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English (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.

As an English 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.
  • Creative Writing concentration
  • Applied Digital option
  • Community Engagement option
  • Management option
  • Legal Studies option
  • Social Entrepreneurship option
  • Communication Studies minor
  • History minor
  • Film Studies 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

The functional knowledge you will develop in your program will help you:

  • Analyze, interpret, structure and edit written materials and information in print and digital formats and develop your critical thinking, reading, and writing skills in preparation for working in a globally connected world.
  • Learn the practice of effective communication and other keys to professional success in careers as diverse as education, law, politics, and public relations.
  • Understand social, cultural, and political perspectives on literature and the act of writing in a range of genres and historical periods by a wide selection of authors.
  • Achieve a more advanced understanding of texts by both canonical and non-canonical authors, and their wider cultural and historical contexts, contribute to class discussions, and work with instructors to develop your writing and research skills.

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

29 English (Waterloo) respondents from the 2023 Laurier Graduate Survey conducted by the Career Centre. Graduates were surveyed within 12 months of graduation. Other includes those out of the workforce including travelling, volunteering, etc.

Alumni Careers and Pathways

Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • Master’s Degree – English, Film Studies, Literature, Theory and Criticism, Cultural Analysis and Social Theory
  • Bachelor’s Degree – Education
  • College Program – Public Relations, Creative Book Publishing, Human Resources

Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • editor
  • English teacher
  • legal assistant
  • marketing coordinator
  • project coordinator
  • transition and writing services coordinator

Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation

  • college instructor
  • copywriter
  • director of marketing communications
  • education coordinator
  • information officer
  • senior policy advisor
  • teacher
  • web content specialist

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

  • advertising/marketing
  • business/corporate communications
  • counselling/social work
  • digital media/social media
  • education/teaching
  • entertainment/film
  • event planning
  • government
  • human resources
  • journalism/media
  • law/legal field
  • library/archives/museum
  • non-profit/advocacy
  • public relations
  • technology
  • writing/publishing

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.