Colorado State University - Office of International Programs

Peace Corps Master's International Program

Since 1988, Colorado State University and the United States Peace Corps have participated in four cooperative master’s degree programs, giving students the opportunities to:

Earn a master’s degree and hands-on experience in:

English
Food Science and Human Nutrition
Natural Resources (All Departments)
Agriculture (All Departments)

Integrate graduate study with international development practice through Peace Corps field experience.

Design and Programs of Study

To complete the program, at least two semesters of course work (four semesters for the English program) must be taken on the Colorado State University campus. The time between course work and the last semester(s) is spent as a Peace Corps volunteer.

The program of study is designed within departmental parameters to meet your needs, taking into consideration the needs of the Peace Corps host country.

The core components of the program may include one or more of the following:

An interdisciplinary seminar in international development and service
A Colorado State internship concurrent with Peace Corps field experience*
An independent study course for which the returned Peace Corps volunteer writes a professional paper based on field experience.

*Internship credits for the Peace Corps field experience will be offered according to guidelines established by the university and under supervision of the student's faculty advisor. Students already enrolled in one of the participating graduate programs at Colorado State University may be eligible to apply for the PCMI program. Please contact the college liaison or the Office of International Programs for more information.

English

Students completing the program will be awarded a Master of Arts degree from the Department of English.

The English department offers an M.A. degree with concentrations in:

Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Teaching English as a Second Language
Literature
Rhetoric & Composition
Please note: the Creative Writing Concentration is not an option for the Peace Corps Master’s Program

The Department also offers a joint degree in TEFL/TESL and Foreign Languages and Literatures.

English Department PCMI Faculty Liaison:

Gerald P. Delahunty

Gerald Delahunty@colostate.edu

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Food Science and Human Nutrition

Students completing the program will be awarded a Master of Science degree from the department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition offers a Master of Science (M.S.) program with an emphasis in:

Human Nutrition
Food Science
Exercise Science
Nutrition or the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nutritional Science or Food Science

PCMI Faculty Liaison:

Paula Coleman

Paula.Coleman@colostate.edu

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Natural Resources

Students completing the program will be awarded a Master of Science degree under Plan B in one of the departments within the College of Natural Resources.

The College of Natural Resources offers the following departmental specializations:

Geosciences
Fishery and Wildlife Biology
Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed Stewardship
Natural Resources Recreation and Tourism

PCMI Faculty Liaison:

Melinda Laituri

Melinda.Laituri@colostate.edu

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Agriculture

Students completing the program will be awarded a Master of Agriculture degree from the College of Agricultural Sciences.

College of Agriculture students can specialize in one of five Departments:

Animal Sciences
Bio-Agricultural Science and Pest Management
Agriculture and Resource Economics
Horticulture
Soil and Crop Sciences

PCMI Faculty Liaison:

Jessica Davis

Jessica.Davis@colostate.edu

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Requirements

CSU Requirements

Applicants to Colorado State University must meet the requirements of the CSU Graduate School and the selected college or department. Students must have:

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. In some cases background in a program related discipline may be necessary for admission.
An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (A=4.0).
A completed Graduate Record Exam (GRE), if required by the chosen department.
A completed Colorado State University application packet.

Reference: www.graduateschool.colostate.edu

A minimum of thirty (30) credits (thirty-five (35) for TEFL/TESL program) is required for the master's degree. Sixteen (16) credits must be at the 500 level or above. Of the sixteen, at least twelve (12) must be in regular course work.

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Peace Corps Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age
Must be a United States citizen
Must be in good health

Reference: www.peacecorps.gov

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Peace Corps Benefits

All Peace Corps volunteers receive:

Approximately three months of intensive language, cross-cultural and technical training in their host country prior to service.
A payment of approximately $225 for every month of Peace Corps training and in-country service, collectable upon completion.
A monthly living allowance for food, housing and other incidentals to permit maintenance at the level of the host country counterpart.
Free medical care and dental care.
Free transportation to and from the country of service.
Deferment of national direct student loans, depending on the length of service. Available by arrangement with the volunteer’s loan agencies.
One year of noncompetitive eligibility for federal jobs upon completion.

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Application Process

Please read the information in this document to determine if the Peace Corps Master's International Program will meet your personal interests and needs. A Graduate School Bulletin outlining programs and requirements is available at http://graduateschool.colostate.edu/index.aspx. For a hard copy of the bulletin, contact the Graduate School at (970)491-6817.
Application Process:

Contact the appropriate college liaison to discuss your program interests and application details. College and Department liaisons are listed in Contacts.
Apply to Peace Corps
Peace Corps applications may be submitted a minimum of one year before anticipated departure. See the Peace Corps Website for the online application at www.peacecorps.gov.
The Graduate Record Examination(GRE) aptitude test is required for most applicants. Test scores can be sent directly to the Graduate School from the Education Testing Services. It takes approximately six weeks for the Graduate School to receive test scores.
Apply for Financial Aid:
Colorado State Financial Aid Office
www.sfs.colostate.edu
(970)491-6321
Transferring? Contact TransferOffice@ColoState.edu for more information.

Note: Peace Corps Master's International students receive additional prior-to-departure information when they arrive on campus.

Financial Aid

Financial aid may be available based on student need and academic merit. You may apply for financial aid through Student Financial Services at (970) 491-6321.

Merit based scholarships and assistantships may also be available through academic departments.

See www.sfs.colostate.edu