The Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at ETSU will offer their annual course this summer to students interested in studying Scottish and Irish influence on the Appalachian region through the Appalachian, Scottish and Irish Studies program.
The class will be held during the second summer term, July 9-Aug. 10, and is “designed to make connections between Appalachia and Scotland,” said Ted Olson, director of CASS.
The majority of Scottish and Irish immigrants settled in Appalachia.
ASIS is partly a student-exchange program between ETSU and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. This year, three to five students and one staff member from U.E. will attend ETSU for the five-week course. Next year ETSU students will go to Scotland.
Students can earn up to three or six credit hours.
Along with the chance to explore Appalachia through the eyes of Scottish students Olson said there will also be field trips around the region to Cumberland Gap, Carter’s Fold, Cherokee N.C., and the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tenn. Guest speakers will also be lecturing.
“We’ll explore the influences of Scots-Irish culture on Appal-achian culture,” Olson said. “We’ll also look at Appalachian ethnicity, tradition and culture in considerable depth through music, folklore and crafts.”
Contemporary issues in Appalachia will also be discussed.
“For those who want to explore the region from different perspectives this class will be ideal,” Olson said.
If students want to learn about Scotland up close ASIS will travel to U.E. in summer 2003 for three weeks.
This will include a tour of the country with trips to the Highlands, the city of Glasgow, the Borders Region and the northeast coast.
“The em-phasis will be on Scottish history and culture,” Olson said.
For a complete list of ASIS program events, schedules, requirements and other useful information visit their website through the “unique to ETSU” link at the ETSU homepage, or contact Olson by phone at 439-4379 or e-mail at Olson@etsu.edu.

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