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Indigenous Studies (BA)
Experience and Career Guide

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you and learning about the many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world. There are so many opportunities to learn, lead, and embrace new opportunities all while having an exceptional student experience.

In this Guide

Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.

Year-to-Year Academic Experience Co-Curricular Opportunities Knowledge and Skills Career Options and Graduate Outcomes

Your Year-to-Year Experience

Enhance your academic experience by learning about the opportunities available in your program.

Explore Co-Curricular Experiences

Participate in co-curricular experiences to complement your Laurier
academic journey and gain meaningful learning opportunities.
  • Join student clubs such as the Indigenous Students’ Association and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
  • Indigenous students can connect and engage with visiting Elders-in-Residence at the Indigenous Student Centre, a hub for social and community connections.
  • The Circle Room, featuring art from Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee artists, is used for small classes, program meetings and serves as a gathering place for students in the program.

Outside of your program, there are many co-curricular opportunities for you to participate in. 

Design Your Degree

These are a few popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge. See undergraduate options, minors and courses for more information.
  • Issue Advocacy option
  • Law option
  • Leadership option

Develop Your Knowledge and Skills

As a Laurier student, you will develop the following competencies through your curricular and co-curricular experiences.

Competency Framework

Competencies are categories of transferrable skills that appear on your online Experience Record to help you reflect on what you've learned from your experiences. The competencies include: 

  • Adaptability and Resiliency
  • Collaboration and Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Creativity and Innovation
  • Critical Thinking
  • Digital Literacy
  • Diversity and Intercultural Understanding
  • Functional Knowledge
  • Leadership
  • Problem Solving
  • Professional Attributes
  • Self-Awareness

Functional Knowledge

  • Gain a contextualized understanding of Indigenous perspectives and worldviews as well as authentic histories and experiences of sovereign nations in Canada and around the world.
  • Understand the complex issues of Indigenous identity, self-governance and governmental policy implementation which includes land, labour and the economy.
  • Critically examine the principles of anthropology and archaeology in the context of Indigenous sovereignty.
  • Develop an appreciation for the vibrancy of Haudenosaunee culture from a Haudenosaunee perspective.
  • Gain research design skills by respectfully engaging with Indigenous research theories and methods.

Discover Career Options

All your experiences at Laurier can help you prepare for your future. Attend Career Centre events and workshops or book a career consulting appointment to explore career and further education options.
%
Pursuing Further Education
%
Employed
%
Other

Faculty of Liberal Arts respondents from the 2022 Laurier Graduate Survey conducted by the Career Centre. Graduates were surveyed within 12 months of graduation.

Alumni Career and Pathways

Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • Master’s Degree - Social Justice & Community Engagement, Social Work
  • College Program - Community & Social Services Management, Paralegal, Public Relations
  • Bachelor’s Degree - Indigenous Social Work
  • JD - Law

Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • community development coordinator
  • cultural mentor grad coach
  • mental health counsellor
  • peer support specialist
  • support worker

Career Options and Resources

Need some guidance on what you can do with your degree? Discover some career options and find resources to help guide you. 

Career and Industry Options

  • advocacy
  • community development
  • cultural heritage
  • equity, diversity and inclusion
  • education/teaching
  • environment
  • fundraising
  • government
  • healthcare/rehabilitation
  • Indigenous policy
  • journalism/media
  • law/legal field
  • mediation
  • non-profit
  • public policy
  • research
  • social justice
  • social work

Career Resources

Your Experiences Tell Your Story

Share your story through your Laurier Experience Record. An interactive, shareable and official record of your hands-on experiences and learning opportunities at Laurier – the first of its kind in Canada!



Share Your Feedback

We'd love to hear from you. Complete the Laurier Experience Guide Feedback Survey to share your thoughts.