Experience Guide

Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities

First Year

• Take required courses and explore courses in related areas of study to begin thinking about a minor or an option to complement your degree.
• Investigate the learning supports offered through the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Labs.
• Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
• Live in the Faculty of Science Residence Learning Community to enhance your academic and social success.

Middle Years

• Apply for a FOSSA Research Scholarship or the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) to receive funding for a research position.
• Consider taking Science Entrepreneurship courses and explore the Science Maker Lab.
• Consider doing a self-directed research project in fourth year and approach a faculty member to be your supervisor and to help you develop your topic.
• Learn about Research and Instructional Assistantship opportunities in Physics.

Final Year

• Attend the Canadian Undergraduate Physics Conference or the Canadian Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics.
• 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 proposals.

Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience

First Year

• Join student clubs such as the Society of Computing, Physics and Mathematics Club (PHI), Faculty of Science Student Association (FOSSA) 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

• Look for summer jobs (e.g., SNOLAB, TRIUMF, FSWEP) or research opportunities at Canadian universities.
• Be involved with the Centre for Women in Science.
• Attend the Physics and Computer Science seminar series.
• Serve as a student representative on a faculty committee.
• Connect with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities.
• Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
• 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.
• Join the Canadian Association of Physicists as a student member.
• Consider writing the Canadian Association of Physics Professional Practice Exam required for the Professional Physicist certification.
• 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 in the summer or go on an exchange to gain cultural experience and to complete elective courses.
• Gather for Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
• Consider enrolling in a language course.
• 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.

Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities

First Year

• Take core Computer Science and Mathematics courses and explore other programs of interest.
•  
• Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year for co-op work terms after second and third year.
• Review your program requirements and plan for a successful degree path.
• Attend the Physics and Computer Science seminar series.

Middle Years

• Complete Computer Science core courses in programming, digital electronics, data structures, algorithm design and analysis, software engineering, mathematics and statistics.
• Explore courses in related areas of study and begin thinking about a minor or an option to complement your degree.
• Look into the Professional Experience Program (a 12-16 month co-op term).
• Look for summer research opportunities in a faculty member’s lab or the Centre for Women in Science and apply for a FOSSA Research Scholarship and/or the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) to get funding.
• Meet with potential supervisors to learn about directed-studies research projects for your final year.
• Consider taking Science Entrepreneurship courses and explore the Science Maker Lab.

Final Year

• Participate in the Undergraduate Capstone Open Source Projects (UCOSP), where you will work with students from universities across Canada.
• 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 proposals.

Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience

First Year

• Join student clubs such as the Society of Computing, Physics and Mathematics Club (PHI), Faculty of Science Student Association (FOSSA) or a special interest club in robotics, gaming or science fiction and fantasy. 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

• Look for employment opportunities in a faculty member's research lab.
• Serve as a student representative on a faculty committee.
• Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
• Seek part-time employment or volunteer opportunities in the Mathematics department or at the Mathematics & Statistics Learning Labs.
• Connect with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities.
• 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.
• Join professional associations such as the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS), the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society, or the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
• Participate in competitions (e.g., Communitech Waterloo Hacks, Waterloo Codefest or the Great Canadian Appathon).
• 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

• Gather for Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
• Consider enrolling in a language course.
• Consider the Alternative Reading Week trip with Habitat for Humanity.
• Study abroad for a term.
• 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.