2. knowledge
integration
MORE THAN ARTS AND SCIENCE
Knowledge Integration (KI) is a way for you to integrate all of your interests, rather than narrow them.
It’s about connecting knowledge and people from different disciplines for effective collaboration
to address real problems. You’ll take advantage of electives to focus on your areas of interest and
discover new disciplines while core courses will help you integrate them all together.
3. » »
» »
» »
» »
» »
Focus on interdisciplinary studies with a broad view
You might be a traditionalist looking for a demanding classical education. Perhaps you’re
an innovator hoping to work on the frontiers of knowledge. You may be a long-range
planner committed to laying a strong foundation for a profession or graduate studies.
Like all Knowledge Integration students, you want to keep your options open and exercise
as much personal choice as possible in your course selection within a structured learning
environment and supported by academic advisors.
BREADTH COURSES develop a balanced foundation of
scholarly tools and transferable skills. You’ll choose courses in
these areas at a level and from a discipline that suits you best.
critical thinking
public speaking
computer science
2 maths
3 sciences
ethics and culture
statistics
research design
English
2 second languages
CORE COURSES teach you how
to integrate what you know and
how to collaborate with others.
DEPTH COURSES deepen your
specialized knowledge in areas
that interest you, culminating
in a final research project.
Combining breadth, depth, and core courses, means your 4 years in
the Knowledge Integration program might look something like this:
YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4
Intro to the Academy: Disciplines
and Integrative Practices CORE
Nature of Scientific
Knowledge CORE
The Museum Course:
Research and Design CORE
Senior research project:
Research and Planning CORE
Intro to the Academy: Design
and Problem Solving CORE
The Social Nature of
Knowledge CORE
The Museum Course: Practicum
and Presentation CORE
Senior research project:
Writing and Presentation CORE
The Museum Course:
Field Trip CORE
BREADTH COURSES
(see above) DEPTH COURSES
(18 electives)
Collaborative Design Specialization
The Collaborative Design Specialization
(CDS) offers students the opportunity
to develop a concentration in
design thinking, skills, and practice.
Developed together by KI students
and professors, it will allow you
to gain greater knowledge and
experience with design and real-world
problem solving, beyond your core courses.
The Museum Course
The centrepiece of your third year is The Museum
Course, a design project course where you and a small
group of classmates will design and build a museum
exhibit on a topic of your choice. Beginning with a
field trip to a major museum city, you’ll complete the
course with an on-campus exhibition. Past trips have
taken students to Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen,
and Barcelona to experience museum design and
cultural learning in some of the world’s greatest cities.
Senior Research Project
In your final year in the program, you’ll focus on an area of research that you’re
interested in learning more about. Working with a faculty member from KI
and one from a different discipline related to your topic, your critical thinking
skills and your passion for the topic you’ve chosen will be put to work. Past KI
research projects have focused on everything from the gamification of scientific
research and crime prevention strategies, to biofuels and political action.
admissions 2016
PROGRAM TO APPLY TO REQUIRED COURSES MINIMUM ADMISSION AVERAGE
FOR CONSIDERATION
Knowledge Integration English(min.75%),anyGrade12UScience(min.75%),
anyGrade12UMathematics(min.75%)
Low80s
Applying from outside of Ontario or Canada? View our full admission requirements at
uwaterloo.ca/findoutmore/admissions.
4. »
»
»
»
»
»
»
the average
first-year
cohort is 25
STUDENTS
KI students
take OVER
300courses from
MORE THAN
departments across campus
58
half of all
KI students
have a
90%+
entry average
1st
Bachelor of
Knowledge
Integration
in the world
200,000visitors to the Ontario
Science Centre in 2013
‘Game Changer’exhibit
designed by KI students
part of a community
When you join the Knowledge Integration program you
become part of a different kind of community at the
University of Waterloo. You’ll be working with students
who have passions and interests as varied as your own.
Surrounded by the greater University of Waterloo
community you’ll have access to courses, advisors,
clubs, societies, and other students from across the
university that will help you explore your interests
and discover new ideas and ways of thinking.
Passionate professors and staff
From day one you’ll start planning the academic path of your degree with the help
of passionate professors and staff. Need to know the kinds of electives that will
unlock the History of Animated Film course in third-year? Your academic advising
team will help. And professors are always around to talk through ideas for your
thesis, discuss assignments, help you design and build things and share their thoughts
on your work.
Knowledge Integration Student Society (KISS)
The Knowledge Integration Student Society (KISS for short) is the student group
that represents KI students. KISS plans events and activities to help bring the
students in the program together. From potlucks and excursions in the city of
Waterloo, to employer networking events and informing curriculum development,
KISS helps build the KI community outside of the classroom.
Summers off? More like summers on
With no academic requirements in the summer, you might think students in KI
relax and enjoy some time in the sun. While some do, most use the four months
off campus to apply what they’ve learned in class to the real world.
Extend your time in Europe and beyond after the Museum course in third year
Intern with MaRS Discovery District in Toronto at the Centre for Impact Investing
Participate in an archaeological field school in Jordan
Join the Beyond Borders program working in Kampala, Uganda
Intern with Overlap Associates in Kitchener, Ontario
Build relations with the US government and international media
as a communication intern in Washington, D.C.
Mentor youth as a program assistant with SHAD, a high school enrichment program
There’s a club for that
The University of Waterloo is home to over 200 clubs and societies run by the
Federation of Students, the university-wide student society. From skiing and
snowboarding, to cultural and religious groups, clubs are a great way to meet
new people and explore interests outside of the classroom. And if there isn’t
a club for your interests, start one with some friends.
In high school Peter loved physics and
was a talented musician. Not wanting
to limit his interests, the versatility of
the Knowledge Integration program
appealed to Peter over a program
that just focused on one area. Now,
in his first-year of the program, he’s
expanded on his interests and is
learning valuable skills along the way.
5. what students
do after KI
Graduates with a Bachelor of Knowledge Integration
are equipped with the skills to enter a wide range of
careers and higher education fields. That means that
our grads end up working and studying in a variety
of places. When we talk to our alumni, they report
back from fields as different as forestry to design.
This chart shows one circle for every activity a grad
has participated in since graduating from the program.
WORK – KI grads have held a variety
of jobs in many different sectors
Finance and Insurance
Health Care and Social Assistance
Leisure and Hospitality
Non-Profit
Post Secondary Education
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
Public Administration
Strategy and Design
Wholesale, Distribution, Retail and Recreation
EDUCATION – Many students in
KI continued their education
College Diploma
Medical Degree
Master’s Degree
PhD
TRAVEL – Some grads take
time off to travel the world
Travel
For more details on what students have done after KI, visit uwaterloo.ca/ki/careers.
We asked our grads:
why is KI important
to your success? 1
“core courses
are excellent, and provide
important skills for
inter-disciplinary work”
2
“focus on teamwork
that is useful in all
areas of school,
employment,
and real life”
3
“supportive
classmates, staff,
and faculty
members”
4“program flexibility
allows for experimentation
and inspiration”
71%of KI grads are
already launching
their CAREER
56%
of KI grads have pursued
further education
since graduating
96%of KI grads feel that the
program helped them
ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS
98%of KI grads would
RECOMMEND
THE PROGRAM
DISCLAIMER: ThisinformationwascollectedasasnapshotinDecember2014,sincethensomestudentsmayhavechangedtheirplans,wonthelottery,orfoundanewcareer.Anythingispossible!
6. C007451
ideas
start here®
CONTACT US
KIM BOUCHER
Program Coordinator
Knowledge Integration
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
519-888-4567, ext. 38573
kabouche@uwaterloo.ca
uwaterloo.ca/knowledge-integration
uwaterloo.ca/findoutmore
YouTube
bit.ly/youtube-ki
Twitter
@KIWaterloo
NEXT STEPS
Knowledge Integration Tours
Tour the campus and meet students and professors
Available Monday to Friday most weeks
Contact Kim Boucher for more information
kabouche@uwaterloo.ca
519-888-4567, ext. 38573
Knowledge Integration Seminar Series
Most Fridays, September 2015 to March 2016
uwaterloo.ca/knowledge-integration/seminar
Fall Open House
November 7, 2015
March Break Open House
March 19, 2016
Want to learn more about Waterloo?
Order an admissions viewbook at
uwaterloo.ca/findoutmore
Ideas Start Here is a registered trademark of the University of Waterloo. DESIGN CREATIVE SERVICES,
UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO EDITORIAL S. KRYSAK PHOTOGRAPHY LIGHT IMAGING
