Why you should consider this program

Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) is an accredited, coeducational, independent university. Its main campus is located in Melbourne, Florida, a few miles from the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Ocean. It is the most culturally diverse university in the U.S., hosting students from more than 120 countries. It offers 26 Doctoral programs and nearly 100 Master’s programs in the sciences, engineering, high-tech fields, business, psychology and behavior analysis, aeronautics, education, and other related fields. U.S. News & World Report ranks it among the top 175 universities in the world. 

Within the Coverdell Fellows Program, Florida Tech was the first university to offer a Fellows Program focused on the Environment (1999), which was later expanded to include all degree programs in Education (2004). In 2015, this Fellows Program was further expanded to allow RPCVs wishing to pursue a degree in another academic field to be accepted as Fellows. Once each RPCV have been admitted to the degree programs of their choosing, they are automatically recognized as a Fellow and eligible for the Program’s 50% tuition discount.   

Benefits for Coverdell Fellows

	Tuition/fees for Complete Program	Value of Coverdell Fellowship	Net cost *
In state	$ 37,230	$ 18,625	$ 18,605
Out of state	$ 37,230	$ 18,625	$ 18,605

* Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing—see the first point below for more details.

Where the cost savings value of the Coverdell Fellowship comes from

Florida Tech’s Fellowship cost savings is from a a 50% discount of tuition.  

Other benefits or opportunities

Fellows are eligible to apply for and hold Graduate Assistantships that may be available through their College and Department (Teaching and Research Assistantships). 

Application fee waived?

No

Internship

For a number of reasons, many of which date back to the founding of this program in the late 1990s, Florida Tech has always taken a ‘flexible’ approach to internships. We have allowed and continue to allow the following to be counted: (a) employment on campus, particularly as Graduate Assistants (GSAs) in teaching (TA) or Research (RA) relevant to the Fellow’s field; (b) employment and paid internships off campus in a position relevant to the Fellow’s field (e.g., working for a K-12 school or non-formal education institution, or an environmental agency or organization); (c) internships that are required for the Fellows’ degree program (e.g., Environmental Resource Management, Coastal Zone Management) or that may be included as an option/elective in the Fellows’ degree program (e.g., in education); and (d) voluntary (unpaid) internships with off campus with agencies, institutions and organizations that have an established relationship with university programs and faculty (e.g., Brevard Zoo, the Marine Resources Council, Brevard County’s Environmentally Endangered Land Program).

Other details

Program length

Depends on the degree program. Master’s: 1-2 years; Education Specialist: 2 years; Doctorate: 4-5 years).

Application requirements

The application requirements for each degree program can vary (http://admission.fit.edu/graduate/requirements.php)

(A) All graduate degree programs require: (a) an application, which may be completed online, (b) a statement of objectives, which may be included on the application form or submitted separately, (c) official transcripts (for all prior post-secondary study), (d) a resume or CV, and (e) a minimum of three letters of recommendation or completed recommendation forms.

(B) Scores on the GRE and other tests vary for one degree program to another:  None of the graduate degree programs in Education require any test scores, while degree programs in the College of Science and College of Engineering usually require specific test scores. The latter are listed as application/admissions requirements for each degree program in the online University Catalog descriptions, by College: http://catalog.fit.edu/index.php?catoid=5 . 

Program begins

On campus graduate programs begin: (a) Fall semester: mid August; (b) Spring semester: early January; and (c) Summer semester: mid May. The schedule for online and hybrid programs can vary considerably.

Year Coverdell Fellows partnership started

1999

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Contact

Dr. Thomas Marcinkowski, Coordinator, Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows Program