Experience Guide

Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities

First Year

• Take English courses to learn key concepts associated with analysis, elements of literary interpretations, academic and research skills, and explore other programs of interest.
• Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
• Attend the "Meet the Prof Night" and get to know your professors.
• Review your program requirements and plan for a successful degree path.
• Meet with your academic advisor if you have any questions about requirements or degree options, or for advice about selecting courses.
• Take the Intro to Academic Writing course.
• Consider completing spring/summer courses to get ahead in your studies.

Middle Years

• Explore a variety of critical approaches by taking varied courses and ensure you are meeting your category requirements.
• Explore courses in related areas of study and begin thinking about a minor or an option to complement your degree.
• Consider taking social entrepreneurship or entrepreneurship courses.
• Consider registering in a course with a Community Service-Learning component to apply your learning outside of the classroom.
• Meet with your academic advisor to make key academic decisions.
• Take courses in writing, literary theory, British literary tradition, contemporary American literature, Canadian literature, world literatures, genres, special topics or specific authors as you refine your conceptual, reading and writing skills.
• Consider creative writing as a possible focus for your study in English.

Final Year

• Learn about Research or Instructional Assistantship opportunities in English.
• Complete seminar courses to build reading, analytical, writing, research, presentation and communication skills.
• Participate in class discussions, deliver oral presentations and conference-style papers on specialized research topics.
• Thinking of pursuing graduate school?
  • Attend a departmental information session.
  • Talk to your professors and visit the Career Centre.
  • Sign up for a scholarship proposal-writing workshop or book a writing consultation for help with your proposals.
• Consider a special option for high-achieving students to complete one course in the English master's program.

Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience

First Year

• Join student clubs such as the English Students’ Association (ESA), Arts Undergraduate Society or a special interest club. Or create your own!
• Participate in residence leadership opportunities or attend LOCUS events.
• Contribute to Laurier’s weekly newspaper, The Cord, or submit a creative piece to Blueprint Magazine.
• Contribute to the Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts (LUJA).
• Explore your interests by volunteering on campus (e.g., Sustainability Office, Schlegel Centre's Innovation Squad, peer programs, Students' Union and more).
• Join intramural sports or participate in recreational activities.

Middle Years

• Be a note taker through the Accessible Learning Centre.
• Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
• Consider a student representative position on the department or faculty committee.
• Apply to work as a tutor in the Writing Centre.
• Attend the "What Can You Do With An English Degree?" series.
• Meet the Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence.
• Participate in faculty- and student-led creative writing/literary events.
• Connect with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities.
• Be a part of the Library Council or Student Advisory Group.

Final Year

• Apply for an executive position in an on-campus club.
• Attend the Career and Job Fairs to network with employers.
• Become an editor or other staff member for the Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts (LUJA).
• Take advantage of the Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence program and refine your writing skills through events, lectures, workshops and one-on-one meetings with the resident writer.
• Look into the LaunchPad program for the opportunity to discover, validate and launch an innovative new venture.

Be Engaged: Broaden Your Perspective

First Year

• Visit the Diversity and Equity Office and become a member of the student service provider groups.
• Visit Laurier International to learn about international options available to you in places like the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Denmark to enrich your university experience.
• Complete the Intercultural Effectiveness Certificate to build your intercultural competence and global perspective.

Middle Years

• Study abroad for an academic term in your third year.
• Consider enrolling in a language course.
• Visit Laurier International’s Global Kitchen or Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
• Consider the Alternative Reading Week trip with Habitat for Humanity.
• Attend the Library Learning Commons Culture Series.

Final Year

• Complete the Diversity Certificate.
• Consider attending the Ashoka U Exchange.

Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities

First Year

• Take Film Studies courses and explore other programs of interest.
• Review your program requirements and plan for a successful degree path.
• Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
• Attend the "Free Film" series.
• Meet with your academic advisor for details about the Vancouver Film School Pathway Program.
• Live in the Film and Media Residence Learning Community to enhance your academic and social success.

Middle Years

• Explore courses in related areas of study and begin thinking about a minor or an option to complement your degree.
• Attend the Vancouver Film School Pathway program.
• Submit your academic work to the Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts for a chance to be published.
• Consider taking social entrepreneurship or entrepreneurship courses.
• Meet with your  academic advisor to make key academic decisions.

Final Year

• Learn about Research or Instructional Assistantship opportunities in Film Studies.
• Attend the Society for Cinema and Media Studies undergraduate conference.
• Present at the Undergraduate Film Symposium.
• Thinking of pursuing graduate school?
  • Consider the directed study or graduate course option for fourth year.
  • Talk to your professors and visit the Career Centre.
  • Sign up for a scholarship proposal-writing workshop or book a writing consultation for help with your proposals.

Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience

First Year

• Join student clubs such as the WLU Film Society, Golden Hawks Film Club, Kino Hearts, Laurier Bollyhawks Association or a special interest club. Or create your own!
• Participate in residence leadership opportunities or attend LOCUS events.
• Contribute to Laurier’s weekly newspaper, The Cord, or submit a creative piece to Blueprint Magazine.
• Explore your interests by volunteering on campus (e.g., Sustainability Office, Schlegel Centre's Innovation Squad, peer programs, Students' Union and more).
• Join intramural sports or participate in recreational activities.

Middle Years

• Look for volunteer cast and crew opportunities on local productions.
• Share your music taste as a DJ on Radio Laurier.
• Be a note taker through the Accessible Learning Centre.
• Be a part of the Film Studies Advisory Group.
• Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
• Get involved with Kitchener-Waterloo's Commons Studio and the Grand River Film Festival.

Final Year

• Apply for an executive position in an on-campus club.
• Attend the Career and Job Fairs to network with employers.
• Volunteer with the Grand River Film Festival or Kitchener-Waterloo’s Commons Studio.
• Look into the LaunchPad program for the opportunity to discover, validate and launch an innovative new venture.

Be Engaged: Broaden Your Perspective

First Year

• Visit the Diversity and Equity Office and become a member of the student service provider groups.
• Visit Laurier International to learn about international options available to you to enrich your university experience.
• Complete the Intercultural Effectiveness Certificate to build your intercultural competence and global perspective.

Middle Years

• Consider enrolling in a language course.
• Visit Laurier International’s Global Kitchen or Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
• Consider the Alternative Reading Week trip with Habitat for Humanity.
• Attend the Library Learning Commons Culture Series.
• Study abroad for an academic term.

Final Year

• Complete the Diversity Certificate.
• Consider attending the Ashoka U Exchange.

Your graduate degree at Laurier will take you in many different directions and prepare you to be a leader in both your field and community. Your Laurier experience includes many opportunities to engage both in and outside the classroom.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies provides academic leadership, administrative support and program advice to all graduate students. There are also scholarships and financial awards, fellowships and other teaching and research assistantship positions that you can access during your time at Laurier.

Graduate students gain knowledge about professional skill development through Laurier’s ASPIRE program. This program provides a framework for you to design an extracurricular learning plan for navigating your professional journey and entry to the workplace. There are also teaching certificates, career development workshops and other skill development opportunities.

The Graduate Students’ Association provides many services and supports with a focus on wellness. They provide various opportunities to be involved and contribute to the Laurier community.

The Laurier graduate school experience is more than research and scholarship – it’s about becoming an engaged citizen and applying your advanced knowledge to real-world problems.