In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- Take the Introduction to North American Studies course: Billionaires, Beavers and Banditos.
- Attend North American Studies sponsored events including Meet the Profs night.
- Enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support.
- Complete courses in North American Studies and your other Honours BA program.
- Enrol in a language course such as French or Spanish.
- Complete an academic term at partner institutions in the United States or Mexico (bursaries available).
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Learn about Research and Instructional Assistantship opportunities in North American Studies and at the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.
- Attend or present at the annual Crossing Borders Student Conference held jointly by the University of Buffalo and Brock University.
- If you’re applying to graduate school, sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop and book a further education application appointment.
As a North American Studies student, you can:
- Join student clubs such as Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
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
The functional knowledge you will develop in your program will help you:
- Develop skills to effectively evaluate and examine past, present and future North American life.
- Explore topics and issues relevant to Canada from a variety of perspectives and compare North American culture/society with international cultures/societies.
- Gather information, conduct research and evaluate the needs of North Americans.
- Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of selected North American problems and issues.
- Display an understanding of how the unique North American climate, history, government policy and culture impact the continued development of North American society.
- Identify and examine the key factors which affect the continued development of North America for the purposes of extrapolating information and planning for future development.
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.
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Pursuing Further Education
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Employed
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Other
106 North American Studies and Political Science 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. 3% 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
- JD - Law
- Master’s Degree - Applied Politics, Political Science, Global Affairs, Library and Information Science
- College Program - Public Administration, Project Management
- Bachelor's Degree - Education
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- community engagement and communications coordinator
- English teaching assistant
- junior resource coordinator
- Ontario legislative intern
- research associate
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- disability case manager
- government research assistant
- human resources coordinator
- lawyer
- museum collection assistant
- operations project analyst
- research administrative assistant
- senior project manager
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
- community outreach/development
- cultural heritage
- diplomacy/international relations
- economic development
- education/teaching
- environment
- government
- hospitality/tourism
- immigration
- journalism/media
- non-profit/advocacy
- public policy
- research/market analysis
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.