4 programs, side by side

Rows marked with a dot are where these differ. Everything is each university’s own published wording; the “your average” row is yours, calculated the way each program does it.

Full	McMaster Social Sciences I OUAC ML Remove	Western Arts and Humanities OUAC EA Remove	Waterloo Honours Arts and Business (Regular/Co-op) OUAC WAB Remove	Queen's Arts OUAC QA Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–87%“Low-to mid-80s”	80–83%“Low 80s”	77–80%“High 70s”	83–87%“Mid-80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U	ENG4U	ENG4U	ENG4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	—	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	English 4U * Completion of Advanced Functions 4U and Calculus & Vectors 4U are strongly recommended for students interested in Economics. * Completion of Calculus & Vectors 4U and Biology 4U are strongly recommended for students interested in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour.	English, ENG4U	Any Grade 12 U English (min. 70%)	ENG4U 5 additional 4U/M courses
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Yes Unless otherwise noted, required courses must be completed with a minimum average of 70%. Prospective students applying to Fine Arts will need to submit a portfolio. For the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH), students must indicate interest on the OUAC application and complete a Statement of Interest by February 28, 2026. Usually closes before January 15	Marks only	Marks only
Co-op	Available	Available	Available	Available
Degree	Bachelor of Arts, BA, Bachelor of Social Work, BSW	Bachelor of Arts, BA, Bachelor of Business Administration/Bachelor of Arts, BBA/BA, Bachelor of Fine Arts, BFA, Certificate, Cert, Diploma, Dipl.	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	950	—	298	974
What you study	Anthropology Economics Health Informatics Human Geography	Ancient Middle Eastern LanguagesCinematics & Photography Classical Greek Studies Classical Studies	Anthropology Archaeology Business Studies Classical Greek Studies	Aboriginal Studies Classical Greek Studies Classical Studies Comparative Literary Studies
What it is	Social Sciences I is a first-year entry point where you explore human behaviour, society, and social systems through subjects like economics, sociology, anthropology, politics, and social work. Unlike a specialized program, you sample multiple disciplines before declaring a focus, letting you discover which area — from international development to health policy — matches your interests. It suits students curious about how societies work and drawn to understanding people and social issues from different angles.	Arts and Humanities programs at Western let you study literature, history, languages, creative work, and visual art — subjects focused on human culture and expression rather than science or business. You can pursue a general BA, combine business with arts, earn a specialized BFA in fine art, or complete a shorter certificate or diploma. The co-op option lets you alternate study terms with paid work placements related to your field. This suits people drawn to writing, analysis, visual creativity, or understanding how societies and cultures work.	This program combines arts courses — drawn from fields like English, history, economics, and creative writing — with business studies to prepare you for careers that value both analytical and communication skills. The co-op option lets you alternate study terms with paid work placements at real companies, giving you experience before you graduate. It suits students who want a broader education than straight business but need practical skills for the job market.	Queen's Arts offers a broad, self-directed undergraduate degree spanning humanities, social sciences, and languages. You choose your own combination of subjects — from English and economics to classical studies and environmental issues — rather than following a set curriculum. The co-op option lets you alternate study terms with paid work placements in your field of interest, which suits students who want real-world experience alongside their degree and flexibility in how they structure their time.
The door tomajors you reach through it	criminology geography political science psychology sociology	english languages philosophy	marketing	communications criminology english geography history languages philosophy political science
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	None published by average
Source	McMaster University on OUInfo	Western University on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo	Queen's University on OUInfo

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Ranges are what each university publishes, not guaranteed cutoffs, and limited-enrolment programs often admit above them. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the university; each column links to its source.