Experience Guide

Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities

First Year

• Take a range of Religion and Culture courses and explore other programs of interest.
• Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
• Review your program requirements and plan for a successful degree path.
• Enrol in a language course.

Middle Years

• Explore courses in related areas of study and begin thinking about a minor or an option to complement your degree.
• 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.
• Complete a course with a Community Service-Learning component to be involved in a local community organization, such as the K-W Multicultural Centre, Interfaith Grand River or The Working Centre.
• Meet with your academic advisor to make key academic decisions, including planning for a year or semester studying abroad. 
• Consider enrolling in senior-level language courses; up to 1.0 credit can count toward your Religion and Culture requirements.

Final Year

• Complete the Research Seminar capstone course to develop and refine skills in critical thinking, effective writing, oral presentation and advanced research.
• Learn about Research or Instructional Assistantship opportunities in Religion and Culture.
• Attend or present at conferences about religion, public life, faith and peace.
• Thinking of pursuing graduate school?
  • Talk to your professors, visit the Career Centre, and submit your applications.
  • Sign up for a scholarship proposal-writing workshop or book a writing consultation for help with your proposals.
• Complete a 400-level seminar to develop another way of learning through collaboration with other students under the guidance of a professor.

Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience

First Year

• Join student clubs such as the Religion and Culture Society, Muslim Students' Association, 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.
• 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.
• Connect with local organizations and learn about volunteer opportunities.
• Apply to undergraduate summer research fellowships.
• Submit an academic paper to an annual conference, either on campus or at a professional association.
• Organize or run a table or workshop at the annual Religion and Public Life Conference.

Final Year

• Apply for an executive position in an on-campus club or be involved in student-led collaborative conferences.
• 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.

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

• Study abroad for an academic term.
• Visit Laurier International’s Global Kitchen or Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
• Consider taking Arts summer courses abroad.
• Apply for travel grants to conduct fieldwork and research.
• 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.

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.