The University of Denver is ranked No. 2 among graduate schools on the Peace Corps’ 2016 list of Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities. This is the fifth consecutive year that DU has ranked among the top five graduate schools.
The Josef Korbel School of International Studies’ participation in the Peace Corps Master’s International Program is a key contributor to the University’s continued high rankings. Students selected for the Peace Corps program typically spend one year on campus before completing 27 months of Peace Corps service while undertaking an academic project, then return to campus to fulfill any remaining degree requirements. There are 17 DU students currently volunteering worldwide.
“I continue to be very pleased that we rank among the top graduate schools producing Peace Corps volunteers,” says Christopher Hill, dean of the Josef Korbel School and a returned Peace Corps volunteer who served in Cameroon. “The Korbel School’s quality master’s program curriculum, combined with real-world Peace Corps experience, is a powerful differentiator for our graduates as they embark on their careers.”
Alumni from more than 3,000 colleges and universities nationwide have served in the Peace Corps since the agency’s founding in 1961, including 662 University of Denver alumni.
“The Peace Corps is a unique opportunity for college graduates to put their education into practice and become agents of change in communities around the world,” says Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet. “Today’s graduates understand the importance of intercultural understanding and are raising their hands in record numbers to take on the challenge of international service.”