CMU history graduate students may acquire a Scottish accent by the time they earn their master's degree or doctorate.
Central and the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, have established a joint study program for history graduate students.
Charles Ebel, history professor, who was chair of the department when the program began during the 1992-93 academic year, said the basis of the program was to obtain some international studies.
"The thinking behind the program was that we would start a transnational program that would require some comparative study," Ebel said.
One year of specific course work at CMU and one year at Strathclyde are requirements for a master's. Admission to the doctorate program requires students to complete all requirements for the joint master's degree, according to a press release. The student may choose from various fields for their doctorate research and comprehensive examination.
Ebel said Strathclyde is strong in economic and social aspects of modern European history and CMU is strong in both modern European history and American history.
"Between the two, we can put together a very strong program. I think this transnational focus is on track with where the world is going.
"There is globalization in all aspects of life and serious study of that in a historical perspective should be a useful thing," Ebel said.
The program is only open to students who have selected one or two major fields of study concerning the United States, the British Isles or Modern Continental Europe.
One or two minor fields may be chosen from Ancient Near East and Mediterranean, Medieval Europe, Latin America, East Asia and India.
"Our program is designed to be small. We admit between two and four people per year," said Mitchell Hall, director of graduate studies for the history department.
Hall, history professor, said lack of funding is what limits the program to so few students.
"It's quite selective," Hall said. "It is very competitive."
He said the program affords benefits to various groups.
Students have the benefit of studying in two different cultures under both British and American faculty.
And since their study is required to be comparative, Hall said, "I think our students have a greater breadth of preparation."
Hall said the program brings attentions and prestige to the university since it is one of the few joint doctorate programs in the United States.
Students must hold an undergraduate degree from a recognized university with 20 or more hours of history, a grade point average of 2.7 or higher and have taken the Graduate Record Examination to be admitted to the program.
"There are minimum requirements (for the program), but because it is very competitive, you really need to have scores and grades that are higher than our minimum," Hall said.
Students from England, Canada, Scotland, China and Norway have participated in the program, he said.
"We've been able to recruit people from a variety of places," Hall said.
So far the program has been prosperous.
"Everything that I've heard indicates that it has been successful," he said.
And the response from CMU students has been almost unanimously positive, he said. Faculty and staff are not complaining either.
"We're quite pleased to have this program here," Hall said.
For more information, contact the College of Graduate Studies at 774-GRAD or the department of history at 774-3479.