History (BA)

Explore how people thought and lived in many places and conditions, from the ancient past to recent times. Analyze various cultures, people, and their perspectives through a variety of courses available starting in your first year. 

From cultural or art history, social or military history, the history of crime or political history, History at Laurier will focus your studies on the periods, people and places that pique your interests while preparing you for a meaningful career.

Program Details

Degree Highlights

Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on:

  • Explore the Past Through Diverse Historical Perspectives
    Specialize in areas like cultural, global, social, military history, or the history of science, law, and politics, guided by passionate professors who support your academic interests.
  • Engage in Capstone Seminars
    In your final year, you'll take small, discussion-based seminars that bring your History degree to life through deep reading, independent research, and peer collaboration. Whether analyzing major historical themes or producing research papers based on primary sources, you’ll sharpen your critical thinking, writing, and presentation skills, preparing you for your future. 
  • History Teaching Specialization
    New for fall 2025, our History Teaching Specialization is intended to prepare students for future studies in Education and teaching at the high school level.
  • Accelerate Your Degree
    Fast-track your future by completing your degree in just three years. By working with your Academic Advisor and taking courses during the summer semesters, you can graduate early and get a head start on your career or graduate studies. 

Top Experiences

Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree (check out the Experience Guide for even more):

  • Apply for Co-op
    Apply for co-op in your first year or apply for direct entry to Honours Arts and co-op.
  • Study Abroad
    Enhance your learning with travel courses like the War and Memory summer course, where you'll visit memorials and battlefields across Europe.
  • Build Digital Skills
    Explore Digital Humanities courses to analyze historical and social issues using cutting-edge digital technologies. Gain hands-on experience through research assistantships with History professors and the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.
  • Ensure a Supportive Start 
    Ease your transition into university with our first-year courses, AF105S (Skills) and AF105W (Writing). These courses help you build the foundations for academic success, developing key skills in time management, critical thinking, research, and writing. You’ll also be backed by our dedicated Arts Advising team, who offer one-on-one support with course selection and academic planning, ensuring you feel confident, connected, and set up to thrive from your very first term.  

Courses, Options and Pathways

Courses

Get a glimpse of what you will study throughout your degree. See what your first-year classes will look like through sample courses and start exploring what your upper academic years can offer.

Program Options 

Explore a variety of courses, specializations and pathway options that let you shape your degree around your unique interests and goals. Find out how you can customize your experience and prepare for what’s next.

Admissions

  • Format: full time or part time
  • Duration: four years
  • Start: September (fall term) or January (winter term)

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • director of communications
  • diversity officer
  • foreign service officer
  • lawyer
  • public policy advisor
  • historical site administrator
  • museum curator
  • politician
  • teacher

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Your Co-op Experience

Co-op is a way to integrate what you are learning in the classroom with practical experience in your field of study. Build your resume, earn money, develop your network, and graduate future-ready.

Future Laurier Arts students have two options to engage in co-op. You can apply in first-year to our co-op program and complete three-work terms of four months’ duration and gain valuable experience during their studies.

You can also get a head-start and apply for direct admission to our brand-new co-op program straight from high school in select Arts programs. In both pathways, you will gain 12 months of career experience.

Interested? Learn more about co-op in the Faculty of Arts.

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99%employment rate for co‑op students – 2024 / 2025

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Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

 

Laurier is among the top 6 percent in the Center for World University Rankings

 

Laurier students engaged in hands-on learning in 2024

 

Laurier graduates employed or in post-graduate studies in 2024

Waterloo Campus

The Waterloo campus is tucked into about one city block, so you’re steps away from your classes, food and your new favourite study spot. With more than 60 programs in arts, science, business and music, you can customize your degree, gain hands-on learning opportunities and join in the community beyond the classroom.

There are many ways to tour our Waterloo campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

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Delivered In Person

Join us on campus and experience university life firsthand.

You can complete your program primarily through in-person courses where you will attend classes in a physical classroom on scheduled days and times, which you will see and choose from when you register for courses. 

Connect face-to-face with your professors, learn alongside your classmates and be part of the campus community from day one.  

Hear From Current Students

Want to know what it’s really like to be a Laurier Golden Hawk? Student Life at Laurier is your social media source to get unfiltered content, first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.

Connect with Us

Questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.


You Belong Here

Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?