Biology (BA or BSc)
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.

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.


As a Biology student, you can: 

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.


  • Research specialization
  • Sustainability option
  • Management option
  • Environmental Science option
  • Chemistry minor
  • Environmental Studies minor
  • Geography minor
  • Psychology minor

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

  • Apply the principles of the scientific process - hypothesis making, experimental design, applying modern techniques, observation and data collection, analysis and interpretation - to formulate and test ideas using an objective and analytical approach.
  • Gather, assess, evaluate and interpret biological data, in both the laboratory and in the field, and communicate knowledge to scientific and non-scientific communities.
  • Build a thorough understanding of the consistencies and diversity in structures and processes, as well as the interactions and dynamics operating at all levels of biological organization, from the molecular to whole organisms, up to populations within their environments, and ecosystem and biosphere levels.
  • Acquisition of the skills, knowledge, attitude and creativity to contribute to the discovery of new knowledge at the molecular or cellular level or find solutions to problems that are rooted, for example, in human-caused disturbances to biological systems, in order to protect, preserve and conserve Earth’s biota.

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

111 Biology 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

  • Doctor - Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Chiropractic
  • Master’s Degree - Biology, Biochemistry, Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science, Forestry, Genetics and Genomics, Integrative Biology, Molecular Science
  • College Program - Biotechnology, Clinical Research, Human Resources, Respiratory Therapy
  • Bachelor’s Degree - Nursing, Education, Public Health

Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • clinical research analyst
  • laboratory technician
  • medical information specialist
  • microbiology analyst
  • product development chemist
  • service coordination specialist

Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation

  • biological technologist
  • grants officer
  • hearing instrument specialist
  • pharmacist
  • regulatory product manager
  • senior research associate
  • veterinarian
  • wildlife biologist

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

  • bioinformatics
  • biomedical engineering
  • education/teaching
  • environment
  • food/beverage
  • forensic science
  • genetics
  • healthcare
  • journalism/media
  • nutrition/dietetics
  • pharmacy
  • public health
  • rehabilitation
  • research
  • scientific writing
  • sustainability

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.