Developing Leaders and Improving Lives in the World's Developing Countries
Cornell University offers an additional option in its Master of Professional Studies (Agriculture and Life Sciences) degree program, combining interdisciplinary academic course work with Peace Corps field experience. You can earn a Master's degree by completing approximately two semesters of intensive on-campus study followed by a two-year related overseas assignment with the Peace Corps. Students may elect many of the same courses in agricultural and related fields as for a Master of Science degree, however, the M.P.S. program offers the opportunity to carry out an applied project rather than the traditional research thesis for a master’s degree.
The program is administered by International Programs of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell.
The Peace Corps Option can be pursued in the following fields:
**for IARD - the two years of experience can come after you do your first year of classes instead of before.
Please note that this program is also offered in the College of Architecture, Art & Planning. See AAP's program Web site for more details.
The candidate must apply individually to both the M.P.S. Agriculture and Life Sciences Program at Cornell and the Peace Corps. On acceptance the student will engage in a three-part program:
The on-campus academic training provides an opportunity for students to acquire knowledge in selected fields of study, to develop professional relationships with selected faculty, and to become more prepared for the field assignment with the Peace Corps.
Each student will enroll in appropriate course work for two full academic semesters, beginning in most cases in the fall. Satisfactory completion of 24 credit hours of course work related to the candidate's professional interest and agreed upon by the student's Special Committee of academic advisors is required.
Cornell does not prescribe a specific curriculum for M.P.S. students. In consultation with their Special Committee, students select a program of study tailored to their professional interests and needs. In developing an individualized program of study, students can draw on faculty members and course offerings from across the university.
In addition to their academic advisors, students in the M.P.S./Agriculture and Life Sciences with a Peace Corps Option program will have a support team comprised of
After the two semesters of academic work, the student will undertake his/her Peace Corps assignment. During the field experience, the student and faculty advisor will stay in contact and share new knowledge and experiences relating to the M.P.S. project paper to be written based on the field experience.
Former Peace Corps volunteers who may be currently enrolled in the M.P.S. International Agriculture and Rural Development program or the M.P.S. International Development program at Cornell can be a valuable resource to the student before and during their Peace Corps field experience.
Following the field experience, the candidate will prepare and submit a problem-solving project paper under the supervision of his or her Special Committee. The paper will draw on the Peace Corps experience and what has been learned at Cornell. The project paper may analyze and evaluate the execution of a particular program, the development of a plan of action for dealing with a selected problem, the development of materials or methodology for field programs, or the development and execution of research appropriate to a selected problem of development. Six credit hours are awarded for satisfactory completion of this paper.
Students participating in this program are encouraged to enroll for one additional semester of study at Cornell following their Peace Corps experience. An additional semester will provide an opportunity for the student to share his or her field experience with other students and faculty through class discussions and special seminars and to get feedback and suggestions for better understanding and integrating elements of the field experience. The student could enroll in additional academic courses to complement and reinforce prior academic and field experience.
The student's Special Committee will determine when all of the degree requirements have been met. In some cases a third semester maybe required if the Special Committee finds that a student is unable to meet all of the degree requirements in two academic semesters.
The M.P.S./Agriculture and Life Sciences with a Peace Corps Option is suited for several types of people: