Last semester, 17 students at Bolivia’s Universidad de Aquino officially became Bears. The students are the first cohort in a Master of Professional Studies program, a collaboration between Missouri State University and the Bolivian university known by the acronym UDABOL.

Dr. Jerry Masterson, director of graduate interdisciplinary programs and partnerships at Missouri State, has worked for nearly a decade to bring the program to life in South America. He has hurdled government regime changes, devaluation of currency and a global pandemic.

With 45% of their classes from UDABOL and 55% through Missouri State, this cohort will graduate full Bears with an MSU degree.

Looking forward, Masterson says he already has a dozen students interested in the next cohort.

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