Fellows/USA Program

The School of Planning offers a special opportunity for returned Peace Corps Volunteers to earn either an MCP and a PhD while working in a local community development organization. The purpose of the program is to work in collaboration with the US Peace Corps to take advantage of students' experience from their Peace Corps assignment. In addition to earning a postgraduate (MCP or PhD) degree from an accredited graduate planning program at one of the largest schools of planning in the United States, students gain experience in domestic community planning organizations. The completion of a specialization, combined with overseas and domestic experience, positions graduates to pursue a career in a variety of career paths.

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Benefits of the Program

The Peace Corps' Fellows/USA program is integrated with the five specialization areas within the Master of Community Planning (MCP) program at University of Cincinnati (economic development, environmental planning, international development, physical planning and urban design. For students pursuing a PhD, regional development is also available.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the MCP program include a completed undergraduate degree. There are no minimum requirements for grade point average (GPA) or GRE scores, but admission and financial aid rewards are based on these scores and, when applicable, an applicant's work or volunteer background. The process is competitive. While all normal admissions requirements for the MCP degree at the University of Cincinnati must be satisfied for acceptance into the Fellows/USA course of study, additional requirements must also be met. That is, to participate in the MCP/Fellows USA program, all applicants must be American citizens and have to have served in the Peace Corps.

Application Procedure

Interested students should contact the School of Planning's MCP Fellows/USA Coordinator to discuss admission to the university and present evidence of the dates and location of their completed Peace Corps assignment.

Applicants to the MCP program must submit:

  • an application form
  • official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work
  • GRE scores
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • proof of completed Peace Corps assignment/ Official Description of Service (DOS)
  • an essay on interest in the Fellows/USA program
  • digital resume

Curriculum

The courses comprising the MCP Fellows/USA Program are existing graduate level courses offered in the School of Planning and elsewhere in the university, as with the existing two year MCP program. The MCP Fellows/USA Program is comprised of six quarters of on-campus studies, with a focus on core competencies in urban planning and specialization courses in one of five areas - economic development, environmental planning, international development, physical planning, or urban design. Students will also be placed in community organizations consistent with their experience and interests. During the two academic years, students will attend a Peace Corps seminar in which they will discuss their experiences, listen to local guest speakers and plan service activities. These sessions and the courses throughout the program will allow students to reflect on their experience as Peace Corps Volunteers - particularly in the area of their specialization. Students may also have the opportunity to complete a thesis based on work they carried out while working overseas or locally.

Contact

School of Planning MI Program and Fellows/USA Coordinator

Johanna W. Looye
Associate Professor
6210 DAAP
P.O. Box 210016
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0016
P 513 556 4943
F 513 556 1274
johanna.looye@uc.edu
ucplanning@uc.edu
http://daap.uc.edu/planning

Peace Corps, Fellows/USA Office

Paul D. Coverdell
Peace Corps Headquarters
1111 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20526
800 424 8580 ext. 1440
fellows@peacecorps.gov
www.peacecorps.gov