This story originally appeared in the International Programs e-newsletter, “Outside the Morris Center” in May 2017. It has been republished here to provide updates for a wider audience.

Missouri State recognizes the difficulties faced by international students preparing to study in the U.S., especially financial considerations of physically relocating to study abroad. As a result, the Master of Professional Studies-MPS is now offered entirely in Brazil in partnership with Unicesumar.

After managing the higher education regulations involved in offering non-traditional programs, a Missouri State delegation traveled to Maringa, Brazil to initiate the first cohort of 26 participants. The 2-3 year program, started in spring 2017, includes face-to-face courses that are taught in Brazil by Missouri State and Unicesumar faculty, and online courses that are offered and administered by Missouri State. The courses taught by Missouri State faculty in Brazil are taught in English with simultaneous translation and the courses taught by Unicesumar faculty are taught in Portuguese and approved and supported by Missouri State.

“The whole idea of the program is to take education where students need it. We would not have these students if we hadn’t developed this program. Our goal is to make our program as accessible as possible while maintaining academic rigor necessary for regulatory agencies and the integrity of the program,” said Dr. Jerry Masterson, Director of the MPS program.

The students are expected to finalize a thesis or a project and travel to Missouri State to present their final projects during the Graduate College Forum in the month of May. They are also encouraged to walk at the Commencement Ceremony in the spring, if their financial situation allows.

Similar partnerships are being explored in other countries to facilitate access to higher education for international students.