New BA to MBA with Co-op pathway offers great options for Arts undergraduates

By Suzanne Bowness | March 7, 2024

Many business owners will relate to the phenomenon of the occasional idea that stares you in the face, or even starts happening organically, before you recognize it as an opportunity and begin to formalize it. That's the origin story for a new pathway developed between Wilfrid Laurier's Faculty of Arts and the Lazaridis Master of Business Administration. Starting in fall 2024, students will be able to apply to a new Arts Degree (BA) + Business Administration (MBA) with Co-op.

The pathway allows students to start their undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in any one of 17 Arts majors, with a conditional offer of admission to the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics’ full-time MBA co-op program. As they complete their Arts degree, students in the pathway program will be invited to events and programming at the Lazaridis School, so they will begin to learn more about the business program and develop connections before they enter.

Ignacio Castillo, associate dean at Lazaridis, says that the program came together quite naturally. "We already have students with Arts backgrounds in our classes, so this initiative is an opportunity for Arts students to continue and get management skills but also to get work experience with the MBA co-op. We included one business fundamentals course as part of the requirements to give students a better foundation, in addition to the events and immersive opportunities that they will get to experience at Lazaridis," says Castillo.

One of the most exciting aspects for Arts students is the ability to access the MBA co-op, which offers one eight-month work term after the first two terms of MBA courses (students then return to the MBA for one more study term before graduating). While the BA-to-MBA with Co-op pathway might be new, the MBA program itself has included co-op opportunities since 2006, so a strong program is already in place.

Students are prepared first through a co-op fundamentals course that offers assistance on resumes, cover letters and job interview skills. Then a co-op consultant helps them connect with paid roles such as business analyst, research associate, or strategy consultant among others, with employers from IBM Canada to CIBC to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs. “This work experience gives students a leg up on securing full-time permanent work after graduation,” says Colleen Myronyk, director of Wilfrid Laurier’s Co-operative Education and Workplace Partnerships.

Dean of Arts Sofie Lachapelle, who worked on the development of this pathway alongside Castillo, says she also looks forward to offering this new opportunity to Arts students.  "I think it prepares them for the world of work, in different careers," she says. "We’re very excited about this partnership with Lazaridis, and especially excited that it includes co-op as well."

Myronyk agrees, noting that co-op will give students a chance to both gain relevant experience and also confirm that their chosen career path and employer matches their expectations. “I think with Arts there are so many employment options that it might help them to hone in on their interests. Adding an MBA offers a bit more focus, since you can do almost anything with an Arts degree.” 

Both Lachapelle and Castillo say that the idea is already getting a lot of buzz. "Lots of people are very excited about this--the feedback we are getting from colleagues, administrators, faculty members, parents is really positive," says Castillo. He sees it particularly valuable for anyone who may be looking down the road to moving into management later on. "An MBA is compatible with anyone who is in transition to management roles, and from my perspective that’s a lot of people," he says.