Students studying in Social Sciences Building

What can I do with my studies?

Program Overview 

Program Requirements 

Acquired skills

University education stimulates the development of many valuable skills transferable to the workplace. Employers increasingly demand a set of skills from their employees; communication, research, data use, analytical, decision-making, problem-solving, planning and organizational, responsibility, adaptability and autonomy, and teamwork skills are sought after. While they can seem limited to each program of study, skills are adaptable and extendable to a variety of situations and they can also be used to acquire other aptitudes and abilities hence ensuring the development and advancement of one's career (to further develop your skill set, see Experience section). The list of skills below can then help in the process of choosing occupations that best fit your education and aptitudes and it can also be used to communicate your employability.

Skills 

General Skills/Specific Skills

  • Problem solving skills
  • Verbal and written communication
  • Ability to work with others effectively
  • Ability to apply knowledge creatively

Further studies

Many graduate programs are available for people with an undergraduate degree interested in expanding their knowledge, specializing or conducting research. The graduate programs below are examples selected from the list of graduate programs offered by the University of Ottawa. While they are related to this program of study, it is important to consult the admission requirements of the programs as not all types of degrees qualify one for admission. Moreover, additional programs and other universities could be considered depending on your career plan.

Graduate programs

Potential occupations

Universities studies lead to multiple occupations. Furthermore, certain professions require talent, special aptitudes, additional skills and experience beyond degrees themselves. By targeting a profession, it can make decisions easier during your schooling, throughout your job search and, finally, when choosing among job offers. The choices can change over time based on academic, personal, and professional paths and on the knowledge of occupations and of the labour market.

In order to list your choices, visit the Job Bank Canada website and, using the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, view job postings, wages, employment prospects and other important information that can help you make a decision. If need be, additional and complementary information can be found via two online career exploration tools (Careercruising and Choices Planner)* also designed to facilitate your career advancement. The occupations found below are examples derived from the National Occupational Classification. They are presented by their occupational group title, in bold, followed by bulleted occupational titles specific to the program of study. Immediately after the occupational titles, the hyperlinked NOC code for the occupational group is provided. Overall, the occupations are presented side by side with their employment requirements and the establishments where to find a job.

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 is the authoritative resource on occupational information in Canada providing a standard taxonomy and framework for dialogue on Labour Market Information. It gathers more than 30,000 occupational titles into 500 Unit Groups, organized according to skill levels and skill types.

Occupations related to this program

Civil Engineers

  • Appraisal engineer
  • Construction engineer
  • Environmental engineer
  • Hydraulics engineer
  • Hydrological engineer
  • Irrigation and drainage engineer
  • Municipal engineer
  • Pollution control engineer
  • Reclamation engineer
  • Soil engineer
  • Water and sewer engineer
  • Water management engineer
  • Water resources engineer
  • Water systems engineer
  • Water treatment engineer

A bachelor's degree in civil engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.

A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.

Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).

Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.

Industrial and manufacturing engineers

  • Cost engineer
  • Industrial efficiency engineer
  • Industrial engineer
  • Quality assurance (QA) engineer
  • Manufacturing engineer
  • Production engineer

A bachelor's degree in industrial engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.

A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.

Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).

Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.

Other professional engineers, n.e.c.

  • Agricultural engineer
  • Dairy plant engineer
  • Naval engineer
  • Engineering scientist

A bachelor's degree in an appropriate engineering discipline is required.

A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.

Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports, and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).

Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.

Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers

  • Environmental impact analyst
  • Environmental program development supervisor
  • Environmental program manager
  • Waste reduction and recycling officer
  • Waste reduction program co-ordinator

A bachelor's degree or college diploma in a related scientific or technical discipline is usually required for occupations in this unit group.

A master's degree in a related scientific discipline may be required.


Occupations in this group that are involved in green building design and technologies development may require the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification offered by the Canadian Green Building Council.

Industrial designer

  • Business products designer
  • Consumer product designer
  • Industrial design consultant
  • Industrial designer
  • Industrial products designer

A university degree in industrial design, architecture, engineering 
or
A college diploma in industrial design is required.

Creative ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, is required.

Construction managers

  • Bridge and building construction manager
  • Construction expediter
  • Construction site manager
  • Construction superintendent
  • General contractor
  • Highway construction manager
  • Project manager

A university degree in civil engineering or a college diploma in construction technology is usually required.

A master's degree in project management may be required.

Several years of experience in the construction industry, including experience as a construction supervisor or field superintendent, are usually required.

Extensive experience in the construction industry may substitute for post-secondary education requirements.

Professional engineering status or construction trade certification may be required by some employers.

Engineering managers

  • Civil engineering division manager
  • Engineering research and development director
  • Engineering service group manager
  • Engineering service project manager
  • Production engineering manager

A bachelor's degree in engineering is usually required.

Extensive experience in an engineering discipline, including supervisory experience, is required.

Registration as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is usually required.

Urban and land use planners

  • Environmental planner
  • Land use planner
  • Mass transit services analyst
  • Municipal planner
  • Urban renovation planner
  • Urban planner

A bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning, geography, architecture, engineering or a related discipline is required.

A master's degree in one of these disciplines may be required.

Membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners is usually required.

Membership in a provincial planning institute may be required in some provinces.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is offered by the Canada Green Building Council and may be required by some employers.

Technical sales specialists wholesale trade

  • Industrial equipment sales engineer
  • Sales representative, construction materials
  • Technical sales specialists, construction materials

A university degree or college diploma in a program related to the product or service is usually required.

Experience in sales or in a technical occupation related to the product or service may be required.

Fluency in a specific foreign language, and/or foreign work or travel experience may be required for technical sales specialists seeking employment with companies that import or export technical goods or services.

Technical sales supervisors require experience as a technical sales specialist.

College and other vocational instructors

  • Architectural technology instructor
  • Commercial design instructor
  • Commercial design teacher
  • Company instructor
  • Computer-assisted drafting (CAD) instructor
  • Graphic design instructor
  • Industry instructor

A bachelor's degree, a college diploma or demonstrated expertise in the field of instruction is required.

A master's degree in the field of instruction may be required.

A certificate, diploma or degree in adult education may be required.

Administrators post-secondary education and vocational training

  • Assistant dean
  • Dean
  • Faculty administrator

Faculty administrators require a graduate degree in a field related to the academic faculty and several years of experience as a university professor or college teacher

Post-secondary teaching and research assistants

  • Discussion group leader post-secondary teaching assistance
  • Laboratory assistant, university
  • Laboratory supervisor post-secondary teaching assistant
  • Post-secondary research assistant
  • Post-secondary teaching assistant
  • Tutor post-secondary teaching assistant

Enrolment in a university or college program is required.

Related field

Although many students believe that they will pursue a career path directly connected to their university studies, quite often, graduates tend to work in related fields. Below is a list of possible related fields of work based on a given program of study. These fields present opportunities that are not typically considered as first choices when choosing a career path based on a program of study. Hopefully, this list will allow students to further consider the various fields that are loosely connected to their program of study. These results were compiled through a research of the University of Ottawa's alumni profiles which were found on the business-oriented social networking service, LinkedIn. 

Related Fields

  • Program and Project Management
  • Research
  • Operations
  • Education
  • Information Technology

Acquiring experience

Experience is acquired by participating and trying new personal, educational and professional activities, where it is possible to discover preferences, increase confidence and improve skills. As for professional experience, it is acquired through volunteering, internships, self-employment and full-time or part-time jobs. And certainly, experience working on campus or in other settings adds to the set of skills acquired in your degree (see Acquired Skills section). The Employability Skills 2000+ presenting the skills employers look for in their employees as well as its complementary checklist can help target experience opportunities that will improve your skill set necessary for employment. In addition to developing these skills, performing work related to your program of study can strengthen your expertise and increase your employability.

All examples of volunteer experience and potential employers were selected specifically for this area of study and according to occupational groups in which it is possible to acquire experience. Examples of volunteer organizations in Canada and abroad are preceded by a list of directories that can help to find more volunteer opportunities. Examples of potential employers in Canada and abroad have been compiled in light of events held in partnership with employers, searches in company directories and well-established rankings.

Volunteer opportunities

In addition to providing an opportunity to apply theories and knowledge learned during your university studies outside the classroom, in real world situations, volunteering is a way to help the community and its many organizations. The Community Service Learning also allows students to contribute to their community by participating in projects that are related to their program of study.

Directories

Canada Abroad

Potential employers

The following examples of employers can offer internships or employment opportunities related to students program of studies. The examples are presented according to geographic location: Ottawa and Gatineau, Ontario, Quebec and other provinces. 

In Canada

Ottawa/Gatineau Region Ontario

Quebec Other provinces and territories

Abroad

The requirements for working abroad consider factors like administrative laws, professional standards and work permits in some countries. To learn about requirements in various countries, visit Skill Clear or MyWorldAbroad (registration with a @uOttawa.ca email is required to use MyWorldAbroad).

Established globally Norht America (excluding Canada)

South America Europe

Asia Africa

Oceania Others

Job search resources

The job search resources are designed to stimulate networking activities, develop marketing strategies and facilitate access to job postings. Networking events offer employers the opportunity to learn about the available workforce, and they give students a chance to be considered in the recruitment process. Career Development Centre offers helpful tips on networking, interview preparation techniques and different tools that can also be used to help with the preparation of resumés and cover letters.

Professional organizations

Examples of professional organizations, presented by location, provide essential information on professional development opportunities and networking activities, the examples can also provide access to publications and job opportunities.

Canadian Provincial and territorial

American International

Job search sites

Here are a few websites posting jobs available in Canada and abroad related to this field of study.

Canadian International

General Job Search Websites

Date modified: 2016-05-09