A curriculum often reads as a collection of course titles that doesn't capture unique teaching approaches. We developed a brand statement that is both descriptive and aspirational. It is intended to capture what makes us unique while also giving us a guideline for the future:  

The Laurier School of Business provides an immersive education that produces adaptive graduates primed for success in a world of ever-increasing complexity.  

We describe our program as immersive because it extends beyond the classroom. We offer experiential teaching methods, field projects, co-op/internships... you learn by being part of the action instead of as a student observing the action. Our school's culture is one of participation: we have the highest percentage of student involvement in university clubs in Canada. It has been said "you don't go to Laurier; you live Laurier."  

We strive to produce adaptive graduates: flexible, intellectually agile, able to work well with different group dynamics, in different team structures, as leader or team member.  

And, our graduates are primed for success. Our goal is to be able to make the claim that "Laurier grads have the shortest learning curve in the marketplace". Intellectually and emotionally they are ready to hit your organization running.

Please note: curricula are dynamic. We are constantly seeking to improve our curriculum by adding new courses and shifting important courses from being recommended electives to required courses when the resources are available. The curriculum that students see in year one may be different by year three as we strive to keep pace with changes to industry.

The curriculum is built on a 3 + 1 concept. The first three years provide a solid common business foundation which includes two Co-op opportunities. Students begin to specialize in Marketing and Brand Communication in year 3. This gives companies additional time to interact with potential future employees. Year 4 - the plus 1 year - focuses on specialization for careers in brand communication. Flexibility allows for innovative combinations and collaboration of courses to provide integrated thinking skills.

Choices include:

Year 1: Required for all BBA Students

            BU111 Introduction to Business Organization
            BU121 Functional Areas of the Organization

• Includes New Business Venture competition

            BU127 Introduction to Financial Accounting
            EC120 Introduction to Microeconomics
            EC140 Introduction to Macroeconomics
            MA129 Calculus for Students of Business and Economics

            Plus – 5 electives

Year 2: Required for all BBA Students

            BU231 Business Law
            BU247 Managerial Accounting
            BU288 Organizational Behaviour
            BU252 Introduction to Marketing
            BU255 Managerial Statistics
            BU275 Business Decision Models
            BU283 Financial Management I

            Plus – 3 electives

1st Co-op Placement for Marketing students

Year 3: Required for all BBA Students

            BU354 Human Resource Management
            BU393 Financial Management II
            BU381 Business Policy I
            BU385 Operations Management
            BU391 Business Policy II

Required for all Brand Communication Students:
           
            BU432 Consumer Behaviour
            BU422 Consumer Insights
           
2nd Co-op Placement for Marketing & Brand Communication students

Year 4: Required for Brand Communication students

            BU452 Marketing Strategy
            BU470 Brand Communication
            BU472 Integrated Marketing Communications

Recommended for Brand Communication Students

            BU492H Creative Thinking for Marketing Managers
            BU492K Marketing and Social Networks

Optional courses:

            BU412 Services Marketing
            BU462 Business-to-Business Marketing
            BU479 Hi-Tech Marketing
            BU469 Global Marketing Management
            BU482 Sales Management
            BU492L Marketing and Society

• Courses in the Brand Communication program typically include guest speakers from industry, field projects and live-case exercises.

Laurier has one of the most successful co-op programs in Canada. Co-op is currently available to students in Arts, Science, Business and Economics; and, the Business-Mathematics and Business-Computing double-degree programs. We are accredited by the Accreditation Council of the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education.

Admission is competitive because of the popularity of the program.

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 7.8 (equivalent to a B average). Marks, additional skills, recent work experience, extracurricular activities, volunteer and community service are all considered for admission before proceeding to the final interview stage. A Co-op Program Coordinator interviews each qualified applicant as the final step in the admission process.

Students may have as many as 3 work terms during their degree. Terms may run as long as 8 months and an international co-op program is also available. Typically the student's first co-op term would be at the end of their 2nd year of study, followed by the winter term in 3rd year and fall term in 4th. Feedback is obtained at the end of each co-op term and used to consider continuation in the program.