In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- Take required Global Studies courses (GS101 + GS102), plus your required 1.0 language credit and complete other electives of interest.
- Investigate the three Global Studies Concentrations for focus in later years: i) Culture and Identity; ii) Development and Sustainability; iii) Peace and Conflict.
- Learn about Global Studies Co-op and apply at the end of your first year.
- Make an appointment with your Global Studies Academic Advisor (gsadvisor@wlu.ca) and enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support.
- Take part in Global Studies Student Association (GSSA) activities to meet fellow students and professors and follow Global Studies' social media and contribute content to Laurier Global Studies or to the GSSA.
- Take required Global Studies theory and methods courses (GS201 + 202) plus other senior GS credits.
- Declare a Global Studies Concentration in order to specialize in i) Culture and Identity; ii) Development and Sustainability; and/or iii) Peace and Conflict.
- Learn about the different ways to participate in engaged learning and international experiences, including:
- Study abroad on an international exchange with partner universities.
- Take a GS field course (previous courses have taken place in Costa Rica, Morocco, India, Bosnia, and Chile).
- Take advanced language study courses to enhance your marketable skills.
- Pursue the Social Entrepreneurship Minor to develop your entrepreneurial skills and gain hands-on practical experience with issues of social concern. Take the Social Innovation in the City (SE/GS 364) course to work with municipal and regional stakeholders on practical solutions to civic problems and learn about policy-making.
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Attend the annual GSSA Meet Your Future Event and network with GS alumni.
- Fulfil your senior GS credits, including 1.0 credit in fourth year courses.
- Network with Global Studies alumni at the GSSA’s annual Meet Your Future event.
- Submit an academic essay or poetry to the Adele Slater Award for writing on world peace.
- Connect with your favourite professors to discuss your future plans.
- Consider the MA in Global Justice, Religion and Culture, offered by Global Studies in collaboration with the Department of Religion & Culture.
- If you’re applying to graduate school, sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop and book a further education application appointment.
As a Global Studies student, you can:
- Apply for Co-op as part of your Global Studies degree.
- Join student clubs such as the Global Studies Student Association (GSSA), International Students Overcoming War (ISOW), or World University Service Canada (WUSC) and build leadership skills through relevant extracurriculars.
- Volunteer as a Global Engagement Student Ambassador.
Outside of your program, there are many co-curricular opportunities for you to participate in.
- Check out the Experience Catalogue for a full list of co-curricular experiences that are currently offered across campus.
- Volunteer with the Students’ Union (e.g., Laurier Orientation, Hawk Walk, EcoHawks, Food Bank, Emergency Response Team, Shinerama).
- Volunteer on campus with the Accessible Learning, Global Engagement, Sustainability Office, Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, WLU Student Publications and more.
- Get involved in the local community by volunteering off campus.
- Apply for on-campus jobs:
- Check Navigator frequently for job postings or contact individual departments directly.
- Search for job opportunities on the Students’ Union website.
- If you meet eligibility criteria, apply for the Laurier Work Study Program or International Student Work Experience Program.
- Attend Job Fairs to network with employers.
- Explore ways to get involved in research.
- Look into StartUp Lab opportunities for support in launching a new venture.
Job/Volunteer Search Tips
- While on-campus opportunities are posted year-round, recruitment often starts early! Start looking in the winter term for opportunities in the following academic year.
- Have your resumé and LinkedIn profile reviewed by Career Centre staff for both on and off-campus opportunities.
- Laurier offers a variety of co-curricular certificates that you can complete during your studies. Earn certificates in topics including academic development, professional development, wellness, leadership and career development.
- Participate in workshops, programming and events offered by the Career Centre, Gendered and Sexual Violence Prevention and Support, Laurier Library, the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and more.
- Engage in the First-Year Leadership Program including Campus Councils and House Council and the Leadership Certificate.
- Connect with Global Engagement to learn about international options available to you including opportunities abroad and language and culture sharing programs.
Design Your Degree
These are a few popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge. See undergraduate options, minors and courses for more information.
Develop Your Knowledge and Skills
As a Laurier student, you will develop the following competencies through your curricular and co-curricular experiences.
Competency Framework
Competencies are categories of transferrable skills that appear on your online Experience Record to help you reflect on what you've learned from your experiences. The competencies include:
- Adaptability and Resiliency
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Communication
- Creativity and Innovation
- Critical Thinking
- Digital Literacy
- Diversity and Intercultural Understanding
- Functional Knowledge
- Leadership
- Problem Solving
- Professional Attributes
- Self-Awareness
Functional Knowledge
- Demonstrating the key themes and issues of our three fields of study: Culture and Identity, Development and Sustainability, Peace and Conflict.
- Identifying multiple perspectives on global, national and local issues, while also being aware of how your own worldview is formed.
- Distinguishing the key theoretical and methodological approaches to studying global issues and employing them to conduct research into particular problems and questions.
- Demonstrating a critical awareness of how power shapes relationships between self and others, including social, economic, political and cultural/religious dimensions.
- Displaying an awareness of the similarities and differences in cultural, social and political life around the world, and the role of globalization in generating different kinds of change.
- Critically engaging with some of the big ideas - such as equality, justice and peace - that shape global institutions, policies and social movements.
Discover Career Options
All your experiences at Laurier can help you prepare for your future. Attend Career Centre events and workshops or book a career consulting appointment to explore career and further education options.
0
Pursuing Further Education
0
Employed
16 Global Studies respondents from the 2024 Laurier Graduate Survey conducted by the Career Centre. Graduates were surveyed within 12 months of graduation. Other includes those travelling, volunteering or out of the workforce. 6% of graduates were looking for employment when survey data collection ended.
Alumni Careers and Pathways
Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation
- Master’s Degree - Globalization, International Affairs, International Public Policy, Planning, Social Work
- College Program - Government Relations, Public Relations
- Bachelor's Degree - Education
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- account executive
- business processing associate
- co-founder and CEO
- finance administrator
- government policy intern
- immigration case analyst
- program assistant
- research and strategic planning intern
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- chief operating officer, non-profit organization
- community social development officer
- equity, diversity and inclusion programmer
- fund development coordinator
- manager, international student
- refugee sponsorship and settlement associate
- senior policy advisor
- training program coordinator
Career Options and Resources
Need some guidance on what you can do with your degree? Discover some career options and find resources to help guide you.
Career and Industry Options
- business/corporate development
- communications/public relations and outreach
- economic development
- education/teaching
- equity, diversity and inclusion
- foreign policy/international affairs
- humanitarian aid
- immigration
- international relations
- journalism
- law/legal field
- negotiation and dispute resolution
- non-profit/advocacy
- public policy
- refugee settlement and support
- research/market analysis
- social work/counselling
- sustainability
- tourism/cultural heritage
Career Resources
- International Development Research Centre
- Global Affairs Canada
- Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
- Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation
- Cooperation Canada
- International Institute for Sustainable Development
- Peace and Conflict Studies Association of Canada
- International Job Centre
Your Experiences Tell Your Story
Share your story through your Laurier Experience Record. An interactive, shareable and official record of your hands-on experiences and learning opportunities at Laurier – the first of its kind in Canada!
Share Your Feedback
We'd love to hear from you. Complete the Laurier Experience Guide Feedback Survey to share your thoughts.