Ancient Studies (BA)

Immerse yourself in the mythology, politics, philosophies, and societies of early civilizations from around the world.

The Bachelor of Ancient Studies (BA) program can help you gain a greater understanding of these ancient cultures and their enduring effect on our society today. You will earn critical thinking and writing skills highly valued by employers in fields such as law, education, government, publishing, and archaeology.

Program Details

Degree Highlights

Your future professors work 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:

  • Comprehensive Curriculum: Develop a comprehensive understanding of ancient civilizations across Europe, Africa, the Near East, and the Americas. This global approach not only enriches your knowledge but also prepares you for diverse career paths in academia, museums, and cultural organizations.
  • Career-Ready Courses: Gain a competitive edge by studying the ancient world through courses across multiple disciplines such as History, Archaeology, Philosophy, and Religion in Culture. This interdisciplinary approach enhances your analytical skills and prepares you for careers in research, education, and heritage management.
  • Integrate Arts with Business: Broaden your career opportunities by integrating a business education with your arts degree. Our collaboration with the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics offers unique pathways to undergraduate and graduate-level business education.

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!):

  • Co-op: Get valuable work experience as an Honours Arts student in Ancient Studies by applying to co-op. Complete three four-month work terms during your degree.
  • Clubs and Volunteer Work: Join student clubs such as the History Students’ Association, Laurier Ancient Music Society, or Laurier Pre-Law Society, and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
  • Collaborations: Take a capstone seminar in your upper years, which gives you the opportunity to gain hands-on research experience and develop professional writing and presentation skills, while working with students from universities across Canada.
  • Summer Travel Course: Live in the Historical Worlds Residence Learning Community in your first year and register for the culminating summer travel course (when available).

Courses, Options and Pathways

First-Year Core Courses

  • Mysteries of the Ancient World
  • Greece: Minotaur to Alexander
  • Ancient Rome: Not Just Caesar
  • War, Conflict and Rebellion in Late Antiquity
  • Ancient Heroes: Story and Tradition

Sample Upper-Year Courses

  • Crime and Justice in Antiquity
  • The World of Ghengis Khan
  • Magic and Religion in the Ancient World
  • The Afterlife in Ancient and Medieval Thought
  • Waking the Dead: Voices from the Near East

Options and Minors

These are a few of the many popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge:

  • Management option
  • Teaching option
  • Legal Studies option
  • Digital Humanities option 
  • Generative AI certificate
  • Philosophy minor

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

Business Pathways

Enhance your Arts degree with a Management Option or get a head-start on graduate studies by applying to the BA + Masters of Business Administration with co-op. Apply directly to either on the Ontario Universities' Application Centre.

Check out all pathways to and from Laurier.

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.

  • acquisitions editor
  • curator
  • foreign service officer
  • immigration officer
  • lawyer
  • market research analyst
  • project manager
  • public policy analyst
  • technical writer

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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98%employment rate for co‑op students – 2023 / 2024

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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 Global 2000 World University Ranking

 

Laurier students engaged in hands-on learning in 2023

 

Laurier graduates employed or in post-graduate studies in 2023

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.

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.

Chat with Current Students

Want to know what it’s really like to be in this program? U Community is our Discord server where future Golden Hawks like you can connect with current students to get their 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?