Academic Learning Integrated Volunteer Experience (ALIVE) Program
Register online for the ALIVE program
Download the 2008-2009 Scholarship Application
Academic Learning Integrated with Volunteer Experience (ALIVE) is a program initiated by the University of Montana (UM) and undertaken in partnership with AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps*VISTA programs (Volunteers in Service to America) across the state of Montana. The ALIVE program is designed to draw on the resources of The University of Montana to support the civic and professional development of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorpsVISTA members.
Through the program, national service participants integrate their national service experience with university coursework to earn graduate level credits either towards a Master's of Interdisciplinary Studies (M.I.S.) degree at UM, or for non-degree graduate credit.
Credit Options
ALIVE students earn graduate credit through one of four options:
- ALIVE Internship: Students earn 1-6 credits through the ALIVE Internship course (PSc 598). In this course, students keep a reflective journal over the course of the semester and write a long paper. Read a past example of an ALIVE Internship paper.
- ALIVE Service Learning: Students earn 3-6 credits through ALIVE Service Learning. For this course, a student is paired with a UM faculty member and conducts an independent study at his/her service site.
- CBI: Students earn 1 credit by attending the Community Building Institute (a required workshop for AmeriCorps VISTAs) and writing a 2-page paper.
- Online Program in Nonprofit Administration: Students earn 1-5 credits by enrolling in online courses in the Online Program in Nonprofit Administration.
The M.I.S. Degree
ALIVE national service participants can earn a Master’s of Interdisciplinary Studies (M.I.S.) degree from The University of Montana by finishing an additional year of coursework on campus after their year of service.
The M.I.S. is a 36-hour degree that allows students to work with faculty in the design of a graduate curriculum tailored to their unique academic, creative and professional needs. The MIS program allows students, in consultation with faculty, to combine the curricula of two or more programs of study. Areas of study include but are not limited to: sociology, psychology, public administration, communication studies, political science, environmental studies, education, and social work.
In addition to the graduate level credits earned during the year of service, students will attend traditional courses on campus during the year following their service year to complete a total of 36 hours for the degree. The Master's of Interdisciplinary Studies degree therefore consists of one year of applied learning through the national service term and one year of coursework in residency at UM.
Participants may apply to M.I.S. for the Fall or Spring semesters. Applications will include an immunization record, three letters of recommendation, a copy of your undergraduate transcript, a $45 application fee, and sometimes GRE scores. The ALIVE program coordinator will walk you through this process.
Non-degree graduate credit
ALIVE participants do not necessarily have to pursue the M.I.S. degree. If you have plans to pursue a specific degree in the future, or would just like to earn some non-specific graduate credit, ALIVE offers an excellent and easy option to earn credit during your service year.
Most universities will accept up to 9 non-degree graduate transfer credits so you can make headway towards any future degree through ALIVE.
Participants must apply to the graduate school as a non-degree graduate student. The application is less formal than applying to a specific program. The ALIVE program coordinator will walk you through this process.
Payment and Residency
ALIVE members must pay UM tuition costs, but there are many assistance and loan options:
Through an agreement between the Office for Civic Engagement (OCE), Financial Aid, and the Registrar’s office, participants are able to defray official enrollment, registration, and tuition costs until they achieve in-state resident status if they choose.
ALIVE participants are also be eligible for UM’s Presidential Loans, which are interest-free education loans that must be paid back after receipt of the AmeriCorps Education Award. Through these interest-free loans, participants defray paying tuition costs until they receive their Education Award. Other ideas for meeting tuition costs include yearly merit scholarships offered by the Office for Civic Engagement, site assistance, and/or program assistance.
Tuition
In 2008-2009, UM tuition is $290.35 per graduate credit for a resident and $807.90 per graduate credit for a non-resident (these fees apply to the ALIVE Internship and ALIVE Service Learning courses). Tuition for the one-credit Community Building Institute course (CBI) is a flat $135 fee. Tuition for each one-credit course in the Online Program in Nonprofit Administration is a flat $260 per course ($235 if the AmeriCorps site is a member of the Montana Nonprofit Association).
Contact
ALIVE Program
Office for Civic Engagement
Davidson Honors College 015
University of Montana
Missoula , MT 59812
(406) 243-2586 or 243-5159
Email questions or comments to: andrea.vernon@mso.umt.edu
