In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- Take required Political Science courses and explore other programs of interest such as North American Studies, Global Studies or History.
- Explore a wide variety of classes and customize your academic path. Samples courses include Markets, Money and International Politics; Introduction to Law; Canadian Environmental Policy; The Polarization of American Politics; and The Age of Anger and Rise of Populism.
- Add a Specialization in Legal Studies or Public Policy.
- Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
- Enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support.
- Start thinking about possible topics for your Research Specialization project.
- Apply to be an Instructional Assistant in your fourth year.
- Interact with professionals in government, private and non-governmental sectors in your classes or at department events.
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Learn about Research Assistantship opportunities in Political Science and through the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy (LISPOP).
- Seek training and professional development opportunities offered through LISPOP.
- If you are interested in a career in policy, complete the Certificate in Practical Politics, led by the Laurier Practitioner-in- Residence.
- Consider the Master of Applied Politics program and discuss your options with the graduate program coordinator.
- If you’re applying to graduate school, sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop and book a further education application appointment.
As a Political Science student, you can:
- Join student clubs such as the Association of Political Science Students, Laurier Pre-Law Society, ACE Laurier, or Laurier Moot Court and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
- Participate in Students' Union Elections and promote student voting.
- Become a member of the Students' Union Government & Stakeholder Relations team.
- Check out the speaker series at the Balsillie School of International Affairs.
Outside of your program, there are many co-curricular opportunities for you to participate in.
- Check out the Experience Catalogue for a full list of co-curricular experiences that are currently offered across campus.
- Volunteer with the Students’ Union (e.g., Laurier Orientation, Hawk Walk, EcoHawks, Food Bank, Emergency Response Team, Shinerama).
- Volunteer on campus with the Accessible Learning, Global Engagement, Sustainability Office, Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, WLU Student Publications and more.
- Get involved in the local community by volunteering off campus.
- Apply for on-campus jobs:
- Check Navigator frequently for job postings or contact individual departments directly.
- Search for job opportunities on the Students’ Union website.
- If you meet eligibility criteria, apply for the Laurier Work Study Program or International Student Work Experience Program.
- Attend Job Fairs to network with employers.
- Explore ways to get involved in research.
- Look into StartUp Lab opportunities for support in launching a new venture.
Job/Volunteer Search Tips
- While on-campus opportunities are posted year-round, recruitment often starts early! Start looking in the winter term for opportunities in the following academic year.
- Have your resumé and LinkedIn profile reviewed by Career Centre staff for both on and off-campus opportunities.
- Laurier offers a variety of co-curricular certificates that you can complete during your studies. Earn certificates in topics including academic development, professional development, wellness, leadership and career development.
- Participate in workshops, programming and events offered by the Career Centre, Gendered and Sexual Violence Prevention and Support, Laurier Library, the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and more.
- Engage in the First-Year Leadership Program including Campus Councils and House Council and the Leadership Certificate.
- Connect with Global Engagement to learn about international options available to you including opportunities abroad and language and culture sharing programs.
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.
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
You will develop functional knowledge in your program including:
- Understand the origin, development and operation of various political systems; the inter-relationship of politics, the economy and geography; and the policies and strategies of resource allocation among competing groups.
- Develop a globally-minded viewpoint and engage with different political perspectives.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the factors that influence and change public opinion.
- Design a research project and engage in empirical research by using various political science methods.
- Display an understanding of the policy-making process, major approaches to policy analysis and the functioning of government.
- Develop skills in writing for policy audiences.
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.
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Pursuing Further Education
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Employed
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106 North American Studies and Political Science respondents from the 2024 Laurier Graduate Survey conducted by the Career Centre. Graduates were surveyed within 12 months of graduation. Other includes those travelling, volunteering or out of the workforce. 3% of graduates were looking for employment when survey data collection ended.
Alumni Careers and Pathways
Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation
- JD - Law
- Master’s Degree - Applied Politics, Political Science, International Public Policy, Business Administration, Immigration and Settlement Studies, Teaching, Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy
- Bachelor’s Degree - Education
- Diploma/Certificate - Paralegal, Immigration & Citizenship Law
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- analyst - government department
- case processing agent
- events and social media coordinator
- fraud officer
- legal assistant
- management trainee
- non-profit program facilitator
- operations and sales manager
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- economist
- lawyer
- policy officer
- public affairs consultant
- strategic policy advisor and analyst
- sustainable development program officer
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
- business/corporate development
- communications/public relations
- community outreach
- criminal justice
- education/academia
- foreign policy/international affairs
- government
- immigration
- intelligence
- journalism/media
- law/legal field
- negotiation and dispute resolution
- non-profit/advocacy
- politics
- public policy
- research/market analysis
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.