Why did you choose to study at LSE?
Two reasons: I’ve always wanted to live in London, and because of the International History Department’s reputation among scholars around the world.
What are the benefits of studying in London?
Because London is one of the most international cities in the world, it serves as the best possible backdrop to a program like Empires, Colonialism and Globalisation. London, once being a great metropole, still offers relics and remnants of Britain’s imperial past at every turn. Free exhibits offered at the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum (to name just a couple) provide a contextualizing glimpse into the history of imperial Britain. Each day spent in the melting pot that is Central London enriches the experience you will have in your Empires program. The history really comes alive here.
Why did you choose the MSc in Empires, Colonialism and Globalisation?
I chose the Empires program because of its focus on the makings of the modern world. The course is designed in a thematic way, enabling the students to make connections between the world’s greatest empires in order to better understand the very notion of empire as a crucial historical phenomenon. The reading and seminar discussions provide for a deeper grasp of the human experience of imperialism, colonialism and globalization. It is an information-packed course and it moves very quickly, but the professors help to draw out the themes in every seminar in order to make the content both tangible and valuable. While the breadth of the course may seem overwhelming at first glance of the syllabus, one begins to enjoy the themes more and more with each weekly reading and seminar discussion.
What did you hope to gain from your degree?
Before I came to LSE, I taught United States history at a high school in California. Through the Empires course, I hoped to expand my understanding of world history. I was attracted to the idea of studying international history because I hoped to investigate the relationships and connections between different regions and peoples of the world. I wanted to continue to foster my skills as a researcher and writer. The course has exceeded all my expectations. It has given me further confidence in my ability as a historian, while also challenging me to work harder than I ever have as a student.
How did you find the teaching, supervision and social life within the department?
The professors in the Empires program are great. They are both approachable and thorough in their assessment of student work. The department offers numerous social functions that allow you to meet fellow students outside your seminar sections. Within each seminar, professors usually plan a gathering at the end of each term. For example, my Empires professor, Dr. Sherman, took the class to eat at an authentic Indian restaurant after we studied the Mughal Empire. My advice to the incoming student is to take every advantage to get to know your professors and classmates. They will blow you away with their intelligence and experiences. Overall, the calibre of the department’s social life matches the calibre of the instruction, and getting to know my classmates was the most rewarding aspect of my year at the LSE.
What are you planning to do next?
I plan to return to Southern California to teach at the high school or community college level. I also plan to apply to Ph.D. programs and to continue to forge my path as a practicing historian.
What has been the most exciting or challenging part of your degree?
The most exciting has been the friendships I’ve made. The most challenging has been the writing. Although I consider writing one of my chief strengths, the Empires program has pushed me to write with authority about subjects I had little previous experience writing about. I have learned how to be concise and effective as an academic writer. Overcoming the challenges is the second most exciting part of my year at the LSE.