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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 experiences that work well with your program.
While your Laurier experience will look different in a remote environment, many of the experiences below are being offered virtually. The links below will be updated as virtual offerings are confirmed.
Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities
First Year
- Take required Global Studies, International Education Studies, and Women and Gender Studies courses, your 1.0 required language credit, and explore other programs of interest.
- Take part in the fall networking events to meet faculty and fellow students.
- Learn about opportunities available for your local and international placements, and consider what elective courses will prepare you for them.
- Make an appointment with your International Education Studies (IES) advisor to prepare for your second year.
- Review the Conestoga College TEFL or extra language requirements for your second year.
- Earn the Writing Certificate.
Middle Years
- Explore electives that complement your degree program, and decide whether you want to pursue a Minor or Specialization.
- Contact the IES program coordinator to find out more about the requirements and application process for your international placement.
- Complete your TEFL certificate and complete advanced language study.
- Attend speakers and special events hosted by Global Studies, the Faculty of Education or other departments.
- Engage with your course instructor to coordinate your local educational placement.
- Investigate the program pathway to Laurier's Bachelor of Education.
- Consider taking social innovation or entrepreneurship courses.
Final Year
- Apply for an executive/coordinator position with a student club or committee.
- Apply for student positions on department committees.
- Attend an event with Global Studies or Education alumni.
- Connect with your favourite professors to discuss your future plans.
- Share your Laurier experience with prospective students at open house events.
Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience
First Year
- Attend O-Week events.
- Join student clubs such as the Global Studies Student Association (GSSA), C3 Innovation Labs Student Association, Laurier Model United Nations, WLU Right to Play, WUSC or International Students Overcoming War (ISOW). Or create your own!
- Participate in events and skills-based workshops with your residence or off-campus LOCUS community.
- Explore your interests by volunteering on campus with Accessible Learning's Note-taking Program, 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 or sport clubs, participate in recreational activities and attend varsity games.
Middle Years
- Connect with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities.
- Apply to work in the LEAP summer program for youth.
- 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 with Laurier Students' Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG).
- Look into C3 Innovation Labs (C3IL) activities to get involved in creative problem-solving for the campus, city and community.
- Participate in campus sustainability projects (e.g., Zero Waste Week, workshops, Northdale Community Garden).
- Create advocacy tools and discover avenues for action with Laurier Students' Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG).
- Learn to write articles, draw illustrations or take photographs with Laurier’s weekly newspaper, The Cord.
Final Year
- Take a leadership role in the Global Studies Student Association or other student club.
- Look into the opportunity to launch an innovative new social venture through C3 Innovation Labs.
- Apply for student positions on department committees.
- Attend an event with Global Studies alumni.
- Connect with your favourite professors to discuss your future plans.
- Share your Laurier experience with prospective students at open house events.
Be Engaged: Broaden Your Perspective
First Year
- Get involved with the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
- Visit Laurier International to learn about the international options available to you.
- Complete the Intercultural Certificate with Laurier International.
- Engage in training on consent, bystander intervention and disclosure provided through Gendered and Sexual Violence Prevention Support.
- Gather for Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
Middle Years
- Become a Global Engagement Student Ambassador.
- Apply for a funded internship in Ghana through Global Studies and Laurier International to fulfill the requirements of your international placement.
- Consider taking a spring field course in Global Studies or elsewhere in the Faculty of Arts.
- Complete the Diversity Certificate.
- Examine international teaching partnerships for schools in Ghana, Egypt and China.
Final Year
- Apply to represent Laurier at the Ashoka U Exchange.
- Participate in Indigenous Education Week.
- Consider the Alternative Reading Week Trip with Habitat for Humanity.
- Earn your Certificate in Accessibility with Accessible Learning.
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
- Plan for a successful degree path by meeting with your academic advisor and reviewing your progression requirements on MyDegree.
- Visit your professors during their office hours.
- Discover the Library – librarians can help you find and evaluate scholarly information for your assignments.
- Complete the Academic Integrity module in MyLearningSpace.
- Utilize the Online Assignment Planner.
- Book a career consulting appointment to explore career options.
- Complete the Student Awards scholarship and bursary applications on LORIS.
- Access the Wellness Centre for emotional, mental and physical health services.
- Visit the Writing & Learning Lab to further enhance your writing, develop learning skills to become a better student and learn how to be successful with difficult courses.
- Attend the Further Education Fair to learn about postgraduate programs.
- Apply to graduate and attend convocation to celebrate your success.
Experience Checklist
- Volunteer with the Students’ Union (e.g., Foot Patrol, EcoHawks, Food Bank, Peer Connect, Emergency Response Team, Shinerama).
- Have your resumé and LinkedIn profile reviewed in the Career Centre.
- Apply for on-campus jobs (e.g., Athletics and Recreation, Bookstore, Library, Residence, writing tutor and more).
- Enhance your money management skills and confidence by completing the Money Management Certificate.
- Attend the Career and Job Fairs to network with employers.
- Earn your Career Development Certificate.
- Create a profile on Ten Thousand Coffees to connect with Laurier alumni.
- Earn the Wellness Education Certificate.
- Learn to think like a social entrepreneur and be a changemaker through opportunities with the C3 Innovation Labs.
- Feed your curiosity and ideas through exploration in Laurier’s makerspaces.
- Reflect on your co-curricular experiences for your Laurier Experience Record.
- Network with alumni at career events to gain insight into possible career paths.
- Apply to jobs through Navigator for summer, part-time or full-time work after graduation.
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.