History alumni flock to graduate schools to study Early Modern Europe
Mark Hensch
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: News
Much like Pettus, Nick Russell '07 said Hillsdale opened the door to his current course work at Tufts. Now working towards a global history major, he said he mainly focuses on the Spanish Enlightenment and its relationship with China. He is prepared for such a dissertation, he added, because of his undergraduate studies at Hillsdale.
"We have an amazing history department at Hillsdale," he said. "I think Hillsdale prepared me extremely well. I had a similar experience there to what I now get in graduate school."
Matthew Gaetano '05 said his study abroad work in Padua, Italy through the University of Pennsylvania would not have happened without his Hillsdale degree. Originally entering Hillsdale intent on studying politically economy, Gaetano said his classes with Stewart changed his goals. He said he is now exploring Italian and Spanish Renaissance theology after working in the two nations.
"[Stewart] communicated to many of us how history might be considered the 'master discipline," in at least a certain sense," Gaetano said. "Are you interested in literature, philosophy, theology, economics or politics? Well, he argued, each of these disciplines or modes of human inquiry has its own history and grasping how they change over time can liberate us from the prejudices of our day."
Pettus said Stewart will likely keep inspiring students of early modern Europe in the graduating classes to come. In practicing Hillsdale's take on history, she said, students could better understand their world.
"I think Dr. Stewart is very active in encouraging people in undergraduate school to think graduate school," she said. "He is very good at helping people find reasons to study the early modern European period."
"We have an amazing history department at Hillsdale," he said. "I think Hillsdale prepared me extremely well. I had a similar experience there to what I now get in graduate school."
Matthew Gaetano '05 said his study abroad work in Padua, Italy through the University of Pennsylvania would not have happened without his Hillsdale degree. Originally entering Hillsdale intent on studying politically economy, Gaetano said his classes with Stewart changed his goals. He said he is now exploring Italian and Spanish Renaissance theology after working in the two nations.
"[Stewart] communicated to many of us how history might be considered the 'master discipline," in at least a certain sense," Gaetano said. "Are you interested in literature, philosophy, theology, economics or politics? Well, he argued, each of these disciplines or modes of human inquiry has its own history and grasping how they change over time can liberate us from the prejudices of our day."
Pettus said Stewart will likely keep inspiring students of early modern Europe in the graduating classes to come. In practicing Hillsdale's take on history, she said, students could better understand their world.
"I think Dr. Stewart is very active in encouraging people in undergraduate school to think graduate school," she said. "He is very good at helping people find reasons to study the early modern European period."
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