Since 1988, Colorado State University and the US Peace Corps have participated in a master’s degree program that integrates on-campus coursework with 27 months of Peace Corps training and service. CSU has graduated close to 50 students in the Master’s International (MI) programs, which are available in the College of Natural Resources, the College of Agriculture, the Department of English, and the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.
CSU is proud to pilot a new initiative by Peace Corps in which MI students may request assignment to projects in Ethiopia. While medical and legal clearance, space availability and timing have an impact on this placement, CSU students are more likely to serve in Ethiopia as a result of this linkage, thus allowing faculty and MI students to personalize the academic program of study. The relationship builds on the University’s strong multi-disciplinary research in Ethiopia, allows students to begin preparing for the country placement from their first day on campus, and will over time create a sustained relationship between Ethiopia and MI students from the four Colleges. Two MI students from the College of Natural Resources are currently serving in Ethiopia as a result of this initiative, and several more from the Colleges of Natural Resources and Agriculture have made requests.
This pilot program aims to place at least one Master’s International (MI) student per year. We envision that the actual placement and work of Volunteers would be part of a larger collaboration, on in which university faculty and post staff will communicate and work together in numerous areas of common interest. At this point, the program is only a pilot for the Peace Corp MI 
program; however, there is anticipation that future university/country linkages may be developed.
CSU aims to facilitate a strong support system for students in Ethiopia and this will be accomplished via the following mechanisms:
Students apply to CSU and the Peace Corps separately. They begin their 
program by completing the majority of the coursework required for their degree on campus, then utilize the skills and knowledge they have gained while serving in any of the 77 countries where Peace Corps is located. Students return to campus after service to submit a Plan B thesis before graduating from CSU with a M.A., M.S., or M.Ag.
