About the Program | PCMI Scholarship | Application Process | PCMI Newsletter

About the Program

Trying to decide between graduate school and Peace Corps? Why not do both? The Fisher School and the United States Peace Corps collaborate to offer the Master's International (PCMI) MBA program, combining an MBA degree and practical, applicable professional experience. This dynamic program provides academic training in preparation for two-year, hands-on Peace Corps service, where students apply the theoretical knowledge from the classroom to real-life business development projects. PCMI volunteers work in a variety of fields, such as business consulting, NGO development, small enterprise development, community development, educational consulting, privatization and others. They hone their skills, gaining valuable experience that translates into rewarding careers upon graduation.

Since the program's inception in 1994, Fisher School PCMI MBA students have served in Armenia, Bolivia, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Nicaragua, Panama, Togo, and Ukraine. They have worked on projects such as ecotourism, microenterprise development, microcredit financing, textile and creative arts marketing, municipal government capacity building, and business education. Specific examples of actual projects include:

• Bolivia: Developed a governing organization on development and tourism for the 3,000 inhabitants of Islands of the Sun and the Moon.
• Nicaragua: Created and developed an Informational Technological Library.
• Turkmenistan: Improved operational efficiency and increased profitability of educational center; designed expansion plan to offer business seminars to local and regional communities.
• Togo: Ran a radio program discussing business topics.
• Costa Rica: Developed a pilot recycling project for local municipal government, La Fortuna de San Carlos.

The PCMI ProgramThe PCMI program is available to students in both the Two-Year and the Advanced Entry MBA programs. Students may begin their MBA study in either the Fall or Spring semester, but Advanced Entry MBA students are encouraged to start in Spring semester.

Two-Year Peace Corps Master's International MBA ProgramStudents in the Two-Year PCMI MBA program enroll for three semesters on campus and complete core business classes, focused electives, and a team-based international business plan. Students then proceed to their 27 months of service inthe Peace Corps. Upon completion of service, students return to the Fisher School for one final semester, either in Fall or Spring.

Advanced Entry Peace Corps Master's International MBA ProgramStudents meeting the requirements for Advanced Entry MBA program enroll for two semesters on campus and complete core business courses, focused electives and the team-based International Business Plan. They then proceed to Peace Corps for the 27 months of service and return to the Fisher School for one final semester of study in Fall or Spring. For more information on Advanced Entry prerequisite requirements please visitthe Advanced Entry pages of the websiteor contact fgsib@miis.edu or 831-647-6586.

The Business Development Project
During their Peace Corps service, students maintain contact with a Fisher School faculty advisor as they conduct research and gather information for a Business Development Project related to their Peace Corps assignment. The project is then completed as a three-credit course upon their return to the Fisher School during the final semester of study. Recent projects have included women's and refugees' development issues in African Nations, foreign direct investment disparities in Estonia, and small business development in the aftermath of armed political conflict in Nicaragua.

Returning to the Fisher School for your Final Semester
Regardless of the initial start date, Peace Corps returnees may complete their final semester in either the Fall or Spring. PCMI students meet the degree program language requirements through the Peace Corps language training and daily usage of the language during Peace Corps service. Students replace the required language courses in the MBA program with electives in order to reach the credit hours required for graduation. Students applying to the PCMI MBA program are still required to have at least 2 years of university-level language study before entering the program.

PCMI Scholarship
Returned PCMI MBA students are guaranteed a half-tuition scholarship for their final semester of study. The scholarship is dependent upon successful completion of the Peace Corps assignment. Students may also apply for merit scholarships and financial aid for their studies at the Monterey Institute prior to Peace Corps service.

Application Process
The PCMI program is available to students in both the Two-Year and the Advanced Entry MBA program. Students apply to the Monterey Institute and the Peace Corps separately and simultaneously and must be accepted by both institutions. Students may apply to the Monterey Institute on line at www.miis.edu. Admission to the Monterey Institute MBA program requires a four-year US bachelor's degree (or equivalent), with a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent), including a minimum of two years university-level language instruction. Also required are official transcripts, GMAT score, two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a resume or curriculum vitae, and application fee. Applicants to the PCMI program should visit http://peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whyvol.eduben.mastersint to verify application procedures. It is recommended that you begin the Peace Corps application process several months in advance as it usually takes more time than applying to the Monterey Institute.

Further InformationFor further information about Peace Corps visit www.peacecorps.gov. For more information about the Monterey Institute's PCMI MBA program contact Toni Thomas, MBA Student Advisor and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Costa Rica '95-'97) at toni.thomas@miis.edu or 831-647-4193.

Monterey Institute Peace Corps Volunteers, in Their Own Words

"Through the Peace Corps Master's International MBA Program, I was able to immediately apply classroom academics by serving as a business advisor in Estonia. The study and experience on the way to the degree gave me a strong foundation for my work with development projects in the Czech Republic."

"One of the keys to a great education is the ability to apply academic skills and knowledge to a real world setting. The Peace Corps Master's International MBA Program is a unique opportunity to accomplish just this by actively utilizing students' capacities in diverse international business and non-profit settings. This program is an incredible way to balance personal development while benefiting communities in need around the world."