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North American Studies (BA in combination)

North American Studies (BA in Combination)

Faculty of Arts

waterloo

Co-op

Explore the links that bind Canada, the United States and Mexico together. Study North America as a distinct historical, cultural, political and economic entity, and Canada’s particular place on the continent. Focus your studies in one of four key areas: business and economy, culture and identity, public policy or Indigenous Peoples. You’re encouraged to do an exchange and study at partner universities in the U.S. and Mexico.

Apply Your Learning

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you. Volunteer work, campus clubs, leadership programs, studying abroad, work experience – there are so many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world.

Here are just a few examples of the experiences you can add to your North American Studies program:

Apply for co-op at the end of your first year to gain hands-on work experience for your resume.
Study abroad for an academic term by completing an exchange with our international university partners in the United States at Georgia Southern University and Mexico at Tecnológico de Monterrey, campus Ciudad de Mexico.
Add translation courses through our French or Spanish programs to gain practical experience that you can add to your resume.

Check out the North American Studies Experience Guide.

2020 graduates who secured employment or went on to postgraduate studies

Laurier ranks in the top 6 percent of universities worldwide*

students who gained hands-on learning experiences at Laurier in 2019/20

*Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)

Admissions

Format: full time or part time Duration: four years Start: September (fall term) OUAC code: UH

Minimum admission range: low 70s.
Competitive admission range based on last year’s admitted students: low 80s.
English at 60%.

Students applying to this program from a Canadian province outside of Ontario are encouraged to review our course equivalents by province chart. This chart will show you what courses from your province are equivalent to the admission requirements listed under Ontario High School Admission Requirements.

Students applying to this program from an international curriculum are encouraged to review our curriculum-specific requirements; you must also meet all program-specific requirements listed under the Ontario High School Admission Requirements section.

English-Proficiency Requirement

Laurier's language of instruction is English, and so we may require you to provide evidence of your English proficiency to help make sure you experience success in your academic courses.

Your three most recent years of full-time education must be in English without taking any ESL (English as a Second Language) courses. If you do not meet this requirement, you must provide evidence of your English proficiency.

We reserve the right to request an English-language test from any applicant.

If you do not meet Laurier's English proficiency requirement but are academically qualified for your program, you may be eligible for a conditional offer of admission.

Laurier English and Academic Foundation (LEAF) Program

The Laurier English and Academic Foundation (LEAF) program is an academic English program for Laurier applicants who have to prove English proficiency. If you have received an offer to Laurier with a condition to meet our English- proficiency requirement, you can meet that condition by successfully completing the LEAF program.

Graduates from a two-year general Arts and Science diploma program can apply to North American Studies (in combination with another major) within the Faculty of Arts on Laurier’s Waterloo campus. To be considered for admission to the Faculty of Arts, graduates must have an overall average of 75% in their program and achieve a minimum of 60% in a 4U English course or equivalent.

Learn more about our college transfer agreement.

Visit our admission requirements section to find specific requirements for university students, indigenous applicants, mature learners, homeschooled applicants, senior citizens, refugees, and more.

Your Next Steps

Apply Now Strengthen Your Application Important Dates

Program Options and Courses

Design Your Degree

This program must be completed in combination with another Bachelor of Arts program. You can easily pair your studies with Communication Studies, English, Film Studies, Global Studies or Women and Gender Studies, among others.

In addition, you can add an option or minor that will allow you to broaden your knowledge. A few examples of popular options and minors include:

Global Studies Minor
History Minor
International Public Policy Option
Legal Studies Option
Management Option
North American Studies Minor
Research Specialization

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

First-Year Courses

Billionaires, Beavers, and Banditos
4.5 elective credits in courses that interest you

Sample First-Year Electives

Introductory French
Mapping Global Studies: Culture, Conflict, Development
Studying Popular Culture

Sample Upper-Year Courses

Canadian Identities and Cultures
Managing Borders and Boundaries in North America
Politics and Society in Contemporary Québec

Similar Programs

Global Studies (BA) | Waterloo
French (BA) | Waterloo
Spanish (BA) | Waterloo
Cultural Studies (BA in Combination) | Waterloo
Indigenous Studies (BA in Combination) | Brantford
History (BA) | Waterloo

Advice from Current Students

Get the inside scoop on what to expect from this transition and your first year at Laurier

Favourite Courses and Professors

Start planning what courses you'll take in first year at Laurier

Memorable Experiences

Current Arts students recount their most memorable experiences while at Laurier

Advice from Current Students

Get the inside scoop on what to expect from this transition and your first year at Laurier

Favourite Courses and Professors

Start planning what courses you'll take in first year at Laurier

Memorable Experiences

Current Arts students recount their most memorable experiences while at Laurier

Co-op

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 with work experience.

You can apply for admission to co-op in your first year and may be eligible for an admission interview early in your second year. As a student in this program, you will be eligible to complete paid work terms lasting 12 to 16 weeks.

Interested? Learn more about co-op.

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.

"The program has outstanding professors that encourage their students to be involved in class and assist them in finding personal areas of interest. Likewise, the smaller nature of classes within the program allows students to get to know their professors."

Caitlyn McComb, North American Studies graduate

"The breadth and multidisciplinary nature of the curriculum within the North American Studies program at Laurier allowed me to develop skills, knowledge and experiences which have benefited me in both graduate school and as I embark on a new career following graduation."

Meredith Giel, North American Studies graduate

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.

cultural affairs officer
demographer
diplomat
immigration officer
international business consultant
market research analyst
political correspondent
public policy analyst

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.

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.