ARTS 140Information and Analysis
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
- Subject
- Arts
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course introduces students to diverse ways of finding, examining, and using data and information in the social sciences and humanities. In a small seminar setting, students will explore a variety of topics based on instructor expertise in order to understand quantitative and qualitative methods of data gathering and build competencies in conceptualizing, contextualizing, and comprehending methods of information analysis. Students will be expected to investigate, use, and assess the presentation of information in their own work and the work of others so that they can better understand the range of social, ethical, and political challenges of our world.
Prerequisites
- Enrolled in a program offered by Faculty of Arts
Antirequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Not open to students enrolled in H-Accounting & Financial Management
- Not have obtained 1 of the following milestones: English Proficiency Requirement Milestone and Undergraduate Communication Requirement Milestone
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Reviewed on UW Flow
71% liked it79% easy59% useful
From 217 ratings and 65 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
The class is okay but the workload is absolutely insane! I have more assignments in this class than several others. Every week we have to write on a discussion board, or we have to write an essay, or we have to peer-review other people's essays in addition to other assignments the prof gives us. It is nearly impossible to keep up with. And, the professor seems to have high standards so it is really difficult to get a decent grade.
Nov 2020 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Took this in first year. ARTS 140 Information and Analysis To Steal or Not to Steal was a small seminar-style course focused on analyzing information and research methods in the social sciences and humanities. Professor Castaneda Ochoa was excellent — organized, knowledgeable, and very approachable. He communicated clearly and encouraged questions in class or via email. Lectures were straightforward but he didn’t post slides unless requested, so attendance and note-taking were crucial. Missing even a single class made it easy to fall behind.
The course material was heavy, covering ethics, TCPS 2, qualitative/quantitative research, and analysis. Assignments required effort and attention,…Dec 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
TAKE "VIDEO GAME RESEARCH METHODS" IF IT'S TAUGHT BY BETSY BREY!!! She is so cool and is clearly very passionate about what she's teaching! We played Undertale for our assignments. As a big fan of video games I found this course incredibly interesting and fun! Super chill and easy, nice course to take on the side without it taking up too much of your time.
Dec 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Your experience depends on the topic you take and what professor you have. I personally think these arts first courses are a useless requirement. I did not learn much of importance from these classes and the content discussed does not really relate to my areas of study. These classes are easy though.
May 2024 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I took Mobile Tech & Society online. It was great, the prof was nice and I learned how to write a research paper effectively!
Apr 2021 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
31 posts and comments in 26 threads mention ARTS 140, June 2017 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2024
ARTS140- prof out for me or what 5 points, 5 comments
ARTS140 Easiest A+, Nicest Prof 3 points, 0 comments
u/Junior-Gold1207: “Arts 140 From Polar Bears to Bumblebees: The Economics of Wildlife Conservation the easiest course to get A+ in, just talk to him. If you are late/absent, let him know why and he's super accommodating. …”
Question for arts students: what happens if I fail arts 140? 1 point, 7 comments
“I don’t think I’m gonna pass arts 140 this term. Would I have to retake it later?”
u/TheZarosian: “You have to retake it as it's a requirement to graduate. Just pass the course. ARTS 130/140 are some of the easiest first-year courses out there.”
bird/in-person/chill/interesting course for winter 1 point, 3 comments
“on the hunt for a bird course, in person, having issues finding something that werks well with the schedule (I'm in eng), something that won't make me question my life choices, or my will to live, …”
u/threethousandstars: “… There are also the ARTS140 courses as electives—each section focuses on a diff topic and they change every term; you can see each one if you search the course up on quest. …”
Transfer to Ivey HBA 2 points, 0 comments
u/SkeletonReborn07: “… My ECON grades are also all high 90's (I did fail one ARTS 140(communications course) though). I have also found the math courses to be easier than I thought. I want to do something in the finance field particularly Private Equity or Hedge fund management. …”
Spring 2024
Help with Course Materials 1 point, 0 comments
u/GuiltyDetective6395: “Hey everyone Does anyone have an online PDF of “Parkin & Bade: Microeconomics 11th Ed.”? If you do, please share it with me. Also, I wanted to know if there are any course materials that we have to purchase for ARBUS 101 and ARTS 140 Thanks!”
SDS Full-Time / Online Curriculum 2 points, 4 comments
“Hello everyone! I received an offer of admission for SDS FT online. I was wondering if anyone can share their experience in SDS or completing degrees online in general: How are you finding online …”
u/librarynrd: “I work full-time and enrolled in sds as a fully online student part-time. The load is manageable. Online modules are well organized, and professors are very accommodating and supportive. …”
u/librarynrd: “SDS students get priority access to online sections of both ARTS 130/140. I chose ny online topic during the course add/drop period.”
What ARTS 130 and 140 topics don’t involve presentations? 3 points, 3 comments
u/LS_reader: “I need to make a list of topics I’m interested in. I want to choose one that won’t involve any presentations whatsoever. What are your suggestions.”
u/Mistycat44: “Most (if not all) ARTS 130 and 140 classes have a presentation requirement unfortunately. I’d just choose a topic that appeals to you…”
What are the best/easiest topics to take for ARTS 130 and 140? 1 point, 1 comment
Winter 2024
A professor has been flirting with my friend since 2022 and I’m worried 134 points, 26 comments
“first of all , sorry for my bad English , I hope you can still understand me. Two years ago, in one of my class I made a friend. …”
u/mynewwaterlooaccount: “My friend had a similar experience. DM’d.”
u/BlocksAndMoreBlocks: “Was it an ARTS 140 prof, cuz my friend went through the same thing”
When do I need to finish ARTS130 and ARTS140 by? 1 point, 0 comments
Denied ARTS 140 Appeal... So 1 course going to take me another year to graduate? 20 points, 6 comments
u/raverflave: “… I'm a transfer student, and because I transferred during covid, I wasn't on campus and entirely 'in the know' about the ARTS 130/140 courses. I've done most of my degree online because of transferring courses, lock down, and then the death of my father. I'm obviously upset. …”
u/3Noses: “… deserve the degree when every other student who goes through hard shit still has to take ARTS 130/140. So consider: - If you transferred in during COVID, was that in 2020? 2021? 2022? Later? Arts 130 and 140 have been required since 2018, they're not new. …”
u/raverflave: “… Of course neglecting ARTS 140 was on me; I was aware of it, but put it off because I wasn't necessarily in my 'first year'. Instead, I was prioritizing graduating and getting my minor as efficiently as possible. …”
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