In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- Take required Social Work courses and explore other programs of interest through electives.
- Enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support.
- Meet with Field Education Coordinators to plan for your field placements where you’ll gain supervised professional social work experience in social and community agency settings. Vulnerable sector checks may be required.
- Take research classes to identify potential projects for agencies.
- Attend the Field Fair and network with agency directors prior to field placements.
- Attend the Federation for Humanities and Social Sciences Congress.
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Learn about Research and Instructional Assistantship opportunities in Social Work.
- Complete field placements to gain required practical experience.
- Register with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers upon graduation from the BSW program.
- If you’re applying to graduate school, sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop and book a further education application appointment.
As a Social Work student, you can:
- Join student clubs such as the Bachelor of Social Work Students' Association and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
- Take part in community-based events and campaigns.
- Volunteer at the Medicine Garden.
- Look for student opportunities to serve on faculty committees.
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
- Develop an understanding of human and environmental factors and processes that influence social functioning in contemporary life.
- Understand major social problems and strengths in the history of social welfare and in current Canadian and international social welfare policies and programs.
- Gain an awareness of current social, community and ethical issues and relevant policies, as well as knowledge and skills, which contribute to constructive, institutional change and development.
- Demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the impact of government policies, economic inequities and ideologies related to culture, class, gender and race on individuals and communities.
- Demonstrate the interpersonal competency to combine self-insight with critical analysis of one’s role as a social worker in order to give fair consideration to the impact of power relations and identity in the practice of social work.
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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64 BSW 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. 6% 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 - Social Work
- Bachelor's Degree - Education
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- addictions counsellor
- behavioural support worker
- child protection worker
- education and inclusion coordinator
- group facilitator
- housing case manager
- mental health first responder
- probation and parole officer
- social worker
- victim witness services worker
- youth program manager
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- community recreation coordinator
- mental health counsellor
- non-profit consultant
- resident care aide
- social worker
- transplant resource specialist
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
- education
- emergency response
- employment equity
- equity, diversity and inclusion
- government
- healthcare/rehabilitation
- immigration
- international development
- long-term care
- mediation
- mental health
- non-profit/advocacy
- probations/parole
- public policy
- social justice
- social work
- student affairs
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.