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:

  • 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.
  • Advanced Fourth-Year Seminars: Engage in fourth-year seminars with just 15 students per class, offering exceptional 1:1 interaction with your professors. 
  • Build Digital Skills: Enhance your experience with the Applied Digital option. Learn to use digital tools for research, documentary filmmaking, text publishing, and website creation, boosting your resume and expanding your skill set.
  • Pathway to a Law Degree: Combine your degree with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Sussex. 
  • 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 learning with travel courses like the War and Memory summer course, where you'll visit memorials and battlefields across Europe.
  • Residence Community: Apply to live in the Historical Worlds Residence Learning Community during your first year. This specialized living environment connects you with peers who share your passion for history, enriching your academic and social experience.
  • Research and 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.

Courses, Options and Pathways

First-Year Core Courses

  • Age of Extremes: Europe's 20th Century
  • Ancient Heroes: Story and Tradition
  • Great Battles in History
  • History and Popular Culture in the Modern World
  • Pirates! A World History
  • Revolution in the Modern World
  • The History of Alcohol
  • War, Conflict and Rebellion in the Middle Ages, 730-1500

Sample First-Year Electives

  • Media History
  • Film and Narrative
  • Studying Popular Culture
  • Introduction to Global Studies
  • Literature and Crime
  • Invitation to Archeology
  • Philosophy of Happiness

Sample Upper-Year Courses

  • Vikings!
  • WWII: The European Theatre
  • A History of Conspiracies
  • Sport in the Modern World
  • Ancient Sexualities
  • Canadian Military History

Note: There are no required courses in the program; you can study in the areas of history that interest you most starting on day one.

Specializations

You can specialize in your degree by taking courses that centre around your interests, including: 

  • Applied History
  • Culture and Lived Experience
  • Global Communities
  • Conflict, Politics and the Law

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:

  • Digital Humanities Option
  • Legal Studies Option
  • Management Option
  • History, Philosophy and Ethics or Science Minor Research Specialization

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

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.

Law Pathway 

You can combine this program with a law degree (LLB) from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. Our Bachelor of Laws (University of Sussex, UK) and Bachelor of Arts (Laurier) can be completed in six years. 

You'll complete your first two years at our Waterloo campus. Students who meet the progression requirements may then apply to the UK law program and are guaranteed an offer of admission; there is no requirement to write the LSAT entrance exam. After three years abroad for your LLB, you'll return to Laurier for one year and complete the BA. Apply directly on the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.

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.

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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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?