The Peace Corps Master's International Program (MIP) was developed to provide an opportunity for students to combine academic course work with a practical field experience. Students must meet both the Arizona State University's admission requirements and the requirements established by the Peace Corps for volunteer service.

Applicants submit simultaneous applications to ASU and the Peace Corps, although it is possible for students who are already enrolled in their first semester of graduate study to also apply for the Peace Corps. Admission by one institution does not guarantee admission by the other.

Students are bound by the Arizona State University and Morrison School curricular requirements for achieving a master's degree in agribusiness with the following exception: up to six semester hours of course credit can be earned for Peace Corps volunteer service in lieu of six hours in the classroom. The appropriate design of such independent study courses must be made by the student and his/her advisor prior to leaving for volunteer service. The master's program in agribusiness at ASU's Polytechnic campus is a 36-semester-hour program.

Students have the option of following a thesis or non-thesis program. This applies to all students, including those not interested in Peace Corps service. For students interested in pursuing either research careers or additional degrees, the thesis option would be the most appropriate. MIP participants who write a thesis will have a unique opportunity to conduct first-hand field research that is not possible for many master's students. It is anticipated that the Peace Corps experience will make conducting thesis research a natural and relatively easy task for the student. Naturally, this research effort must be balanced with the prime reason for being in-country: the volunteer assignment.

For more information about the MIP program and the Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness master’s degree, contact Dr. George Seperich at 480-727-1285 or george.seperich@asu.edu.

For more information about the Peace Corps, you can contact any PC recruiting office at (800) 424-8580 or visit the Web site at www.peacecorps.gov/gradschool/masters. In addition, you can contact Kevin Elliott, the ASU campus representative, at (310) 356-1120 or kelliott@peacecorps.gov.

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