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Psychology (BA or BSc Waterloo)
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.

As a Psychology (Waterloo) 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.
  • Management option
  • Community Psychology specialization
  • Applied Developmental Psychology specialization
  • Legal Studies option
  • Education minor
  • Applied Social Research 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

  • Understand the scientific study of behaviour and experience including thinking, feeling and action, while studying human and animal psychology - discover how languages are learned, how memory works, why we crave intimate relationships, or how we can promote healthy child development.
  • Demonstrate a developed knowledge and critical understanding of the key concepts, methodologies, current advances, historical contexts, theoretical approaches and overarching themes in psychology.
  • Describe the diversity of research practices, methods of inference and the practical/ professional implications of psychology for treatment and prevention.
  • Design and execute empirical research.
  • Relate psychological knowledge to personal, professional and societal concerns.
  • Learn, model, and apply the ethical standards, methodological practices, and social responsibilities assumed by psychologists in their professional and scientific roles..
  • Apply scientific reasoning and analysis to interpret and evaluate psychological phenomena based on major theories, concepts and methods.
  • Apply methodological skills and statistical techniques to solve problems.
  • Effectively communicate ideas, critiques and research findings, both verbally and in writing, to academic, professional and public audiences.
  • Formulate compelling and well-reasoned arguments for academic and non-academic settings.
  • Integrate information and communication technologies into scientific and professional practice.

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

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

Alumni Careers and Pathways

Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • Master’s Degree - Psychology, Applied Disability Studies, Counselling Psychology, Business Administration, Neuroscience, Psychotherapy, Public, Speech-Language Pathology
  • College Program - Addictions and Mental Health, Brain Disorders Management, Human Resources Management, Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion
  • Bachelor’s Degree - Education

Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • behavioural therapist
  • clinical research analyst
  • human resources coordinator
  • mental health coordinator
  • risk analyst
  • social media coordinator
  • youth care worker

Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation

  • clinical supervisor
  • human resources specialist
  • inclusion resource coordinator
  • outreach and advocacy coordinator
  • program director
  • psychometrist
  • research coordinator
  • social 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

  • addictions/substance abuse
  • advocacy
  • child development
  • counselling/social work
  • criminal justice
  • education/teaching
  • forensic science
  • healthcare/rehabilitation
  • human resources
  • law/legal field
  • marketing/advertising
  • psychotherapy
  • public policy
  • public relations/communications
  • rehabilitation
  • research

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.