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International Education Studies (BA)
Experience and Career Guide

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you and learning about the many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world. There are so many opportunities to learn, lead, and embrace new opportunities all while having an exceptional student experience.

In this Guide

Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.

Year-to-Year Academic Experience Co-Curricular Opportunities Knowledge and Skills Career Options and Graduate Outcomes

Your Year-to-Year Experience

Enhance your academic experience by learning about the opportunities available in your program.

Explore Co-Curricular Experiences

Participate in co-curricular experiences to complement your Laurier
academic journey and gain meaningful learning opportunities.

As an International Education Studies student, you can: 

Outside of your program, there are many co-curricular opportunities for you to participate in. 

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.
  • Minor in languages (French, Spanish, German, Italian, or Arabic) or another subject of interest.
  • Look into BEd programs to identify requirements for junior/intermediate or intermediate/senior subject specializations and use your electives to fulfill those.
  • Take the Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) level 1 certification at Conestoga College and transfer the credits to count towards your IES degree at Laurier.
  • Pursue an Option in Social Entrepreneurship, Muslim Studies, Intercultural Understanding, International Public Policy, Child and Family Studies or another area.

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

  • Articulate knowledge of the fundamental methods, principles and concepts of international and comparative education.
  • Identify, evaluate and apply teaching practices that support equitable and inclusive participation of diverse learners across contexts.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of social, economic, and cultural relationships and processes shaping the context for both educational practice and socio-economic development.
  • Demonstrate intercultural awareness and understanding in courses and placements, including practices of listening and self-reflection, to cultivate a critical approach to social justice and culturally sustaining teaching practices.
  • Demonstrate a capacity to employ interdisciplinary theoretical concepts and methodological tools to research and analyze global challenges, as well as reflect on the role of education in addressing them.
  • Explain information, ideas, and opinions effectively using multiple communication formats suitable to a variety of audiences, learning environments, and organizational cultures.

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.
%
Pursuing Further Education
%
Employed

12 International Education Studies respondents from the 2023 Laurier Graduate Survey conducted by the Career Centre. Graduates were surveyed within 12 months of graduation.

Alumni Careers and Pathways

Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • Bachelor’s Degree – Education
  • Master’s Degree - Teaching, Applied Linguistics

Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • program director
  • supply educator
  • teaching assistant

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

*Please note further education and credentials may be necessary

  • domestic or international teaching
  • adult education
  • education in emergencies
  • educational policy
  • English as a second language instruction
  • international development
  • international policy and global affairs
  • immigration
  • refugee settlement and support
  • non-profit/advocacy
  • student affairs
  • equity, diversity and inclusion
  • communications/public relations
  • tourism
  • journalism
  • sustainability
  • law/legal field
  • research/market analysis

Career Resources

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.