In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- Take required Philosophy courses and explore other programs of interest.
- Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
- Explore a wide array of courses that discuss the great questions and concerns in society, and a number of non-traditional subjects, including non-Western philosophies, feminism and gender theory, and philosophy of the environment.
- Enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support.
- Attend the Department of Philosophy talks and events to broaden your knowledge of philosophy.
- Learn about Research Assistantship opportunities in Philosophy.
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate or law school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Explore opportunities for high-achieving Philosophy majors to work as Instructional Assistants to gain experience in teaching, mentoring, and effective communication.
- If you’re applying to graduate or law school, meet with the Philosophy Graduate Officer, sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop and book a further education application appointment.
As a Philosophy student, you can:
- Join student clubs such as Laurier's Philosophy Club, Laurier Debate Society, or Laurier Pre-Law Society 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
- Identify a philosophical problem and analyze key argumentative elements such as premises, conclusions, presuppositions, and empirical versus a priori reasoning.
- Identify and understand the characteristics of a well-structured and well-supported argument.
- Read philosophical and other theoretical works closely, charitably and actively, and be able to generate clear and accurate expository accounts of other peoples' work/arguments.
- Develop and display a sensitivity to the historical, social, political and cultural forces that may shape and influence philosophical problems and perspectives.
- Demonstrate familiarity with the central problems, debates and movements within three primary areas of Philosophy: Metaphysics and Epistemology, Values and Ethics (broadly construed to include, e.g., social, legal, and political philosophy) and History of Philosophy.
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
21 Philosophy 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.
Alumni Career and Pathways
Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation
- JD - Law
- Master’s Degree - Philosophy, Education
- College Program - Paralegal
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- entrepreneur
- executive assistant
- junior US tax specialist
- research assistant
- sales and marketing manager
- underwriting assistant
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- development and communications coordinator
- eLearning courseware developer
- global partnerships coordinator
- human resources generalist
- lawyer
- learning facilitator
- physician
- research project manager
- senior policy advisor
- technical facilitator
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
- counselling/social work
- cultural heritage/tourism
- diplomacy/international relations
- education/teaching
- ethics
- government
- journalism/media
- law/legal field
- library/archives/museum
- medicine
- non-profit/advocacy
- politics
- public policy
- research/market analysis
- technology/artificial intelligence
- writing/publishing
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.