Experience Guide

Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities

First Year

• Take the two required Psychology courses (and any other required course for your program) and explore other programs of interest.
• Take the Foundations for Community Engagement and Service course and plan for any requirements needed (e.g., police checks) if it is required for your program or if you plan to take a Community Service-Learning course.
• Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
• Attend the annual thesis poster presentations in the spring and look at student projects.
• Live in the Faculty of Science Residence Learning Community to enhance your academic and social success.

Middle Years

• Choose the Research Specialist stream or Community Psychology specialization if you are in the BA program and wish to explore psychology in more depth.
• Investigate the learning supports offered through the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Labs.
• Explore courses in related areas of study and begin thinking about a minor or an option to complement your degree.
• Consider taking social entrepreneurship or entrepreneurship courses.
• Register for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Subject or General Test after researching if it is required for graduate programs you are considering.
• Approach a faculty member to supervise your thesis project if you plan to do an honours thesis.
• Consider taking a capstone course in Applied Community Research.

Final Year

• Learn about Research Assistantship opportunities in Psychology.
• Enrol in directed studies courses to gain research experience or to complete an undergraduate thesis.
• Attend the Ontario Psychology Undergraduate Thesis Conference.
• 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.
• Submit your academic work to the student journal, Mind Pad, for a chance to be published.

Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience

First Year

• Join student clubs such as the Psychology Society, Faculty of Science Students’ Association (FOSSA), Society for Undergraduate Research and Outreach (SURO) or a special interest club. Or create your own!
• Participate in workshops and events with your residence or off-campus LOCUS community.
• Volunteer in a research lab.
• 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

• Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
• Connect with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities.
• Register for courses with a Community Service-Learning (CSL) component.
• Look for student representative positions on departmental committees.
• 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.
• Explore the Science Maker Lab.

Final Year

• Apply for an executive/coordinator position with a student club or committee.
• Attend the Career and Job Fairs to network with employers.
• Join the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA) and/or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) as a student member.
• Volunteer to be part of ongoing research in a professor's research program.
• Create a profile on ResearchGate.
• 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 for an academic term.
• Consider enrolling in a language course.
• Gather for Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
• 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.

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.