The Peace Corps is closing the PCMI program. Current PCMI students (including those who begin by September 30, 2016) may apply and — if selected — serve as MI Peace Corps Volunteers. In a few years, when the last MI cohort who are selected by Peace Corps complete their service and return, the program will come to a close.

Oregon State University offers a Peace Corps Master’s International (MI) Program in Forestry and Applied Economics, with new PCMI presence in Horticulture, Soils, Crop Science,  Mechanical Engineering, Biological Engineering, Ecological Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Public Health, and Water Resources.

"I am close to 8 months of being in the country and I probably have learned more in 8 months in Senegal than I have in any other time in my life."

-Taylor Fielder, PCMI-Forest Ecosystems and Society, PC Senegal (from her blog)

Peace Corps announces Historic Changes to Application and Selection Process.

  • applying to the Peace Corps simpler, faster and more personalized than ever before.
  • applicants will now be able to choose their country of service and apply to specific programs.

MI students must apply to Peace Corps no more than one year prior to their desired departure date-- we suggest the student apply during the December holiday break for a leave-date the following summer.  Applying within a year of their desired departure dates ensures that each MI student is seeing the most up-to-date list of available programs and locations they can choose from.

Did you know that Peace Corps service qualifies as “employment” for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program? (More info here)

Youtube Video: President Obama Encourages Americans to Serve as Peace Corps Volunteers

A student accepted into the OSU Graduate School as a graduate student in one of the above-mentioned academic programs can choose to be a "PCMI Candidate". As a PCMI candidate, your graduate degree program will be coordinated with your time spent abroad with Peace Corps service.

The on-campus coursework prepares you to be the high-caliber professional expected of OSU master's degree candidates... but with a twist. Some courses will also prepare you for Peace Corps / international work. 

Depending on the program, students earn either a Master of Science (MS) or a professional degree (like Master of Forestry, and Master of Engineering, etc.)  with an area of concentration/focus/option that you and your major professor agree upon. Degree options are described on the program website linked below:

AGRICULTURE – CROP and SOIL SCIENCE

Program Participants successfully completing the Program will receive a Master of Science (M.S.) or Master of Agriculture (M.Ag.) in Crop Science, Soil Science,Crop Science with Entomology Option or Crop Science with Plant Breeding and Genetics Option.

AGRICULTURE - HORTICULTURE

Program Participants successfully completing the Program will receive a Master of Science (M.S.) or Master of Agriculture (M.Ag.) in Horticulture, or Horticulture with Entomology Option (ENT), or Horticulture with Plant Breeding and Genetics Option (PBG).

APPLIED ECONOMICS

Program Participants successfully completing the Program will receive a Master of Science (M.S.) or Master of Arts (M.A.) in Applied Economics. 

ENGINEERING

Please see the FAQ page for PCMI Engineering if you have additional questions. 

Participants successfully completing the Program will receive a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (M.S. in Mech. Eng.) or Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, or Biological and Ecological Engineering, or Civil Engineering, or Environmental Engineering

FORESTRY

Please see the Website for PCMI Forestry if you have additional questions.

Program Participants successfully completing the Program will receive a Master of Science (M.S.) or Master of Forestry (M.F.) in Forest Ecosystems and Society, of Sustainable Forest Management, or Wood Science (M.S. only).

WATER RESOURCES

Participants successfully completing the Program will receive a Master of Science (M.S.) in Water Resources Engineering, or Water Resources Science, or Master of Water Resources Policy and Management (WRPM) in Water Resources Policy and Management.