In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- Take required Geography courses and explore other programs of interest. Your required courses depend on whether you are pursuing a BA or BSc in Geography.
- Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
- Attend departmental events with other first-year students and meet the Geography faculty.
- Live in the Faculty of Science Residence Learning Community to enhance your academic and social success.
- Enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support.
- Complete your required Field Studies and Methods courses and take courses with a fieldwork/lab component.
- Enrich your learning experience by enrolling in a course with a Community Service-Learning component.
- Look for summer fieldwork opportunities with faculty members.
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Ask about Research or Instructional Assistantship opportunities in Geography.
- Consider completing a thesis in your final year to research an area of interest.
- Register for a seminar or capstone course with a fieldwork component or community placement.
- Consider taking the optional fourth-year field course. Students in past years have had opportunities to design and carry out original research projects in places such as Peru, the Canadian Rockies, Morocco, and Yukon Territory.
- If you’re applying to graduate school, sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop and book a further education application appointment.
As a Geography student, you can:
- Join student clubs such as the Geography and Environmental Studies Students' Association (GESSA) and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
- Volunteer in the community at a school or a non-profit organization.
- Build important networks through educational outreach and environmental work in the community (e.g., REEP Green Solutions, rare Charitable Research Reserve, Sustainability Waterloo Region, Waterloo Region Nature club).
- Join the Canadian Association of Geographers as a student member.
- Provide environmental assistance to outside advisory panels (e.g., Laurel Creek Citizens’ Working Group).
- Apply for funding for a sustainable initiative on campus through the Sustainable Hawk Fund.
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
- Understand the impact of geography on economic, political, cultural and historical development, and develop an awareness of issues such as climate change, population trends, globalization and resource management.
- Interpret and apply scientific principles, relevant legislation, policies and guidelines to environmental, corporate and industrial resource management practices.
- Observe and measure the use of earth resources through time to understand changing environments.
- Understand the principles of resource management and the impact of development/tourism on the environment.
- Gain an understanding of techniques related to conservation and effective land management, and plan for the optimal use of space and environment.
- Develop real-world knowledge and applied skills highly desired by employers, including the use of Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and aerial drones.
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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950 Faculty of Science 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. 5% 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 - Geography, Earth Science, Economic Development, Environmental Sustainability
- Bachelor's Degree - Education
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- account manager
- claims assistant
- conservation authority operations
- geographical information systems technician
- program officer
- retail manager
- topographic surveyor
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- data analyst
- ecosystem management technologist
- environmental scientist
- environmental underwriter
- GIS and statistical analyst
- planner
- public health consultant
- risk management inspector
- teacher
- water and wastewater management 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
- agriculture
- cartography
- conservation
- consulting
- education/teaching
- environmental planning
- geology
- geospatial intelligence
- government
- journalism/media
- public policy
- real estate
- research
- resource management
- sustainability
- tourism/travel
- transportation
- urban planning
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.