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.
• 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 the local community.
• Submit an academic paper to an annual conference, either on campus or at a professional association.
• 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.
• Complete a 400-level seminar to develop another way of learning through collaboration with other students under the guidance of a professor.
• 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.
  • Consider the MA in Religion, Culture and Global Justice offered by Religion and Culture in collaboration with the Department of Global Studies.

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 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

• Connect with local organizations and learn about volunteer opportunities.
• Apply to undergraduate summer research fellowships.
• Participate as an undergraduate representative in Religion and Culture department meetings and divisional council.
• Organize or run a table or workshop at the annual Religion and Public Life Conference.
• Learn to write articles, draw illustrations or take photographs with Laurier’s weekly newspaper, The Cord.
• Participate in Sandbox workshops and attend the Entrepreneur Speaker series.

Final Year

• Apply for an executive/coordinator position with a student club or committee.
• Learn about Research or Instructional Assistantship opportunities in Religion and Culture.
• Attend the Career and Job Fairs to network with employers.
• 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

• Study abroad for an academic term or year.
• Gather for 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 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.

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.