In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- Take required courses and learn about co-op:
- Apply at the end of your first year (admission criteria include first-year marks, co-curricular activities, recent work and volunteer experience as well as performance in an admissions interview).
- Complete the Co-op Fundamentals course if you have been accepted to co-op.
- Participate in the Live Case Competition in your first-year Business course (BU111) to answer a strategic question posed by a real company.
- Work in a team to generate and present a new venture for the BDO New Venture Competition.
- Participate in Supplemental Instruction sessions for key courses.
- Live in the Business and Economics Residence Learning Community to extend opportunities for learning and development beyond the classroom.
- Enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support.
- Declare your business concentration at the beginning of your third year.
- Complete required courses and electives and plan accordingly for your final year.
- Put your business knowledge and skills to the test by participating in ICE (Integrated Case Exercise) – a 10-day intensive, immersive case experience where you will analyze a real problem facing a real organization.
- Practice your investment skills with the Laurier Student Investment Fund.
- Complete co-op work terms to gain valuable work experience, if you have been accepted to co-op.
- Look into an international study tour with the International Business concentration.
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Complete coursework for your business concentration.
- Learn about Instructional Assistantship and Lab Instructor opportunities in Business.
- Apply for admission to the post-degree Graduate Diploma in Accounting if you are pursuing the CPA designation.
- Look for research opportunities at the Co-operators Centre for Business and Sustainability.
- Attend the Supply Chain Summit.
- Complete the Canadian Securities Course to become licensed to work within the Canadian securities industry.
- Participate in the World of Opportunities Challenge where you will identify a business opportunity in another country.
- Complete one term abroad with an academic exchange.
- If you’re applying to graduate school, sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop or book a writing consultation for help with your funding proposals.
As a business student, you can:
- Join student clubs such as the Lazaridis Students’ Society clubs or Enactus and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
- The Lazaridis Students' Society (LazSoc) is the student government specifically for all Business, double-degree, and Economics students at Laurier and includes a variety of clubs, committees and associations. LazSoc strives to enhance your university experience by providing opportunities to discover and pursue your passions through academic and networking events.
- Get inspired at the Changemakers Hub.
- Join the Laurier Case Team and represent the Lazaridis School at JDC Central, a team competition of debates and academic cases, along with charity, sports and social events.
- Enrol in Prism Resources training sessions to increase your digital literacy.
- Explore opportunities to be creative and innovative and learn how to take your ideas and turn them into profitable new ventures. StartUp Lab, Laurier's incubator in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, provides support, mentorship and resources to startups founded by Laurier students.
- Attend employer recruiting sessions hosted by the Career Centre.
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
- Exhibit knowledge of business principles and processes.
- Identify and analyze ethical issues in a business context.
- Understand global issues affecting business management and performance.
- Learn about all areas of business including accounting, business and sustainability, entrepreneurship, finance, human resources, insurance and risk management, international business, marketing, strategic management and supply chain management.
- Organize and analyse data for business decision making
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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579 BBA respondents from the 2024 Laurier Graduate Survey conducted by the Career Centre. Graduates were surveyed within 12 months of graduation.
Alumni and Career Pathways
Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation
- Master’s Degree - Business Administration, Digital Management, Global Governance, Marketing, Supply Chain Management
- Graduate Diploma - Accounting
- JD - Law
- College Program - Event Management, Sports Management
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- AI content specialist
- financial analyst
- investment banking analyst
- management consultant
- project manager
- sales and marketing coordinator
- social media & community manager
- staff accountant
- strategy and operations analyst
- underwriting analyst
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- brand manager
- entrepreneur
- equity research associate
- human resources manager
- lawyer
- marketing data analyst
- project manager
- senior consultant
- senior digital analyst
- senior tax analyst
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
- accounting
- brand strategy
- corporate communications
- data analysis
- entrepreneurship
- finance/banking
- human resources
- international development
- management consulting
- market analysis/research
- marketing/advertising
- real estate
- retail management
- sales
- supply chain
- sustainability
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.