Associate Professors: Evans (Coordinator), Mizenko; Assistant Professor: Christian Rice. 

The Peace Corps Preparatory Program prepares civic-minded students for international service with the Peace Corps or work in international development more generally. Students enrolled in this program are expected to complete coursework and engage in community service opportunities that reflect the Peace Corps’ focus on international development, practical experience related to its project areas, and foreign language study. Students who successfully meet the specific requirements established by their institution are more competitive Peace Corps applicants and receive a signed certificate of completion from the Peace Corps.

To complete the Peace Corps Prep Program, students will satisfy the following requirements in consultation with the program coordinator or a designated adviser. One must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours of coursework along with an internship, service learning, or volunteer experience. 

  • Successfully complete 8 credit hours of foreign language study at the 200-level (Spanish and French are particularly encouraged).
  • Complete 12 credit hours in courses that deepen intercultural competence by enabling students to learn about others while reflecting upon their own selves in relation to others. These courses must include one “G” course, one “D” course, and one from the following list of cross-cultural courses: ANTH-100, ANTH/GWMS-225, SOC/GWMS-263, ANTH/ENV- 352; ECON-120, ECON-263; ENV-100, ENV/SOC-283; HEP-300; MCS- 350; POL-344, POL-354, POL-356; PSJ-200. Other courses may fulfill this requirement based on approval of the Peace Corps Prep Coordinator. 
  • Complete 12 hours of credit in sector-specific courses.

    For the agriculture and environmental studies track: ANTH-352; BIO-320, BIO-355; ENV-100, ENV/GEOL-105Q, ENV/PSYC-210, ENV-216, ENV/SOC-220, ENV-242, ENV/BIO-250, ENV- 268, ENV/SOC-285, ENV-332, ENV-338, ENV-340W, ENV-360, ENV-370, ENV-372, ENV-415W, ENV-428W, ENV-454W; GEOG-102.

    For the business, entrepreneurship and development economics track: ACCT-140, ACCT-240, ACCT-241, ECON-120, ECON- 263, MGT-200; POL-399.

    For the global health track: BIO-250, BIO- 449W, BIO-459W; ECON-311; HEP-202, HEP- 232W, HEP- 333, HEP- 334, HEP-352Q, HEP-447; POL-354; PSYC/IDS-214; SOC-295; SPAN-308.

    For the education track: EDUC-100, EDUC-265, and EDUC-350.

    For the youth development track: PSYC-240, EDUC-265, PSYC-340, PSYC-342, PSYC-350, PSYC- 352, PSYC/NEUR-440, PSYC-442, PSYC-462W.
  • Participate in an internship, service learning or volunteer experience of at least 50 hours that provides relevant practical experience related to the chosen sector track. This could include a summer, semester, or year-long study abroad program including an approved service activity; tutoring or teaching, for example in an urban education program; volunteer service; a management or accounting internship; agricultural or environmental work; experience in agriculture; health care or health education. All service activities should include a teaching or outreach component and must receive prior approval of the Peace Corps Prep coordinator.