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	Waterloo Honours Arts (Regular/Co-op) OUAC WA Remove	Carleton Humanities OUAC CBC Remove	Western Arts and Humanities OUAC EA Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–87%“Low-to mid-80s”	77–80%“High 70s”	80–82%	80–83%“Low 80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U	ENG4U	No course codes parsed — see prerequisites	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.	Any Grade 12 U English (min. 70%)	Best 6 4U/M courses	English, ENG4U
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	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
Co-op	Available	Available	No	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	402	—	—
What you study	Anthropology Economics Health Informatics Human Geography	Anthropology Archaeology Classical Greek Studies Classical Studies	Ancient Middle Eastern LanguagesClassical Greek Studies Classical StudiesClassics	Ancient Middle Eastern LanguagesCinematics & Photography Classical Greek Studies Classical 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.	An Honours Arts degree lets you study humanities and social sciences — literature, history, languages, creative writing, drama, economics, or anthropology — with flexibility to combine subjects. The co-op option alternates your studies with paid work terms in related fields, giving you real workplace experience alongside your degree. This suits people who want a liberal arts education but also want to test out careers and build a professional network while studying.	Humanities is the study of human culture, history, ideas, and expression through subjects like history, philosophy, literature, classics, and religious studies. You choose courses across these fields rather than specializing in just one, so you develop a broad understanding of how societies, texts, and beliefs have shaped each other over time. This suits people curious about why humans think and act as they do, who enjoy reading and discussion, and who want flexibility to explore before narrowing down.	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.
The door tomajors you reach through it	criminology geography political science psychology sociology	communications criminology economics english history languages philosophy political science	Applied to directly	english languages philosophy
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	16 published, 9 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them
Source	McMaster University on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo	Carleton University on OUInfo	Western 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.