At the beginning of the 20th century, London was the seat of an empire encompassing the largest landmass of any in world history and a population of over 400 million subjects. One sees this history in the city's wealth, in the grandeur of its architecture, in the tremendous variety and richness of its cultural institutions, and in the beauty of its many parks and monuments. Yet the single greatest legacy of Great Britain's long imperial history is London's internationally recognized position as a cosmopolitan centre of artistic, financial, and intellectual activity. Having once extended its reach to the four corners of the globe, London now reflects the Commonwealth in microcosm, as it is home to one of the largest and most diverse immigrant populations of any city in the world. Over the course of the past 40 years, daily life in London has increasingly become an ongoing experiment in diversity, where the interaction of widely differing cultural, economic, and intellectual traditions encapsulates like few other places on the planet the complex possibilities and challenges presented by "globalization."
The Lawrence London Centre was established in 1970 to introduce Lawrence students to the rich social, cultural, and political history of the British people through a program of classroom study supplemented by field trips, museum visits, cultural opportunities, and travel. While endeavouring to continue playing this important role in a Lawrence liberal arts education, the London Centre now also seeks to utilize its setting in a cosmopolitan world city as a rich text wherein Lawrence students can engage the significant political, economic, cultural, and intellectual challenges of the 21st century.
Therefore, in addition to the traditional Centre offerings focusing on the history and culture of England, we have added new courses that explore the complex landscape of modern British life and culture, the Fringe Theatre movement, the impacts of Empire on 19th century British society, and the nature of historical inquiry in a city that dates to Roman times. There also is a limited opportunity for juniors or seniors to pursue a nine-week internship.
The Centre is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors approved by the Subcommittee on Off-Campus Study. Students may pursue study for either one or two terms. Given the Centre's focus on General Education Requirements, first year students are encouraged to consider the possibility of studying in London during the sophomore year.