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Recreation and Leisure Studies

University of Waterloo

Kinesiology and Recreation: blue ink subject illustration
Image source

AI-generated ink illustration

Conceptual study artwork, not a photograph of teaching facilities.

Unidex · generated with ImageGen

Checked 2026-11-05

Symbolic subject artwork; no university facility depicted

Deadlines

November 2026

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Next deadline

  • OUAC. Ontario high schools report midterm/final 4U/M grades

    2027 entry

    School deadline, not a student task. Universities receive these grades by November 26. Verbatim: "Deadline for the OUAC to receive all midterm or final grades available for 4U/M courses from Ontario high schools. Schools may report in-progress grades for full-year courses as soon as they are available." Universities receive these by the target date of November 26, 2026. This is a deadline on the high school, not on the student, but it governs which grades a university sees in the first round.

    Official deadline
Other deadline details
No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by programOUAC Undergraduate application, applicants who are not Ontario high school students (Group B)2026 entry
  • No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by program
  • No single OUAC deadline
  • University, program, transcript, portfolio, interview, and audition dates still apply
Full source wording

Verbatim: "There is no specific Undergraduate application deadline if you are a Group B applicant. Deadlines vary at each university and sometimes depend on the program. Visit the university websites or contact the universities directly for their deadlines. If you are interested in a program but the deadline has passed, you may contact the university's admission office for help. Be aware of university-specific deadlines for submitting transcripts and portfolios, if required, and for arranging interviews and auditions. You must ensure the OUAC has enough time to process your choices before the universities' program deadlines." OUAC defines Group B as anyone who does not meet the Group A criteria, e.g. not currently taking an Ontario high school course, a Canadian outside Ontario, an international applicant, a postsecondary transfer student, or a mature applicant.

SourceChecked

Requirements

Admission requirements

High-school prerequisites
  • Any Grade 12 U English70% min.
  • Complete a high-school diploma and six Grade 12 U or M courses, including the English requirement.
Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies Ontario secondary school admission
Application steps

Entry terms · September

First-year direct entry.

Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies entry and major choices
  1. Step 1Check the admission requirements
    • Check the published entry route for your applicant category.
    Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies Ontario secondary school admissionWaterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies Ontario secondary school admission
  2. Step 2Apply through OUAC
    • Create your application and select this program.
    OUACOUAC
  3. Step 3Declaration of Academic Experience (DAE)
    • Complete the DAE in the Waterloo applicant portal. It updates your checklist with any required documents.
    Waterloo required documentsWaterloo required documents
  4. Step 4Apply through OUAC to Recreation and Leisure Studies.
    • Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
    Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies Ontario secondary school admissionWaterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies Ontario secondary school admission
  5. Step 5Select one subject of major interest and choose regular or co-op.
    • Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
    Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies Ontario secondary school admissionWaterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies Ontario secondary school admission
  6. Step 6Complete the Declaration of Academic Experience and submit requested supporting documents.
    • Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
    Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies Ontario secondary school admissionWaterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies Ontario secondary school admission
Applicant pathways
British Columbia high school with AP

British Columbia secondary students taking AP courses

  • English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 · minimum 70
Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies · British Columbia high school with AP requirements
Alberta high school

Alberta secondary students

  • English Language Arts 30-1 · minimum 70
Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies · Alberta high school requirements
IB Diploma

International Baccalaureate Diploma applicants

  • HL or SL English A, minimum 4, or HL English B, minimum 5. Total 27.
Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies · IB Diploma requirements

Degree requirements

Recreation, Leadership, and Health

Recreation, Leadership, and Health

  • 11.5 required units, 2.5 additional REC units and 6.0 elective units.
Sport and Recreation Management

Sport and Recreation Management

  • 10.5 required units, 4.0 additional REC units, 2.5 approved units and 3.0 elective units.
Therapeutic Recreation

Therapeutic Recreation

  • 10.5 required units, 2.0 additional REC units and 7.5 elective units.
Other requirements and route notes
  • Each of the three Honours majors requires 20.0 units and minimum cumulative averages of 65% overall and 70% in the major.
  • Co-op designation requires four credited work terms and completion of the Faculty of Health professional development requirements.
ReferencesRecreation and Leisure Studies first-year course selection by majorWaterloo Honours BA · Recreation, Leadership, and Health degree requirementsWaterloo Honours BA · Sport and Recreation Management degree requirementsWaterloo Honours BA · Therapeutic Recreation degree requirementsWaterloo Bachelor of Arts (Health) degree-level and co-op requirementsRecreation and Leisure Studies regular and co-op modesWaterloo course calendar · HEALTH 150Waterloo 2026–27 course calendar, ENGL 210FWaterloo course calendar · PSYCH101RWaterloo 2026–27 course calendar, COMMST 100Waterloo 2026–27 course calendar, COMMST 223Waterloo 2026–27 course calendar, COMMST 225Waterloo 2026–27 course calendar, COMMST 227Waterloo 2026–27 course calendar, COMMST 228

Program facts

Entering average~Low 80s

Published Ontario guidance for regular and co-op.

Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies Ontario secondary school admissionWaterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies Ontario secondary school admission
Co-opOptional co-op

Examples cover the three majors. Select the degree route for its official career and co-op details.

University work-study information
Recreation and Leisure Studies regular and co-op modesCheck work experience options

Majors & specializations

One first-year Recreation and Leisure Studies application. Choose the major during application and start it in Year 1.

Recreation, Leadership, and Health

BA (Honours)

The major combines community engagement, leadership in recreation, outdoor recreation and community well-being.

Published requirements

Courses

The first-year registration example and three published Honours major requirements. Required courses differ by major.

1A · Fall · All majors5 listed

Waterloo enrols students in these five courses for the fall example.

Recreation and Leisure Studies first-year course selection by major
1B · Recreation, Leadership, and Health2 listed

The suggested sequence also includes three free electives.

Recreation and Leisure Studies first-year course selection by major
1B · Sport and Recreation Management2 listed

The suggested sequence also includes two REC electives and one free elective.

Recreation and Leisure Studies first-year course selection by major
1B · Therapeutic Recreation2 listed

The suggested sequence also includes one REC elective and two free electives.

Recreation and Leisure Studies first-year course selection by major
Recreation, Leadership, and Health

Recreation, Leadership, and Health

Required courses14 listed

11.5 required units, including the shared courses and approved alternatives.

Waterloo Honours BA · Recreation, Leadership, and Health degree requirements
Required choices10 listed

Choose an equivalent from each required group listed in the degree calendar.

Waterloo Honours BA · Recreation, Leadership, and Health degree requirements
Sport and Recreation Management

Sport and Recreation Management

Required courses12 listed

10.5 required units, including the shared courses and approved alternatives.

Waterloo Honours BA · Sport and Recreation Management degree requirements
Required choices12 listed

Choose an equivalent from each required group listed in the degree calendar.

Waterloo Honours BA · Sport and Recreation Management degree requirements
Approved electives55 listed

Complete 2.5 units from this approved list. Some courses have separate enrolment requirements.

Waterloo Honours BA · Sport and Recreation Management degree requirements
Therapeutic Recreation

Therapeutic Recreation

Required courses14 listed

10.5 required units, including the shared courses and approved alternatives.

Waterloo Honours BA · Therapeutic Recreation degree requirements
Required choices3 listed

Choose an equivalent from each required group listed in the degree calendar.

Waterloo Honours BA · Therapeutic Recreation degree requirements
Elective choices
  • Check the major’s published requirements for required REC and approved choices before using free electives.

Careers

  • Recreation program coordinator
  • Camp director
  • Community engagement specialist
Scope and qualifications

Career and co-op examples from Waterloo’s three Recreation and Leisure Studies majors.

Costs

Program or faculty

First-year estimate

2026–27 · Two terms · CAD

Ontario example · Choose your fee category

Tuition and incidental fees$9,000
Books and supplies$1,500
Residence
Residence
$8,254
Meal plan
Meal plan
$8,040
Estimated total$26,794
TuitionResidenceMeal plansSources and notes

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