Are you fascinated with North America as a distinct historical, cultural, political and economic entity? Curious about Canada’s socio-political place on the continent? North American Studies is an interdisciplinary program where you will focus your studies in one of four key areas: business and economy, culture and identity, public policy or Indigenous Peoples. By studying how these countries interact and influence each other, you’ll gain valuable insights into regional dynamics that can enhance your ability to navigate and influence cross-border issues in various professional roles.
This program must be combined with another Bachelor of Arts program.
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:
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!):
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.
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.
This program must be completed in combination with another Bachelor of Arts program. You can easily pair your studies with programs like:
Management Option
The Management Option is for students interested in adding management-specific education to their degree. This is a direct-entry, 4.0-credit option that includes courses covering all the core pillars of business and economics. Apply directly to North American Studies with Management Option on the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) by choosing ‘Management Option’ as your program enhancement.
Other 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:
Check out other options to enhance your degree.
The following opportunities allow you to pursue additional, related qualifications from another postsecondary institution (either before or after your time at Laurier):
Business Pathway
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.
College Pathways
Students who have successfully completed a 2-3-year college diploma, or an Arts and Science diploma at an Ontario college, may be eligible for admission into the North American Studies (BA) program through a block transfer agreement.
Check out other pathways to and from Laurier.
OUAC Codes:
When you apply on the OUAC application:
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 the Ontario High School Admission Requirements section.
Students applying to this program from an international curriculum must present the following:
Students applying to this program from an international curriculum are encouraged to review our curriculum-specific requirements. You will find which courses from your country's curriculum are equivalent to the admission requirements listed above. If your country or curriculum is not listed, please reach out to international@wlu.ca.
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 are successful 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.
The Academic Transition Pathway (ATP) program is offered through our affiliated institution, Wilfrid Laurier International College, and provides an option for meeting our English-proficiency requirement. 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 ATP program.
Students applying to this program from another post-secondary institution are encouraged to review our transfer-specific requirements. This page will show you the admission requirements for your unique transfer situation and provide more details about transferring to Laurier.
College graduates applying to Laurier’s North American Studies in combination program may be eligible for admission with one of our block transfer agreements.
Learn more about our college pathway opportunities.
Visit our admission requirements section to find specific requirements for transfer students, indigenous applicants, mature learners, homeschooled applicants, senior citizens, refugees, and more.
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?
Note: Additional training and education may be required.
Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.
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.
Join us on campus and experience university life firsthand.
Attend all your 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.
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.
Questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.
Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?
