Experience Guide
Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you. Volunteer work, campus clubs, leadership programs, studying abroad, work experience – there are so many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world.
Year-to-Year Experience Guides
The following is a year-to-year outline of the kinds of experiential learning activities that work well with your program.
Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities
First Year
- Take required Global Studies courses and explore other programs of interest.
- Take your 1.0 language credits to meet the Global Studies language requirement.
- Review your program requirements and plan for a successful degree path.
- Take part in the fall networking luncheon to meet faculty and fellow students.
- Consider different ways to build engaged learning and international experience into your degree through the Global Studies Experience, options, university exchanges and field courses.
- Check out the Social Entrepreneurship option, starting with the Perspectives on Sustainability course in first year.
- Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
- Make an appointment with your Global Studies academic advisor to make sure you are on the right track as you prepare for your second year.
Middle Years
- Decide whether you want to pursue a minor, option, concentration or specialization as part of your degree.
- Explore opportunities such as instructional assistantships and scholarships.
- Contact the Global Studies Experience (GSE) coordinator to find out more about the requirements and application process (most students are eligible to start the GSE in the winter of second year).
- Consider taking a spring field course in Global Studies or elsewhere in the Faculty of Arts.
- Consider advanced language study.
- Meet with your academic advisor to make key academic decisions.
Final Year
- Submit your academic work to the Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts or apply for the Adele Slater Award for writing on world peace.
- Complete the seminar in Global Studies if you are taking the Research Specialization.
- Complete the capstone course in Social Entrepreneurship if you are taking the Social Entrepreneurship Option; launch your social venture!
- Thinking of pursuing graduate school?
- 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 the Master of Arts in Religion, Culture and Global Justice, offered by Global Studies in collaboration with the Department of Religion and Culture.
Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience
First Year
- Join student clubs such as the Global Studies Student Association (GSSA), Laurier Students' Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG), Global Youth Volunteer Network, Laurier Model United Nations, WLU Right to Play, WUSC or International Students Overcoming War (ISOW). Or create your own!
- Live in the Global Citizenship Residence Learning Community, participate in LOCUS, or take part in residence leadership opportunities.
- 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, Peace Garden Committee, peer programs, Students' Union and more).
- Join intramural sports or participate in recreational activities.
Middle Years
- Attend speaker and special events hosted by Global Studies or other departments.
- Be a note taker through the Accessible Learning Centre.
- Connect with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities.
- Apply for opportunities like the Project Ploughshares internship.
- Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years, become a residence don, or take a leadership role in a student club.
- Get involved in the Global Studies Student Association executive.
Final Year
- Take a leadership role in the Global Studies Student Association or other student club.
- Attend the Career and Job Fairs to network with employers.
- Look into the LaunchPad program for the opportunity to discover, validate and launch an innovative new venture.
- Apply for student positions on department committees.
- Attend an event with Global Studies alumni.
- Connect with your favourite professors to discuss your future plans.
Be Engaged: Broaden Your Perspective
First Year
- Visit the Diversity and Equity Office and become a member of the student service provider groups such as the Rainbow Centre and LSPIRG.
- Visit Laurier International to learn about academic exchanges and other opportunities available to you to enrich your university experience.
- Visit Laurier International’s Global Kitchen or Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
- Complete the Intercultural Effectiveness Certificate to build your intercultural competence and global perspective.
Middle Years
- Consider the Alternative Reading Week trip with Habitat for Humanity.
- Attend the Library Learning Commons Culture Series.
- Apply for an internship in Ghana through Global Studies and Laurier International.
- Study abroad for an academic term.
- Participate in the "Lend Your Leg" event on the International Day for Mine Awareness.
Final Year
- Learn how to engage with challenging social justice topics by completing the Diversity Certificate.
- Apply to represent Laurier at the Ashoka U Exchange.
Checklists
Completing the checklists below will also help ensure your academic, professional, and personal success during your time at Laurier – and beyond.
Academic Success Checklist
- Discover the Library – librarians can help you find and evaluate scholarly information for your assignments.
- Book a career consulting appointment to explore career options in the context of your academic studies.
- Complete the Student Awards scholarship and bursary applications on LORIS.
- Visit the Writing Centre and Study Skills to get feedback on your work, develop your learning skills, and further enhance your writing.
- Attend the Further Education Fair to learn about postgraduate programs.
- Apply to graduate and attend convocation to celebrate your success.
Experience Checklist
- Get involved with the Students’ Union (e.g., EcoHawks, Food Bank, Peer Connect).
- Apply for part-time jobs on campus (e.g., Athletics and Recreation, Wilf’s, Residence, Bookstore, peer programs, and more).
- Have your resumé reviewed in the Career Centre.
- Earn your Career Development Certificate.
- Be a changemaker – visit the Purpose Lab and get involved in social innovation.
- Get to know the location of the Wellness Centre for emotional, mental and physical health support.
- Create a profile on LinkedIn and laurier.tenthousandcoffees.com to connect with Laurier alumni.
- Add co-curricular activities to your Laurier Experience Record.
- Network with alumni at career events to gain insight into possible career paths.
- Apply to part-time, summer and full-time jobs for after graduation through the Career Centre’s Navigator portal.
Career Opportunities
When you're ready to start thinking about your life after graduation, you should check out the career and postgraduate options for people with a degree in Global Studies.