From the Peace Corps Office of Press Relations:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Peace Corps is pleased to announce that it will partner with Tennessee State University to offer students the opportunity to earn credits toward a master’s of science degree in agricultural sciences while serving as Peace Corps volunteers.

The new partnership is a part of the Peace Corps’ Master’s International program, which allows volunteers to combine Peace Corps service with a master’s degree program and receive credit for their Peace Corps service abroad. Participants must apply to Peace Corps and Tennessee State University separately.

“The Peace Corps is proud to welcome Tennessee State University to the Master’s International program,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams. “With this new partnership, our volunteers – who will also be Tennessee State University students — will be able to meet the demand for a diverse pool of highly skilled professionals.”

“The Master’s International program will offer us a good structure to recruit some well travelled and highly refined students who will serve as role models to others and will help us internationalize our agricultural programs,” said Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean of Tennessee State University’s School of Agriculture and Consumer Science.

Participants in more than 60 Peace Corps Master’s International programs typically finish one year of graduate school in the U.S. before earning additional academic credit while serving as Peace Corps volunteers abroad. Upon their return, Master’s International participants complete any remaining academic degree requirements. Many of Masters International partner schools also offer volunteers financial benefits such as scholarships and reduced tuition. Further information on Master’s International is available at www.peacecorps.gov/masters.

Tennessee State University is the state’s land-grant university and also a Historically Black College/University. The University promotes a rigorous program in agricultural education and maintains two 100-plus acre farms for mixed agricultural research and another 85-acre farm devoted to nursery crop research besides several high technology research laboratories both at the Main Campus in Nashville and at the Nursery Research Station at McMinnville.
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As Peace Corps approaches its 50th anniversary, its service legacy continues to promote peace and friendship around the world with 7,671 volunteers serving in 77 host countries. Historically, nearly 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps to promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 host countries. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.