careers that make a difference—but not-for-profit and non-profit organizations often lack the funds to hire a co-op student. Our Co-op for Social Good program gives Arts students the chance to develop future-ready skill sets and discover what it’s like to work in the non-profit sector, while non-profit organizations in our community benefit from our students’ entrepreneurial mindset and passion for humanity.
Personal connections and primary research still make all the difference in graduate education. Through the Faculty of Arts Connect 4 Success Fund, you enable our best and brightest graduate students to reach their full academic potential through travel to conferences, fieldwork and archival research, or specialized internships where they can develop invaluable new skills and form the professional relationships that will shape their future success.
In an increasingly globalized world where geographic, economic and cultural borders are fluid, young people need skills to help them work across environments and cultures — that’s why the University of Waterloo offers many opportunities to study, work and grow abroad. But travel and living costs continue to rise, and your support gives them the chance to gain maturity, confidence and a new sense of self-reliance — and improved career prospects.
The Faculty of Arts Longhouse Labs Project will help answer the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s call to ensure equitable Indigenous contributions to the cultural life of our country. This project will create opportunities for emerging Indigenous visual artists to assume leadership roles in both art and education by providing meaningful eight-month-long residencies, mentorship and exhibition opportunities at the University of Waterloo.
When you choose to give to the area of greatest need, you give the Faculty of Arts the flexibility to address new opportunities and tackle challenges as they arise. Your gifts may support initiatives such as introducing new student learning experiences and technology, addressing infrastructure needs or building up scholarships and awards to help us attract and retain outstanding students and faculty.
Without financial aid many students can’t afford to pursue higher education and realize their potential. This fund helps us attract and retain talented students, providing the support they need to successfully complete their degrees and ensure a bright future, whether they use their newfound skills in the private or public sector or continue their path in academia as researchers and educators.