The Central Michigan University (CMU)

CMU (cmich) is one of the three major universities in Michigan and a typical American campus university. Founded in 1892, it now has just under 25,000 students. CMU dominates life in the small town of Mount Pleasant and is also embedded in a predominantly rural environment. The Department of History has maintained a partnership with the Department of History since 2010; parallel to the exchange of the English Department. The Department of History regularly offers courses on all periods of European history, but also on the history of Latin America, Africa and East Asia and on environmental history. In recent years, CMU has particularly expanded its teaching and research on public history, for which two lecturers are responsible. Half of the 20 lecturers specialize in the history of North America.

The study exchange

Since 2017, the exchange with CMU has been funded by Key Action 107 of the Erasmus+ program. This enables two Master's students from the Institute of History to study at CMU for one semester each year. The scholarship holders receive €700 per month and an additional €820 towards flight costs. They are treated the same as regular CMU students when it comes to CMU services (accommodation, use of university facilities). Tuition fees do not have to be paid.
Outside of the Erasmus program, the Department of History also has vacancies for teaching assistants for Master's students from Bochum, who support the teaching staff, especially in student support. Teaching assistants must cover their living expenses and flights from the CMU salary. However, there are no tuition fees in this case either.

The exchange places and TA positions are usually advertised at the end of the year for the coming academic year. The selection is made by a committee of the Department of History. Excellent English language skills and an interest in North American history are prerequisites for selection.

Interested parties - including Bachelor's students who are planning to take part in the exchange during their Master's degree - can contact Dr. Lutz Budrass (GA 4/50, office hours during the semester Thurs. 10:15-12:15, tel. 22554) or Dr. Andrzej Michalczyk (GA 4/142, tel. 24079) for advice and information.