French (BA)

Co‑op

Available as a Minor

Bienvenue au programme d’études françaises à Laurier!

Master French with immersive classroom experiences and optional exchanges at French-speaking universities. Enhance your skills through intensive summer language programs or a job in a Francophone country. Gain deep knowledge of French-speaking cultures, preparing for global careers that demand advanced bilingual skills.

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:

  • Immerse Yourself in French Studies
    Explore advanced French writing, diverse French-speaking cultures, literature, film, music, animation, and translation. Study French grammar at various levels and engage in reflective teaching practice, equipping you with a broad and practical knowledge base. 
  • Gain Practical Language Skills
    Gain valuable hands-on experience through translation courses and relevant volunteer work, enhancing your resume and preparing you for a range of professional opportunities in bilingual environments.
  • Integrated Path to an MBA
    Start with a BA in French and transition seamlessly into a full-time MBA program with a co-op component with the BA + MBA program.
  • Path to a Teaching Career
    Apply to our direct entry French with Teaching Option program for a pathway into a Bachelor of 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
    Arts Honours students can apply for the co-op program, completing three four-month work terms to gain valuable industry experience and develop career-specific skills.
  • Work or Learn Abroad
    Explore summer jobs in Francophone countries. Partners include AIESEC Global Talent and Télévision Française de l’Ontario, offering real-world immersion. Apply for an international exchange at French-speaking universities to practice French abroad and gain global exposure.
  • Certificates and Volunteering
    Earn the Certificate in Community and Workplace Language Learning to showcase your practical French skills, and volunteer locally to gain language and professional experience.
  • Tandem Program
    Participate in the Tandem Program to practice French through conversation with international students, enhancing your language skills without the need to travel.

Courses, Options and Pathways

Courses 

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.

Program Options 

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.

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.

  • communications specialist
  • customs/immigration officer
  • dialect coach
  • ESL instructor
  • film translator (dubbing)
  • foreign correspondent
  • interpreter
  • linguist
  • speech-language pathologist
  • teacher/educator
  • 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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99%employment rate for co‑op students – 2024 / 2025

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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 Center for World University Rankings

 

Laurier students engaged in hands-on learning in 2024

 

Laurier graduates employed or in post-graduate studies in 2024

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.

students in a classroom

Delivered In Person

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.  

Hear From Current Students

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.

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?