Department of Alaska Native and Rural Development

Peace Corps Programs

Master's International Program

PEACE CORPS MASTER’S INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM combines Peace Corps Volunteer service with an exciting option for UAF graduate study in the distance delivered M.A. degree in Rural Development.

MIPC incorporates Peace Corps service into the distance-delivered Rural Development master's degree program where students spend one to two years completing masters degree coursework in the UAF program and then serve overseas in the Peace Corps for 27 months for which they can earn their project research or thesis credits. The MIPC students then return to their UAF program to complete degree requirements.

Students interested in MIPC must apply simultaneously to both the M.A. in Rural Development (and indicate that they are requesting the MIPC option) and the Peace Corps. They must be accepted by both and acceptance by one does NOT guarantee acceptance in the other. Students who are accepted into the MIPC will receive a tuition waiver for up to 12 credits (3 credits per semester) during their Peace Corps service. This allows them to remain in good standing with the UAF Graduate School while they are overseas.

Contact Information:

For questions regarding potential graduate studies in Rural Development in combination with Peace Corps service, please contact:

Michael Davis, Assoc Professor DANSRD, medavis@alaska.edu 907-842-8316

Other program contacts:

Tony Gasbarro, UAF Professor Emeritus, afgasbarro@alaska.edu

Tony Gasbarro, UAF emeritus faculty in extension forestry and the UAF campus-wide coordinator for the MI program can offer insight regarding Peace Corps work and answer questions about integrating Peace Corps service with a graduate degree. Tony has served as a Peace Corps Volunteer two separate times.

DANSRD Fairbanks Office Administrative Assistant, fydanrd@uaf.edu 907-474-6528 or 1-888-574-6528 toll-free

For questions regarding graduate admissions procedures, see UAF Graduate Admissions at http://www.uaf.edu/admissions/grad/us/ or you can contact the Graduate School, fygrads@uaf.edu, 907-474-7464, www.uaf.edu/gradsch .

Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program

The College of Rural and Community Development’s Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development welcomes and encourages returned Peace Corps volunteers in the Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program. This is a wonderful way to continue your volunteer service while earning a higher degree.

The Peace Corps Fellows program advances the Peace Corps' third goal "to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans," by developing and maintaining educational partnerships that place returned Peace Corps volunteers in internships in underserved U.S. communities. Through the internships, Peace Corps Fellows are able to use the knowledge and skills they developed during their overseas service to improve people's lives in the U.S. As Peace Corps Fellows, they earn graduate degrees while advancing their professional development for careers in a wide range of fields.

Pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Rural Development will help you develop skills in approaches to community development, leadership, management, and research among other areas and give you a chance to practice these skills in a Peace Corps Fellows internship through a community agency, local government, or non-profit organization. The degree may be tailored to a student's interests and career goals so the curricula are very flexible. Students coming into the program without a sufficient background or understanding of rural Alaska and Native peoples and cultures may need to take additional basic courses.

We have funding to offer one fellowship per year with a chance to compete for teaching assistantships or other funding in the second year.The fellowship is offered on a competitive basis. To be eligible to compete for the only funded fellowship, applications for the Rural Development MA Program must be received by March 15^th and clearly indicate and expand upon the applicant’s interest in the Paul D. Coverdell Program.

For more information contact:

Professor Ralph Gabrielli

rbgabrielli@alaska.edu