In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- If you're in the BA in combination program, take courses related to your second major and explore other programs of interest through electives.
- Gain skills in a second language such as American Sign Language.
- Enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support.
- Research social issues and work with community partners such as St. Leonard’s, Elizabeth Fry, Why Not Youth Centre and the City of Brantford Social Services department.
- Attend the Criminology Students' Association Annual Conference and public Criminology lecture series.
- Participate in ‘Brown Bag’ lunch sessions with faculty as they present their current research.
- Visit the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto and the Grand Valley Institution for Women on planned bus trips.
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Learn about Research Assistantship opportunities in your area of interest.
- Look for opportunities to present your academic work at paper competitions and the Criminology Students' Association Annual Conference.
- Consider the graduate diploma in Public Safety or Master of Public Safety and discuss your options with the graduate program coordinator.
- If you’re applying to graduate school, sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop and book a further education application appointment.
As a Policing or Public Safety student, you can:
- Join student clubs such as the Criminology Students’ Association (CSA), Law & Society Students' Association, Brantford Moot Club, Faculty of Liberal Arts Student Society (FLASS), or the Women in Law Laurier (Brantford) and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
- Sit in as a member of the Laurier Brantford Mock Trial Club.
- Become a member of the Student Rights Advisory Committee.
- Participate in the Policing community page online: Community Space for Policing Degree.
- Get involved in community partnerships with local police forces and the Canadian military.
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
- Gain an understanding of why some behaviours (and not others) are defined as criminal, the causes of law-breaking behaviour and how society reacts to crime.
- Gather and assess information related to the prediction and management of criminal and deviant behaviours.
- Develop an awareness of human and social behaviour and how it is applied to policy development.
- Demonstrate knowledge of public policy and interpret and assess its impact on society.
- Develop an understanding of various governmental, community and social institutions and their roles and the ability to provide information to assist individuals and organizations to make informed decisions.
- Gain an understanding of how cultural and societal change and diversity within the community impacts individuals' behaviour and perceptions.
- Study and investigate criminal activities and identify methods of prevention and justice in combination with competencies developed in second major.
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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42 Policing 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. 2% 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 - Criminology, Public Safety, Social Work, Counselling Psychology
- JD - Law
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- business analyst
- court officer
- investigator
- media relations officer
- police officer
- senior project management consultant
- staff sergeant
- victim specialist
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- child and youth counsellor
- constable
- community shelter worker
- detective
- lawyer
- public and government relations manager
- public safety advisor
- security supervisor
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
- border security/customs
- emergency response
- finance/insurance
- forensics
- fraud
- government
- immigration
- intelligence
- investigation
- law enforcement
- legal field
- mediation
- mental health
- military
- probations/parole
- social work
Career Resources
- Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
- Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
- Canadian Council on International Law
- Canadian Criminal Justice Association
- Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police
- Canadian Forces
- St. Leonard’s Community Services
- Canadian Security and Intelligence Service
- Canadian Border Services Agency
- Public Safety Canada
- International Association of Chiefs of Police
- International Public Safety Association
- International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators
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
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