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"It is one thing to study abroad, learn about a culture and see the sights. It is quite another thing to go beyond the temporary, visiting tourist status and collaborate with a community that will receive you as one of their own."
- David, now working as Assessment Coordinator for 9/11 Recovery at the American Red Cross in New York
Private voluntary organizations and government social service programs need personnel who have academic and theoretical knowledge as well as the practical experience of working "in the field." The M.A. in International Service prepares skilled professionals for such careers, delivering social services to communities on the local and international levels.
The academic study and volunteer service in the M.A. program prepare graduates to function effectively in a private or public agency by teaching theories and tools of analysis along with the practical skills needed for working with a community. Throughout the program, students are able to field test their academic learning through volunteer service with community agencies.
The International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership (IPSL) initiated the M.A. in International Service to meet the needs of:
In designing the curriculum for the degree, IPSL staff interviewed international and local service organizations to determine the areas of knowledge and the skills these organizations seek when they hire beginning professionals. Working with its affiliated universities in Mexico, Jamaica and England, IPSL designed the curriculum and the service experiences to satisfy the requirements of such organizations. The first group of students enrolled in the program in 1997.
