Peace Corps Master's International
Peace Corps Master's International in RTC
Michigan Tech’s Peace Corps Master’s International Program in Rhetoric and Technical Communication (PCMI in RTC) offers participants exciting opportunities to simultaneously serve in the Peace Corps and complete their master’s degrees. Peace Corps Master’s International Programs help to prepare participants for scarce-skills assignments. Participants in the RTC program prepare in one of the following concentrations:
Teaching or tutoring experience is strongly recommended prior to beginning a Peace Corps assignment overseas in one of these areas. Students who do not already have such experience may be able to attain such experience during their first year at Michigan Tech. Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) offers numerous, invaluable resources for anyone planning to teach English as a second language.
[Please note: The Peace Corps also offers an assignment area in Public Health Education. This assignment area is highly competitive, with assignments typically going to applicants with public-health backgrounds. The RTC Program does not prepare candidates to work in this area. For information about MI Programs in Public Health Education, visit the Peace Corps' Web site.]
Program Description
Participants in the PCMI in RTC complete two semesters of coursework (24 credit hours), then serve in the Peace Corps for 27 months, and finally return to campus for one semester to complete a master’s thesis or project. In addition to their coursework, students in this program have the advantage of Michigan Tech's vibrant group of PCMI students from five different programs (both pre- and post-service) and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers from the faculty, staff, and surrounding communities. Informal monthly meetings generally attract 40-50 participants and encourage additional networking outside of these meetings.
In addition, local Returned Peace Corps Volunteers make presentations in Michigan Tech courses and provide important support and advice to PCMI students. This networking and support has contributed to the high success rate for Michigan Tech PCMI students.
Other Peace Corps Master's International Programs at Michigan Tech
Michigan Tech is home to four other Peace Corps Master's International Programs in the following disciplines:
Michigan Tech's Master's International Programs in the News
"Peace Corps Master's International Program at Michigan Tech is nation's largest"
—College of Engineering online newsletter
"MTU Master's International Peace Corps Volunteer returns after service in Togo"
—Keweenaw Now
Unless otherwise indicated, all images of volunteers and their communities are provided by and used with the permission of the Peace Corps.
Left — Julie Silvernail comforts an AIDS patient in Paraguay
Right — Azikiwe Chandler with students in Nicaragua
Page — Regina Wei leads her class in Mongolia