Coverdell Fellowship

This is the logo for the United States Peace Corps. It is a blue circle with a white dove in the center. Underneath the dove, there are red and white stripes flowing under it. To the right of the circle are the words "Peace Corps." This is the logo for the United States Peace Corps. It is a blue circle with a white dove in the center. Underneath the dove, there are red and white stripes flowing under it. To the right of the circle are the words "Peace Corps."
The University of Miami’s Master of Arts in International Administration (MAIA) program is pleased to offer the Coverdell Fellowship in partnership with the United States Peace Corps.

Earn Your Master's at UM

We invite Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) to join us in this unique opportunity to draw upon your international experiences and prepare you to be a leader and change-agent in the career of your choice, making professional connections along the way.

Miami is a metropolitan city located at the gateway to the hemisphere. A multicultural crossroads as well as a burgeoning tech hub, Miami is the ideal destination for RPCVs looking to continue their educational pathway. Our neighborhoods range from fast-paced to laid-back, from art-loving to nature-focused, from cosmopolitan to suburban. With an extraordinary blend of colors, cultures, and opportunities, there is always something new to experience in our fantastically diverse city.

About The Fellowship

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  • Fast Facts

    RPCVs who are awarded the Coverdell Fellowship will receive a 50% tuition waiver to attend the MAIA program.

    Coverdell Fellows may attend full-time and complete their degree in 12 months, or part-time with a maximum time to completion of up to 6 years.

    MAIA courses are offered in a hybrid format, with some courses being offered in the evenings at our beautiful Coral Gables campus, some courses being offered fully online, and some course being taught remotely via Zoom.

  • Concentrations

    RPCVs may choose from among any of the MAIA programs concentrations:

    • Security Management, which includes an add-on certificate
    • Geospatial Technology, which includes an add-on certificate
    • Health Equity & Human Rights
    • Risk Communications
    • International Crime & Justice
    • Or, if you have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or greater, you may propose an independent concentration for approval by the MAIA Director.

  • Internships

    The MAIA program builds upon RPCVs unique experience in understanding complex problems and addressing them on a community scale. Students culminate their MAIA degree with an internship experience in partnership with the Office of Civic and Community Engagement and the Toppel Career Center. Placement opportunities for Coverdell Fellows include the Refugee Assistance Alliance, Catalyst Miami, and the Community Justice Project.

  • Applications

    Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV) may submit an online application for admission following MAIA’s regular application deadline policy and may begin the MAIA program depending upon the course availability of their declared concentration:

    Intended Starting Semester Deadline
    Fall May 15
    Spring Oct 15
    Summer Feb 15


    To receive an application waiver, RPCVs must provide a Description of Service (DOS) signed by their Country Director to Cathy Wheeling at cathywheeling@miami.edu. The DOS serves as eligibility to participate in the Coverdell Fellowship and to receive the application waiver. This must be done before submitting the MAIA online application. Application fees are non-refundable.



    Current Peace Corps Volunteers must submit a letter of support from their Country Director to receive an application waiver; however, the Coverdell Fellowship is contingent upon successful completion of service and submission of the DOS prior to matriculation into the MAIA program.



    All Coverdell Fellows Programs at any graduate institution, including University of Miami, offer a minimum financial benefit of 25% tuition and fees. The University of Miami is currently offering 50% in tuition waiver awards for accepted Coverdell Fellows.

    Apply Here

For More Information

For questions about the application process, please contact:

Catherine Wheeling
Graduate Recruitment and Admissions

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