WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Peace Corps recently welcomed the University of South Carolina (USC) as its newest Master's International (MI) partner school. USC joins more than 54 other institutions in offering the Master's International option to potential Peace Corps Volunteers.

USC's program, offered through the Moore School of Business (MSB), will grant candidates an International Master's of Business Administration (IMBA), in tandem with a 27-month Peace Corps assignment. The Moore School of Business also partners with the Fellows/USA program, through which it also offers IMBA degrees to former Peace Corps Volunteers.

Said Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter, "We are pleased to announce this partnership with the University of South Carolina through the Moore School of Business. The Master’s International program is a great way to combine Peace Corps service with graduate studies. We are confident that this program will offer students unique opportunities, and further develop the skills of Peace Corps Volunteers in the area of business development."

"We are thrilled to expand our partnership with the Peace Corps through the Master’s International program," says Dean Hildy Teegen. "The Peace Corps' broad history and focus on international development combined with the MSB's 35 years of world-renowned international business education provides the perfect platform for expanding the impact of the Peace Corps around the world."

Candidates who have been accepted to both the Moore School of Business and the Peace Corps will be eligible for the program which, besides class work towards the degree, will include a full Peace Corps assignment overseas, and a field-based research project. After successful completion of the Peace Corps assignment, students will return to the campus to finish out their degree requirements.

Founded in 1919, the Moore School of Business is a comprehensive school recognized internationally for its innovative programs. The undergraduate and graduate international degree programs are ranked #1 and #2, respectively, in U.S. News & World Report’s annual surveys of undergraduate and graduate programs across the country. In addition to the International IMBA, the Moore School of Business offers nine majors through the baccalaureate degree program; a flexible MBA that utilizes live TV, streaming video, and online media; three specialized master's programs, in accounting, human resources, and economics; and Ph.D. programs in business administration and economics.

As the Peace Corps approaches its 50th anniversary, its service legacy continues to promote peace and friendship around the world. Historically, over 195,000 Volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries in which they have served. Applications to serve in the Peace Corps have increased 16 percent this past year, the largest boost in the last five years. Currently, 7,876 Peace Corps Volunteers are serving in 76 countries.

Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment. To learn more about the Peace Corps, please visit our website: http://www.peacecorps.gov. For more information about Master’s International, please visit the Peace Corps website at http://www.peacecorps.gov/masters.

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