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.
- Undergraduate UG Click this tab to view content pertaining to Under Graduates
- Graduate GRAD Click this tab to view content pertaining to Graduates
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.
- Earn the Writing Certificate.
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 funding 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
- Attend O-Week events.
- 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 events and skills-based workshops with your residence or off-campus LOCUS community.
- Explore your interests by volunteering on campus with Accessible Learning Note-taking Program, Laurier International, Wellness Education, the Sustainability Office and more.
- Join intramural sports or sport clubs, participate in recreational activities and attend varsity games.
- 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.
- Attend 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.
- 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
- Get involved with the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
- 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 provided through Gendered and Sexual Violence Prevention Support.
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.
- Become a Global Engagement Student Ambassador.
- Complete the Diversity Certificate.
Final Year
- Participate in Indigenous Education Week.
- Consider the Alternative Reading Week Trip with Habitat for Humanity.
- 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.
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, 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, Wilf's, Residence, Bookstore, Library, Laurier Work-Study Program, peer programs, 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 an entrepreneur and be a changemaker through opportunities with the Schlegel Centre for Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation.
- 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 Religion and Culture.