Questions? (212) 986-0989
"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
The one-year program prepares you for a career in not-for-profit service agencies, as supervisor, director and possibly even founder, providing relief and development work internationally or locally. It teaches what such agencies tell us they need—the theoretical framework for not-for-profit work, together with hands-on grassroots experience.
The one-year program combines formal academic study with substantive volunteer experience in service agencies in two countries. All students begin the program in a U.S. city for a week of orientation, study and intstitutional visits. You then spend the Fall semester in either Jamaica or Mexico (students choosing Mexico should be prepared to do some of their academic work and readings in Spanish), and the Winter/Spring semester in London, remaining for June and July to complete the Master's thesis. Degrees are awarded in March of the following year.
Founded in 1982, the International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership (IPSL) is a not-for-profit organization that administers educational undergraduate and graduate programs in 13 countries. It was the first organization in the U.S. to be devoted solely to the union of academic study and volunteer service. Today it is the preeminent international organization of service-learning. The international headquarters are located in New York City. About IPSL>>
IPSL cooperates with three academic institutions in three different nations to deliver the Master of Arts in International Service. You will attend two of these three universities. They are: The University of Technology, Jamaica; Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Mexico; and Roehampton University, England. All are established, recognized universities, validated by the ministries of education in each of their respective countries. You will be taught by their highly qualified university faculty. Institutions>>
Roehampton University awards the M.A. in International Service degree. The studies taken at the two other universities during the first semester are fully recognized by Roehampton University.
You will engage in studies that integrate your classes and research with your learning from your service experiences. In each semester, research methodology and thesis tutoring are an integral part of the academic work. The academic program for the year is coherent and integrated. Faculty from the three universities work closely with IPSL, meeting yearly and corresponding frequently. See the M.A. page for course descriptions.
Students receive credits in both British and U.S. University designations. In British nomenclature, students receive 180 credits for the full year of academic work, including the thesis; in U.S. terms, the work is the equivalent of 40 semester credits (including 8 awarded for the thesis).
A British master's degree is the academic equivalent of an American one. The M.A. degree in Britain is, however, considered by many to be the "terminal" degree. That is, many British faculty members do not hold the Ph.D. and are considered to be fully qualified for university teaching while holding the M.A. degree.
The M.A. program affords students the opportunity to live, study, and serve in two countries over the course of one year. For the first half of the program, you will study in either Mexico OR Jamaica and live with a host family, arranged in advance by IPSL. In the spring, all M.A. students complete the degree in England and live in on-campus or off-campus facilities. Inquire about any special arrangements you may need.
No. Because of the unique design of this degree, all of the students begin the program together in the fall.
Approximately 12–18 students are accepted into this program each year. It is important for us to keep the program small so that each student receives individual attention. The group is usually international, with most coming from the U.S. and a few from other countries, including in the past Canada, Ecuador, Greece, Guatemala, Jamaica, Japan, Liberia, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Korea, Togo, and the United Kingdom. M.A. Students>>
You may apply by downloading an application or by calling our office at 212-986-0989 or emailing us to have an application mailed to you. The deadline for applications is January 15. Applications received after this date will be considered at the discretion of the Graduate Admissions Committee. Please call before submitting a late application.
No. The GRE is not required to apply for the M.A. program, but you must provide a transcript of your undergraduate degree and give evidence that you hold a bachelor's degree.
This degree prepares students for careers in non-profit administration (both in the U.S. and abroad), international service, teaching, and/or further graduate or doctoral studies. See the M.A. students page for examples of jobs alumni are holding now.
Yes. Please complete our online form, call our office at 212-986-0989, or email us to request alumni contacts.
The program fee for tuition, room & basic board for 2007-08 is $34,900. Most students are eligible for financial aid from government and/or private lenders. Scholarships may be available from other sources. The total fee includes:
Please note that accommodations and meals in England are not included in the program fee. It is recommended that students budget £3,120 for six months of rooming costs in England. (As of summer 2007, this is approximately $6,275, but applicants are advised to check the exchange rate at the time they are planning their budgets.) All fees are subject to change due to fluctuations in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar.
Students are responsible for personal expenses, which include: housing and meals in England; air travel to the orientation city in the U.S., to and from Mexico or Jamaica, and to and from England; books; some meals; local travel; visa fees; and spending money.
For the M.A. in International Service program, U.S. students may apply for two different low-interest federal loans: the Stafford loan for a maximum of $20,500, and the Grad PLUS loan to cover the remaining balance of the program cost, travel, and other expenses. (With a Grad PLUS loan, you may borrow up to the full cost of your education, minus other income and financial aid received, including the $20,500 from the Stafford loan.) In addition, a low-cost loan (International Student Loan Program, or ISLP) for U.S. students is available for up to $20,000 (student only) or $40,000 (with co-signer). Once you are accepted into the program, IPSL will guide you through the financial aid process.
AmeriCorps participants may apply their education awards to the cost of the program. Students from Brazil, Chile, China, Egypt, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Palestinian Territories, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, or Vietnam may be eligible for funding through the International Fellowships Program (IFP) of the Ford Foundation.
