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.
• Take the Intro to Academic Writing course.
• Consider completing spring/summer courses to get ahead in your studies.
• Live in the Film and Media Residence Learning Community to enhance your academic and social success.

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 the Creative Writing concentration.
• 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.
• Take courses in writing, literary theory, British literary tradition, contemporary American literature, Canadian literature, world literatures, genres, special topics or authors as you refine your conceptual, reading and writing skills.

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 workshops and events with your residence or off-campus LOCUS community.
• Learn to write articles, draw illustrations or take photographs with Laurier’s weekly newspaper, The Cord, or submit a creative piece to Blueprint Magazine.
• Explore your interests by volunteering on campus with Accessible Learning, Laurier International, Wellness Education, the Sustainability Office and more.
• Engage in the First-Year Leadership Program including Campus Councils, House Council and the Leadership Certificate.
• Join intramural sports, sport clubs or participate in recreational activities.

Middle Years

• Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
• Contribute to the Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts (LUJA).
• Consider a student representative position on the department or faculty committee or with the Library Council.
• 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.

Final Year

• Apply for an executive/coordinator position with a student club or committee.
• 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 established authors.
• Look into the LaunchPad program for the opportunity to launch an innovative new venture.
• Share your Laurier experience with prospective students at open house events.

Be Engaged: Broaden Your Perspective

First Year

• Learn about and get involved with diversity, equity and inclusion centres of activity and engagement.
• Visit Laurier International to learn about international options available to you in places like the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Denmark.
• Complete the Intercultural Certificate with Laurier International.
• Engage in training on consent, bystander intervention and disclosure related to sexual violence.

Middle Years

• Study abroad for an academic term in your third year.
• Consider enrolling in a language course.
• Gather for Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
• Consider the Alternative Reading Week trip with Habitat for Humanity.
• Attend the Library Culture Series.
• Attend workshops, events or discussion groups to learn about diversity, equity and inclusion.

Final Year

• Participate in Indigenous Education Week.
• Earn your Certificate in Accessibility with Accessible Learning.

Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities

First Year

• Take Film Studies courses and explore other programs of interest.
• Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
• Attend the Undergraduate Film Symposium.
• 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.

Final Year

• Submit your work to Film Matters, a magazine for undergraduate film scholars.
• 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 workshops and events with your residence or off-campus LOCUS community.
• Explore your interests by volunteering on campus with Accessible Learning, Laurier International, Wellness Education, the Sustainability Office and more.
• Join intramural sports, sport clubs or participate in recreational activities.
• Engage in the First-Year Leadership Program including Campus Councils, House Council and the Leadership Certificate.

Middle Years

• Look for volunteer cast and crew opportunities on local productions.
• Share your music taste as a DJ on Radio Laurier.
• Be a student representative on 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.
• Learn to write articles, draw illustrations or take photographs with Laurier’s weekly newspaper, The Cord.

Final Year

• Apply for an executive/coordinator position with a student club or committee.
• Attend the Career and Job Fairs to network with employers.
• Volunteer with the Grand River Film Festival or Kitchener-Waterloo’s Commons Studio.
• Participate in Sandbox workshops and attend the Entrepreneur Speaker series.
• Look into the LaunchPad program for the opportunity to launch an innovative new venture.
• Share your Laurier experience with prospective students at open house events.

Be Engaged: Broaden Your Perspective

First Year

• Learn about and get involved with diversity, equity and inclusion centres of activity and engagement.
• Visit Laurier International to learn about international options available to you.
• Complete the Intercultural Certificate with Laurier International.
• Engage in training on consent, bystander intervention and disclosure related to sexual violence.

Middle Years

• Consider enrolling in a language course.
• Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
• Consider the Alternative Reading Week trip with Habitat for Humanity.
• Attend the Library Culture Series.
• Study abroad for an academic term.
• Attend workshops, events or discussion groups to learn about diversity, equity and inclusion.

Final Year

• Participate in Indigenous Education Week.
• Earn your Certificate in Accessibility with Accessible Learning.

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.