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 [Coming soon]

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 (Careercruisingand 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

Mechanical Engineer

  • Aeronautical engineer
  • Automotive engineer
  • Building systems engineer
  • Consulting mechanical engineer
  • Energy conservation engineer
  • Fluid mechanics engineer
  • Hydraulic engineer
  • Internal combustion engineer
  • Mechanical design engineer
  • Nuclear operations engineer
  • Robotics engineer 

A bachelor's degree in mechanical 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.

Aerospace engineers

  • Aerodynamics engineer
  • Aerospace engineer – materials and processes
  • Aerospace reliability engineer
  • Aerospace structural engineer
  • Mass properties aerospace engineer

A bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or in a related engineering discipline, such as mechanical engineering or engineering physics, 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

  • Computer integrated manufacturing engineer
  • Cost engineer
  • Industrial efficiency engineer
  • Industrial engineer
  • Quality assurance (QA) engineer
  • Manufacturing engineer
  • Production engineer
  • Systems engineer - manufacturing

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.

Mining engineers

  • Consulting mining engineer
  • Mine design engineer
  • Mine production engineer
  • Mine safety engineer

A bachelor's degree in mining 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.

Metallurgical and materials engineers

  • Materials engineer
  • Metallurgist engineer
  • Physical metallurgical engineer
  • Refining and metal working engineer
  • Welding engineer

A bachelor's degree in metallurgical, materials, ceramic or chemical 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.

Petroleum engineer

  • Exploitation engineer – petroleum
  • Oil and gas drilling engineer
  • Oil well logging engineer
  • Petroleum engineer
  • Subsea equipment engineer

A bachelor's degree in petroleum 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 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.

Other professional engineers, n.e.c.

  • Agricultural engineer
  • Dairy plant engineer
  • Naval construction engineer
  • Naval mechanical 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.

Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers

  • Engineering department inspector
  • Engineering regulatory engineer
  • Quality assurance officer

University degree or college diploma in an appropriate engineering field 
or
Trade qualifications and extensive related work experience are required.

Appropriate professional engineering or engineering technology certification and licences may be required.

  • Government agencies
  • Private sector

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.

Manufacturing managers

  • Business manager – manufacturing
  • Co-ordinator, production planning
  • Director of operations
  • Factory superintendent
  • Industrial and manufacturing production manager
  • Production head
  • Production planner
  • Quality-control services managers

Completion of a college or university program in engineering or business administration is usually required.

Five to ten years of supervisory experience in manufacturing are required.

Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services

  • Chief operating officer – engineering firm
  • Engineering firm president
  • Engineering research general manager
  • Engineering vice-president

A university degree in business administration, commerce, computer science or other discipline related to the service provided is usually required.

Several years of experience as a middle manager in financial, communications or other business services are usually required.

Specialization in a particular functional area or service is possible through specific university training in that area or through previous experience.

Senior managers in finance usually require a professional accounting designation.

Senior managers - construction, transportation, production and utilities

  • Assistant executive director
  • Chief executive officer
  • Chief operating officer
  • Construction general manager
  • General manager
  • Vice-president, engineering 

A university degree or college diploma in engineering, business administration, commerce or other discipline related to the company's product is usually required.

Several years of experience as a middle manager in goods production, utilities, transportation or construction are usually required.

Specialization in a particular functional area or product is possible through specific university or college training in that area or through previous experience.

Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade

  • Industrial equipment sales engineer
  • Industrial machinery sales representative
  • 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.

Architecture and science managers

  • Manufacturing research director
  • Mining research director
  • Research and development manager
  • Urban planning and renewal  director 

Science and other managers in this unit group require a master's or doctoral degree in a scientific discipline and several years of experience in a related scientific discipline.

College and other vocational instructors

  • Commercial design instructor
  • Company instructor
  • Computer-assisted drafting (CAD) 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

  • Research
  • Information Technology
  • Product Management
  • Business Development
  • Sales

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

North 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