Languages (BA)

Bienvenue/Bienvendio to the Languages at Laurier program! Become multilingual and develop a heightened awareness of the way language connects all human beings. Gain the invaluable communication skills required to navigate an increasingly interconnected and multicultural world. 

Our professors use innovative teaching methods and creative projects so you can graduate with fluency in multiple languages, providing access to countless careers and opportunities both in Canada and abroad.

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:

  • Comprehensive Language Skills: Achieve fluency in French and Spanish, and choose a third language such as Arabic, German, or Italian. Enhance your proficiency further through optional international exchange opportunities in your third or fourth year.
  • Innovative Teaching Methods: Experience cutting-edge teaching techniques from expert professors in the Faculty of Arts. Gain complete fluency in French and Spanish while building a solid foundation in a third language to unlock diverse global opportunities.
  • Pathway to an MBA: Begin your Languages program with a conditional offer to join our full-time Master of Business Administration (with co-op) program after graduation. Complete your BA in four years, followed by two years in the MBA.
  • Pathway to Grad Studies: Gain two degrees - your BA and a Master of Arts - in six years.

 

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: Apply for co-op in your first year or apply for direct entry to Honours Arts and co-op.
  • Study Abroad: Enhance your degree with exciting study abroad opportunities. In your third year, travel to France, Italy, or Spain with courses like Mediterranean Travels, or immerse yourself in Montreal’s vibrant Francophone culture with Cultural and Literary Representations of Montréal. Improve your Spanish fluency in Salamanca with SP288: Study Abroad.
  • Campus Clubs and Volunteer Work: Develop leadership skills and engage in meaningful volunteer work in student clubs such as the Laurier French Club, Spanish Club, German Culture Society, or AIESEC Laurier.
  • Tandem Program: Connect with international students through the Tandem program on campus. Engage in conversation practice to enhance your language skills and build cross-cultural connections.

Courses, Options and Pathways

First-Year Core Courses

You'll have the option to select three of the following courses:

  • Language Acquisition, Cognition, and Society
  • Sound, Structure, and Meaning
  • Cultural Perspectives I
  • Cultural Perspectives II
  • Mediterranean Culture and Civilization I
  • Mediterranean Culture and Civilization II
  • Mare Nostrum: Mediterranean Travels

In addition, you'll choose 3.5 credits from French and Spanish, and one of Arabic, German, Indigenous, Italian or Latin courses, or another language with permission from the department.

Upper-Year Courses

  • Literary Translation
  • Language Through Popular Culture
  • Francophone Myths, Legends and Voodoo
  • History of Spain and Latin America
  • Spanish Art, Music, and Media

 

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:

  • Global Studies minor
  • Legal Studies option 

Or add a German, Italian, Spanish of Arabic language minor. Check out other options to enhance your degree.

Business Pathways

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

Graduate Degree Pathway

The BA+MA pathway allows to graduate in 5 years with a BA and Master of Arts at Laurier. Apply for the BA+MA and receive an offer of admission to the Honours BA and a conditional offer to graduate studies, where you’ll earn a MA. Apply directly on the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre. 

Check out other 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.

  • bilingual officer
  • communications specialist
  • customs/immigration officer
  • dialect coach
  • ESL instructor
  • film translator (dubbing)
  • foreign correspondent
  • interpreter
  • policy analyst
  • translator

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?