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 Digital Media and Journalism courses and technical media production courses in the Conestoga College Contemporary Media Arts post-graduate certificate program. Explore other programs of interest through electives.
- Complete your first two Foundations courses in Modernity and the Contemporary World, and Academic Literacy: Social Sciences.
- Participate in courses with an experiential learning component (e.g., Reporting and Writing for News).
- Attend the first-year meet-and-greet.
- Earn certificates with Learning Skills & Development.
Middle Years
- Explore courses in related areas of study and begin thinking about a minor or an option to complement your degree.
- Complete your remaining Foundations courses in Modernity: Critique and Resistance, and
Academic Literacy: Humanities. - Submit your academic work to Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal for Contemporary Connections for a chance to be published.
- Take a research-focused or a professional practicum course.
- Consider taking social innovation or entrepreneurship courses.
- Continue to take technical media production courses in the Conestoga College Contemporary Media Arts post-graduate certificate.
Final Year
- Learn about Research or Instructional Assistantship opportunities.
- Complete your capstone project in your final year and present it to the public.
- Participate in the Academic, Creative and Engaged Research Showcase (ACERS) to showcase your work for the public and Laurier community.
- Apply for essay-writing or public-speaking competitions.
- Thinking of pursuing graduate school?
- Talk to your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop or book a writing consultation for help with your funding proposals.
- Complete your Conestoga College Contemporary Media Arts post-graduate certificate.
Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience
First Year
- Attend O-Week events.
- Join student clubs such as the Digital Media and Journalism Student Association or a special interest club. Or create your own!
- Participate in events and skills-based workshops with your residence or off-campus LOCUS community.
- Get involved with Radio Laurier.
- Explore your interests by volunteering on campus with Accessible Learning's Note-taking Program, 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 organizations such as Rogers TV, J-Source.ca and the Brantford Expositor to learn about volunteer and practicum opportunities.
- Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
- Contribute to Laurier’s independent student newspaper, The Sputnik, or submit a creative piece to Blueprint Magazine.
- Publish your class assignments on DMJ Zone.
- Look for videographer/photographer work on campus.
- Participate in public presentations and workshops organized by your program and the DMJ Student Association.
- Connect with the Creativity Hub to create podcasts and videos, and work with community partners.
Final Year
- Network with Laurier and Conestoga faculty and consider attending the Canadian Association of Journalists conference.
- Apply for an executive/coordinator position with a student club or committee.
- Participate in Sandbox workshops and attend the Entrepreneur Speaker series.
- 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
- Gather for Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
- Become a Global Engagement Student Ambassador.
- Study abroad for an academic term.
- Complete the Diversity Certificate.
Final Year
- Participate in Indigenous Education Week.
- Create a piece to participate in the Diversity Art Series.
- Earn your Certificate in Accessibility with Accessible Learning.
- Consider the Alternative Reading Week Trip with Habitat for Humanity.
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.
- 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 Learning and Skills Development to get feedback on your work, develop your learning skills, and further enhance your writing.
- 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., EcoHawks, Emergency Response Team, Food Bank, Foot Patrol, Shinerama).
- Have your resumé and LinkedIn profile reviewed in the Career Centre.
- Apply for part-time jobs on campus (e.g., Student Publications, Athletics and Recreation, Residence, Bookstore, Laurier Work-Study Program, 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 laurier.tenthousandcoffees.com 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 Digital Media and Journalism.