Samuell Utrosa photo taken at convocation

What did you study at Bishop’s?

Sam: I pursued an Honours Bachelor of Arts in History and Global Studies with Minors in Pre-Law and International Studies.

What courses have left a mark on you the most?

Sam: The courses that had a tremendous impact on me were the courses that took more of a ‘hands-on learning approach’ to understanding history, so courses like: The Cold War In a Global Context, The History of The Global South, The Law and the Land: Indigenous and Settler Relations in Canada, History and Archives, and the Vietnam War.

These courses helped to better understand the use and teaching of history.

These courses took many dimensions and approaches to understanding the content of history, from simulations of historical conferences in the global south, to seminar discussions and presentations about the history of the Vietnam War, and hands-on experience working with real archival material; all helped to better understand the use and teaching of history.”

What are some fun projects you remember from your courses?

Sam: One of the most interesting and rewarding projects that I did was with some colleagues for Dr. David Webster where we created a podcast as our final project about development in the Global South. We had so much fun creating and researching for the project and it was a huge success.

Having these opportunities to do different types of projects really allows you to broaden your understanding of history and approaches to research and presentation.

What opportunities has the History program offered you during your time here?

Sam: While at Bishop’s I had three opportunities to expand my learning beyond being just a student as a Research Assistant, and a teaching assistant. I was a teaching assistant for Dr. David Webster’s Truth and Reconciliation course. I was a research assistant for Dr. Cristian Berco where I assisted with the study of material for his research on the Brain of the Inquisition, a study of pre-modern Europe. I was also an active member of the Bishop’s University History Association, both as a member and as the President of the association for 3 years. This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my undergraduate experience; working closely with faculty, and students to better the department and strive for more student-faculty cooperation and development.

Working closely with faculty, and students to better the department and strive for more student-faculty cooperation and development.

Why was History at BU the best choice for you?

Sam: History at Bishop’s is specifically unique because it is so small and closely knit, you have the opportunity to work with others and build friendships with people who share the passion of history within such a safe and supporting environment.

Why should someone come to BU?

Sam: Bishop’s history trained me with the necessary competencies to think analytically and develop problem solving skills to approach situations and challenges in future careers. Choosing a university is a challenging time, especially with the overload of information and not necessarily knowing what to look for, I went through this too.

I would highly recommend Bishop’s University History Department because of its holistic approach to education which places the student at the center of learning. When education is framed around the student it makes the experience worth every second.

In terms of scale, larger universities may seem better, however, in this case larger can be more difficult to find your place in your department. At Bishop’s, the small department allows for such personal connection to your learning which you may not get at other universities.

A History undergrad at Bishop’s truly allows you to not only strengthen your knowledge and education, but also allows you to grow as a person. Bishop’s was one of the most rewarding decisions of my life. Every day I wish I could go back to my Bishop’s History days.

Bishop’s was one of the most rewarding decisions of my life.

What do you hope to achieve in the future with this History degree?

Sam: I am currently doing a Master’s of Arts in Legal Studies at Carleton University. I plan on finishing my Legal Studies Master’s and pursuing another one in History and potentially a PhD in History. A potential pathway of mine is to continue in education and possibly teach at the university and post-secondary level. Other pathways could lead me to government positions.