In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- Program Options:
- Complete a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology and opt to enter the Research Specialist stream, obtain a specialization in Community or Applied Developmental Psychology or combine your degree with another Honours BA program.
- Complete a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology and Neuroscience or a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology.
- Take the two required Psychology courses (and any other required courses 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 extend opportunities for learning and development beyond the classroom.
- Volunteer in a research lab.
- Enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support.
- Choose the Research Specialist stream or a specialization in Community or Applied Developmental Psychology if you are in the BA program and wish to explore psychology in more depth.
- Investigate the math and statistics learning supports offered through Student Success' Math and Course Support.
- 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.
- Register for courses with a Community Service-Learning (CSL) component. CSL will place you into a daycare facility, school or service organization within the Waterloo community - a great way to gain real-world experience.
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Learn about Research Assistantship opportunities in Psychology.
- Enrol in directed studies courses to gain research experience or complete an undergraduate thesis.
- Attend the Ontario Psychology Undergraduate Thesis Conference.
- Submit your academic work to the student journal, Mind Pad, for a chance to be published.
- If you’re applying to graduate school, sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop and book a further education application appointment.
As a Psychology (Waterloo) student, you can:
- Join student clubs such as the Laurier Psychology Society, Faculty of Science Students’ Association (FOSSA), or Society for Undergraduate Research and Outreach (SURO) and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
- Volunteer with the BrainWorx camp.
- Join the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA) and/or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) as a student member.
- Create a profile on ResearchGate.
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
- 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.
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252 Psychology (Waterloo) 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. 4% 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
- Master’s Degree - Psychology, Neuroscience, Child Life, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Counselling Psychology, Business Administration, Mental Health, Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy
- College Program - Addictions and Mental Health, Human Resources, Infant and Early Child Mental Health, Paramedic, Public Relations, Marketing
- Bachelor’s Degree - Education, Nursing
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- behavioural therapist
- child and youth counsellor
- disability case manager
- harm reduction worker
- human resources coordinator
- intake coordinator
- marketing specialist
- mental health content creator
- project manager
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- clinical supervisor
- human resources manager
- inclusion resource coordinator
- outreach and advocacy coordinator
- program director
- psychometrist
- psychotherapist
- 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
- Canadian Psychological Association
- Social Development Centre Waterloo Region
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA)
- College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
- College of Psychologists of Ontario
- Canadian Association of Neuroscience
- Ontario Psychological Association
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!
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