The Graduate School of International Policy Studies and the United States Peace Corps collaborate to offer the Master's International (PCMI) MPA program, combining an MPA degree and practical, applicable professional experience in developing and transitioning societies. The Peace Corps Master’s International MPA is an innovative degree program that emphasizes teamwork, participation, learner empowerment, and asset-based transformation. Students will enjoy the benefit of a versatile, flexible MPA centered on the development of core competencies that prepare participants for a broad range of career regimes. The pre-service training provided on campus in Monterey integrates linguistic and cultural competencies with solid skills in public administration. PCMI MPA volunteers work in a variety of fields for their Peace Corps assignments, such as poverty alleviation, human rights, human security, social development (including health, nutrition, education, and population issues), and environmental sustainability. In these assignments, students will carry out the Peace Corps mission while preparing for the assumption of leadership roles in a broad range of organizations upon completion of their service and MPA degree studies.

The PCMI MPA is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to become effective contributors to NGO capacity-development efforts during their Peace Corps service by developing the ability to:

• translate mission into well conceived,
  highly effective projects and programs
• build and use teams
• generate resources
• manage financial resources
• develop and manage people effectively
• create and sustain complex, effective partnerships
• mediate conflict and negotiate effectively with
  diverse stakeholder groups
• manage information
• assess organizational performance
• lead strategic change management processes

These abilities and skills are developed through required coursework in nonprofit management, policy analysis and communications, program and project evaluation, data analysis and research design, international economics, and finance for nonprofit and public organizations.

The PCMI MPA Program

The PCMI MPA program is available to students beginning their study in either the Fall or Spring semester. A faculty advisor in the Graduate School of International Policy Studies will work closely with students to create a plan for graduate study and Peace Corps service. Students in the PCMI MPA program enroll for two semesters on campus and complete core policy classes, focused electives, and foreign language study. Students then proceed to their 27 months of service in the Peace Corps. Upon completion of service, students return to the Monterey Institute for one or two final semesters, where they will complete their capstone projects based on their assignment with the Peace Corps. Click to view sample PCMI MPA study plans.

The Peace Corps Assignment

Volunteers work with local, national, or international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that deal with youth, social services, community asset-based development, or the environment. Typical projects include increasing an NGO's organizational capacity and sustainability; creating strategic and funding plans; raising public awareness of an NGO's mission; conducting community outreach; recruiting, training, and motivating NGO volunteers; developing mission statements, bylaws, and other documentation; working with boards of directors; mentoring and skill building of staff; and increasing the quality and effectiveness of an NGO's services. During their Peace Corps service, students maintain contact with a Monterey Institute faculty advisor as they conduct research and gather information for a Capstone Project related to their Peace Corps assignment.

The Capstone Project

The Capstone Project will be presented in the student’s final semester in order to meet Monterey Institute MPA degree requirements. Capstone project planning begins in the first semester of study and is overseen by a faculty advisor. Students will then conduct research for their Capstone while on assignment, insuring that the academic work is related to the successful completion of their Peace Corps mission. In most circumstances, depending on how many credits are received for using a second language and for additional studies for credit achieved outside the traditional semester, students will need to complete 24 credits in the last two semesters to receive the PCMI MPA degree.

Returning to the Monterey Institute

Regardless of the initial start date, Peace Corps returnees may complete their final semesters in either Fall or Spring. PCMI students may meet the degree program language requirements through the Peace Corps language training and daily usage of the language during Peace Corps service. Students replace the required language courses in the MPA program with electives in order to reach the 60 credit hours required for graduation. Students applying to the PCMI MPA program are still required to have at least two years of university-level language study before entering the program.

Scholarship

Returned PCMI MPA students are guaranteed a half-tuition scholarship for their final semester of study. The scholarship is dependent upon successful completion of the Peace Corps assignment. Students may also apply for merit scholarships and financial aid for their studies at the Monterey Institute prior to Peace Corps service.

Application Process

Students apply to the Monterey Institute and to the Peace Corps separately yet simultaneously and must be accepted by both institutions. Students may apply to the Monterey Institute online at http://www.miis.edu/admfi-admi-onapp.html. The Monterey Institute offers rolling admissions, with entry in the Fall or Spring semester. Admission to the Monterey Institute MPA program requires a four-year US bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), with a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent), including a minimum of two years of university-level language instruction. Also required are official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a résumé or curriculum vitae, and a $50 application fee. Applicants to the PCMI program should visit http://www.peacecorps.gov/ to verify application procedures. It is recommended that students begin the Peace Corps application process several months in advance as it usually takes more time than applying to the Monterey Institute.

For further information about the Peace Corps, visit www.peacecorps.gov. For more information about the Monterey Institute's PCMI MPA please contact:

Fernando de Paolis- PCMI MPA Program Coordinator
Assistant Dean
Graduate School of International Policy
Monterey Institute of International Studies
460 Pierce Street
Monterey, CA 93940
831-647-4155
gsips@miis.edu