Peace Corps Masters International Program (MIP) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Kristy Long and Tony Gasbarro have been working to establish an MIP program at the University of Alaska. The Chancellor of the University recently sent the Peace Corps a proposal requesting that the University become a partner with the Peace Corps by allowing volunteers to obtain a masters degree while serving with the Peace Corps.
Two units on campus will participate in the program when the Peace Corps approves the request. These units include the School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management and the Department of Alaska Native and Rural Development. In the former program a student successfully completing the program would receive a Masters of Science degree in Natural Resource Management. In the latter a student would receive a Masters of Art degree in Rural Development.
When the Peace Corps accepts the University’s proposal, which could take a long as a year, the program would work as follows. Prospective volunteers/students would have to be accepted by both the Peace Corps and the University. The students would then attend the university for a year taking courses to fulfill the requirements of the Masters degree. Upon completion of the first year the students will serve the next 27 months with the Peace Corps.
During their time away from the university the students would be in contact with the university and their faculty advisors who might require periodic reports. The faculty advisor would also be available to give advice to students who are undertaking projects in order to complete their degree. Upon their return the students would take additional course work if required and complete their thesis or project paper.
More information about the Masters International Program can be obtained at the Peace Corps web site.
Peace Corps Master International Program