In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- Take English courses like Literature and Love, Reading Fiction, and Children’s Literature to gain skills for academic success.
- Explore other programs through interesting electives like History Detectives and Indigenous Peoples and Media.
- Consider enhancing your English degree with an option or minor.
- Enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support.
- Take courses in writing, literary theory, British literary tradition, contemporary American, Canadian Literature and world literatures, and genres, special topics or authors as you refine your conceptual, reading and writing skills.
- Take classes in creative writing taught by award-winning writers of fiction and poetry.
- Engage with visiting writers in residence.
- Consider registering in a course with a community service-learning component to apply your learning outside of the classroom.
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Take seminar courses to build your writing, research, presentation and communication skills.
- Consider taking Professional Writing, Advanced Academic Writing, and Creative Writing courses to fully develop your writing skills.
- Participate in the Academic, Creative and Engaged Research Showcase (ACERS).
- Take advantage of the Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence Program through events, lectures, workshops and one-on-one meetings with a resident writer.
- If you’re applying to graduate school, sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop and book a further education appointment at the Career Centre.
As an English (Brantford) student, you can:
- Join student clubs such as the Faculty of Liberal Arts Student Society (FLASS) and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
- Apply to work as a student tutor with Writing Services.
- Join Laurier Students for Literacy and make a positive impact in the community.
- Write for Laurier Brantford’s student newspaper, The Sputnik. or other WLU Student Publications.
- Participate as a judge for the Laurier Stedman Prize for Young Writers.
- Participate in faculty and student-led creative writing/literary events.
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
- Analyze, interpret, structure and edit written materials and information in print and digital formats and develop your critical thinking, reading and writing skills in preparation for working in a globally connected world.
- Learn the practice of effective communication and other keys to professional success in careers as diverse as education, law, politics and public relations.
- Understand social, cultural and political perspectives on literature and the act of writing in a range of genres and historical periods by a wide selection of authors.
- Achieve a more advanced understanding of texts by both canonical and non-canonical authors, and their wider cultural and historical contexts, contribute to class discussions, and work with instructors to develop your writing and research skills.
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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82 Faculty of Liberal Arts 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. 9% 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 - English, Museum Studies
- Bachelor’s Degree - Education
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- assistant museum curator
- data entry clerk
- independent freelance writer/social media marketing
- junior content creator
- provincial youth ambassador program coordinator
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- branch administrator
- content creator
- digital marketing coordinator
- director of content marketing
- editor/reporter
- federal court registry officer
- human resources generalist
- program coordinator
- publishing sales representative
- supervising editor
- writing centre technologist
- youth support worker
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
- advertising/marketing
- business/corporate communications
- counselling/social work
- digital media/social media
- education/teaching
- entertainment/film
- event planning
- government
- human resources
- journalism/media
- law/legal field
- library/archives/museum
- non-profit/advocacy
- public relations
- radio
- 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.