In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- Take required courses and explore other programs of interest through electives.
- Join the Design Makers Learning Cluster to extend opportunities for learning and development beyond the classroom.
- Begin your e-portfolio in your Digital Technology Lab course.
- Work with clients in industry and the community to complete first-year projects.
- Participate in the first-year industry-sponsored partner company visit during Orientation.
- Enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support.
- Continue working with clients in industry and the local community for your course projects.
- Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your second year. You will gain 12 to 16 months of work experience through an extended co-op work term in your fourth year, returning to complete your academic requirements in your fifth year.
- Participate in user experience conferences such as UXPA International.
- Compete in national and international design competitions.
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Complete your fourth-year capstone design project working with clients from private industry, government or the non-profit sector.
- Plan for taking your Project Management certification exam.
- If you’re applying to graduate school, sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop and book a further education application appointment.
As a User Experience Design student, you can:
- Join student clubs such as the User Experience Design Students' Association or Game Design and Development Students' Association and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
- Apply for summer positions in the industry.
- Collaborate with peers and the community at The Creativity Hub.
- Join the User Experience Professionals Association as a student member.
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
- Design and evaluate content, products, services and design solutions with an understanding of the end-users' needs and environment.
- Explore all aspects of the design process including visual analysis, design thinking, design theory, user research, prototypes, usability tests and universal design principles as well as the social and cultural implications of design.
- Conduct research to understand people's needs, goals, tasks, and actions.
- Make physical and digital prototypes using a range of tools and techniques including clay, 3D printing, laser cutting, microcontrollers and computer programming.
- Make aesthetic design decisions using visual design concepts and processes.
- Design and implement a comprehensive UX strategy for a product or service including planning, marketing, trends, legal implications and budgeting.
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
20 UX Design respondents from the 2024 Laurier Graduate Survey conducted by the Career Centre. Graduates were surveyed within 12 months of graduation. 20% 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 - User Experience Design, Inclusive Design, Digital Experience Innovation
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- graphic designer and inventory manager
- junior field technician
- service designer
- UI/UX designer
- user experience researcher
- UX lead, senior policy advisor
- warehouse and data entry associate
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- client experience associate
- customer success manager
- designer
- fire prevention inspector
- senior product designer
- tech support specialist
- senior UX designer
- UX research consultant
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
- accessibility
- advertising/marketing
- business management
- content strategy
- cultural heritage/tourism
- digital media/social media
- education/teaching
- entrepreneurship
- finance
- government
- graphic design
- healthcare
- information architecture
- library/archives/museum
- marketing
- product design
- product management
- research/market analysis
- sustainability
- technology
- urban planning/development
- user experience/user interface
- web design
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.