PEACECORPSPREPSTUDENTGUIDE
ThePeaceCorpsPrepprogramwillprepareyouforinternationaldevelopmentfieldworkand
potentialPeaceCorpsservice.Toaccomplishthis,you’llbuildfourcorecompetenciesthrough
interrelatedcoursework,hands-onexperience,andprofessionaldevelopmentsupport.These
fourcompetencies,or“learningobjectives,”arethefollowing:
1. Trainingandexperienceinaworksector
2. Foreignlanguageskills
3. Interculturalcompetence
4. Professionalandleadershipdevelopment
Thisdocumentexplainseachoftheserequirementsindetail.Usethisguidetomapoutyour
PeaceCorpsPrepcourseofstudy.Inparticular,refertothiswhencompletingyourPCPrep
application,whereyou’llneedtodocumenthowyouplantofulfilleachrequirement.This
guidealignspoint-by-pointwitheachsectionoftheapplication!
1. Trainingandexperienceinaspecificworksector
3courses+50hoursrelatedexperience
Leveragingconcreteknowledgeandskillsiscentraltoon-the-groundinternational
developmentwork.ThroughthisPCPrepprogram,youwillbegintobuildaprofessional
specialty,whichshouldserveyourcareerwellwhetherornotyoubecomeaPeaceCorps
Volunteer.
ForPCPrep,youneedtocompleteatleast3coursesthatalignwithaspecificworksector
(theycanbutdonotneedtocomefromyouracademicmajororminor).Youalsomust
accumulateaminimumof50hoursofvolunteerorworkexperienceinthatsamesector,
preferablyinateachingoroutreachcapacity.
Peace
Corps
Tip!
IfyouintendtoapplytothePeaceCorps,thebestwaytoassurethatyouwillbea
strongcandidateistoidentifythetypeofassignmentsinwhichyou’dliketoserve
atwww.peacecorps.gov/openings/,thenreviewthepositions’desired
qualificationsandbuildthemupaccordingly.Intheprocess,youshouldfulfillthese
PCPrepexperientialrequirements!
TherearesixsectorsinwhichPeaceCorpsVolunteersserve—detailed
below.Chooseonesectortofocusonthencompleteatleast3courses+50
hoursofrelatedexperienceinthatsector.
Note:ActualPeaceCorpsassignmentsarebasedonlocalneeds,andthusmayormaynot
alignseamlesslywithyourqualifications.FlexibilityiscentraltothePeaceCorpsexperience!
NOTE:Foranyofthesixsectorsbelow,checkouttheURIClearinghouseforVolunteersfora
listofover80locationsthatofferopportunitiesforstudentstogetexperience.
http://web.uri.edu/experience/volunteer/serve/
Orlookatthespecificlistofinternshipopportunitieslistedunderyourmajorofinterest.
http://web.uri.edu/experience/internship-credit-by-major/
#1EDUCATION
Teachlessonsthatlastalifetime.EducationisthePeaceCorp’slargestprogramarea.Volunteersplayan
importantroleincreatinglinksamongschools,parents,andcommunitiesbyworkinginelementary,
secondary,andpostsecondaryschoolsasmath,science,conversationalEnglish,andresourceteachersoras
earlygradereadingandliteracyteachertrainers.Volunteersalsodeveloplibrariesandtechnologyresource
centers.
IfyouchooseEducation,take3coursesfromoneofthefollowingareas:
o
o
Elementary,
Secondaryor
Special
Education
Englishor
Linguistics
o
o
o
o
TESOL
Math
Computer
Science
Engineering
o
AnyPhysicalor
Biological
Science
Andbuild50hoursofrelatedfieldexperiencethroughanactivitysuchas:
Teachinginoneoftheseorasimilarform:inaclassroom,withacommunity outreachorganization,orinaformaltutoringcapacity.
ThesubjectoftheteachingmaybeEnglishasaForeign/SecondLanguage,
specialeducation,drama,oraSTEMsubject.
TutoringopportunitiesareavailableintheACEEnglishLanguageInstituteontheURI
campus.
TheURIChildDevelopmentCenteroncampusoffersopportunitiesforURIstudents
toworkwithpre-kindergartenagedchildren.
TheURIMentor-TutorInternshipProgramhasplacementsasESLtutors.
#2HEALTH
Serveonthefrontlinesofglobalhealth.HealthVolunteersworkwithintheircommunitiestopromote
importanttopicssuchasnutrition,maternalandchildhealth,basichygiene,andwatersanitation.Volunteers
alsoworkinHIV/AIDSeducationandpreventionprogramstotrainyouthaspeereducators,develop
appropriateeducationstrategies,providesupporttochildrenorphanedbythepandemic,andcreate
programsthatprovideemotionalandfinancialsupporttofamiliesandcommunitiesaffectedbythedisease.
IfyouchooseHealth,takethreecoursesfromoneofthefollowingareas:
o
o
Nursing
Nutritionor
Dietetics
o
o
o
HealthStudies
Pharmacy
Biology
o
Environmental or
Biomedical
Engineering
Andbuild50hoursofrelatedfieldexperiencethroughanactivitysuchas:
• VolunteerorworkexperienceinsuchareasasHIV/AIDSoutreach,hospice,family
planningcounseling,emergencymedicaltechnician(EMT)orCPRteaching/certification,
maternalhealth,andhands-oncaregivinginahospital,clinic,orlabtechniciansetting
• Counselingorteachinginhealthsubjects
• Workingasaresidentadvisorinadormitory,asapeernutritionist,orasasexually
transmittedinfectionscounselor
• Significantexperienceinmechanicalrepairs,construction,carpentry,masonry,
plumbing,hydrology,orsetdesign
#3ENVIRONMENT
Helpforgeaglobalmovementtoprotectourplanet.Volunteersleadgrassrootseffortsintheircommunities
toprotecttheenvironmentandstrengthenunderstandingofenvironmentalissues.Theyteachenvironmental
awarenessinelementaryandsecondaryschoolsandtoyouthgroupsandcommunityorganizations,
empoweringcommunitiestomaketheirowndecisionsabouthowtoprotectandconservethelocal
environment.Volunteersalsoaddressenvironmentaldegradationbypromotingsustainableuseofnatural
resources.
IfyouchooseEnvironment,takethreecoursesfromoneofthefollowingareas:
o EnvironmentalScienceor
relatedfield
o NaturalResources
Conservation
o WildlifeBiology
o NaturalResourcesor
WildlifeManagement
o Forestry
o Biology,Botany,or
Ecology
o Geology
o OceanographyorMarine
Sciences
Andbuild50hoursofrelatedfieldexperiencethroughanactivitysuchas:
• Educatingthepubliconenvironmentalorconservationissues,orworkingon
environmentalcampaigns
• Conductingbiologicalsurveysofplantsoranimals
• Gardening,farming,nurserymanagement,organicorlow-inputvegetableproduction,
orlandscaping
• Providingtechnicalassistanceandtraininginnaturalresourcemanagement
• URI’sCoastalFellowshipProgramprovidesundergraduatesopportunitiestoget
involvedinresearchandappliedoutreacheffortsfocusingonsolvingcurrentcoastal
problems.
#4AGRICULTURE
Leadgrassrootseffortstofighthungerinachangingworld.AgriculturalVolunteersworkwithsmall-scale
farmersandfamiliestoincreasefoodsecurityandproductionandadapttoclimatechangewhilepromoting
environmentalconservationpractices.Theyintroducefarmerstotechniquesthatpreventsoilerosion,reduce
theuseofharmfulpesticides,andreplenishthesoil.Theyworkalongsidefarmersonintegratedprojectsthat
oftencombinevegetablegardening,livestockmanagement,agroforestry,andnutritioneducation.
IfyouchooseAgriculture,takethreecoursesfromoneofthefollowingareas:
o Agronomy
o Horticulture
o Botany
o Entomology
o AgriculturalScience
o Businessoreconomics
o Biology
Andbuild50hoursofrelatedfieldexperiencethroughanactivitysuchas:
• Workingwithalarge-scaleorfamily-runbusinessinvolvingvegetablegardening,
farming,nurserywork,treeplantingorcare,urbanforestry,livestockcareand
management,orfishcultivationandproduction
• Teachingortutoringthepublicinenvironmentaloragriculturalissues/activities
• Workingonthebusinessmanagementormarketingsideofacommercialfarm
#5YOUTHINDEVELOPMENT
Empowerthenextgenerationofchangemakers.Volunteersworkwithyouthincommunitiesonprojectsthat
promoteengagementandactivecitizenship,includinggenderawareness,employability,healthandHIV/AIDS
education,environmentalawareness,sportingprograms,andinfotechnology.
IfyouchooseYouthinDevelopment,takethreecoursesfromoneofthefollowing
areas:
o
International
Development
o Developmental
Psychology
o HealthStudies
o HumanDevelopment
o FamilyStudies
Andbuild50hoursofrelatedfieldexperiencethroughanactivitysuchas:
• Teachingorcounselinginat-riskyouthprograms
• Activitiesthatinvolveplanning,organizing,assessingcommunityneeds,counseling,and
leadership,inareassuchaseducation,youthdevelopment,healthandHIV/AIDS,the
environment,and/orbusiness
#6COMMUNITYECONOMICDEVELOPMENT
st
Harness21 -centurytoolstohelpcommunitiesliftthemselves.Volunteersworkwithdevelopmentbanks,
nongovernmentalorganizations,andmunicipalitiestostrengtheninfrastructureandencourageeconomic
opportunitiesincommunities.Theyfrequentlyteachinclassroomsettingsandworkwithentrepreneursand
businessownerstodevelopandmarkettheirproducts.SomeVolunteersalsoteachbasiccomputerskillsand
helpcommunitiestakeadvantageoftechnologiessuchase-commerce,distancelearning,andmore.
IfyouchooseCommunityEconomicDev.,takethreecoursesfromoneofthefollowing
areas:
o BusinessorPublic
Administration
o EntrepreneurialorGlobal
BusinessManagement
o Accounting,Bankingor
Finance
o ComputerScienceand
relatedmajors
o GraphicDesign
o MassCommunications
o InternationalBusiness
Andbuild50hoursofrelatedfieldexperiencethroughanactivitysuchas:
• Workingwithbusinesses,organizations,orcooperativesinaccounting,finance,
microfinance,management,projectmanagement,budgeting,ormarketing
•
•
•
•
Peace
Corps
Tip!
Startingandrunningyourownbusinessorotherentrepreneurialactivity
Trainingothersincomputerliteracy,maintenance,andrepair
Websitedesignoronlinemarketing
Foundingorleadingacommunity-orschool-basedorganization
Nearlytwo-thirdsofPeaceCorpsVolunteersserveinEducationorHealth.
Courseworkandmeaningfulexperienceinoneoftheseareas—especially
teachingEnglishasasecond/foreignlanguage—producesomeofthe
strongestcandidates.
2. Foreignlanguageskills
Requirementsvarybylanguage
Workingacrossculturesoftenentailsverbalandnonverballanguagesdistinctfromyour
own.BuildingforeignlanguageskillsisthusasecondkeycomponentofthePCPrep
curriculum.
Wherewouldyouliketoserve?PCPrepminimumcourserequirementsalignwiththose
neededbyapplicantstothePeaceCorpsitself,whichvarybylinguisticregion.
•
•
•
LatinAmerica:IndividualswantingtoserveinSpanish-speakingcountriesmustapplywith
strongintermediateproficiency.Thistypicallymeanscompletingtwointermediatelevel
courses.
WestAfrica:IndividualswantingtoserveinFrench-speakingAfricancountriesshouldbe
proficientinFrench(or,insomecases,anyRomanceLanguage),usuallythroughone
intermediate-levelcourse.
Everywhereelse:ThePeaceCorpshasnoexplicitlanguagerequirementsforindividuals
applyingtoserveinmostothercountries.However,youwillstilllikelylearnandutilize
anotherlanguageduringservice,soitisonlyhelpfultohavetakenatleastoneforeign
languageclass.
Note:Ifyouareastrongnativespeakerandwanttoserveinacountrythatspeaksyour
samelanguage,youcanskipthisrequirement!
3. Interculturalcompetence
3approvedcourses
Engagingthoughtfullyandfluidlyacrossculturesbeginswithone’sownself-awareness.
Withthislearningobjective,youwilldeepenyourculturalagilitythroughamixofthree
introspectivecoursesinwhichyoulearnaboutotherswhilereflectinguponyourownself
inrelationtoothers.Thegoalisforyoutobuildyourcapacitytoshiftperspectiveand
behavioraroundrelevantculturaldifferences.
You’lltakethiscorecourse:
•
NRS300IntroductiontoGlobal
IssuesinSustainable
Development
Andchoose2additionalelectivesfromthesebelow:
•
AAF399:IntroductiontoMulticulturalPsychology
•
AAF336:SocialInequality
•
AAF410:IssuesinAfricanDevelopment
•
AAF408:AfricanGovernmentsandPolitics
•
APG200:LanguageandCulture
•
APG220:IntroductiontotheStudyofLanguage
•
APG301:TheAnthropologyofNutrition
•
APG309:AnthropologyofReligion
•
APG320:Sociolinguistics
•
APG400:Evolution,Culture,andHumanDisease
•
APG413:PeoplesoftheSea
•
ARH565:SeminarinCulturalHeritage
•
AVS132:AnimalAgriculture,FoodPolicy,andSociety
•
AVS390:WildlifeandHumanDisease
•
BUS317:InternationalBusinessCommunicationsExchange
•
BUS428:MultinationalFinance
•
BUS429:GlobalInvestmentManagement
•
BUS441:LeadershipSkillsDevelopment
•
BUS448:InternationalDimensionsofBusiness
•
BUS468:GlobalMarketing
•
COM322:GenderandCommunication
•
COM361:InterculturalCommunication
•
COM402:LeadershipandMotivation
•
COM461:ManagingCulturalDifferencesinOrganizations
•
COM462:CommunicationandGlobalSociety
•
ECN338:InternationalEconomics
•
ECN344:PoliticalEconomyofGlobalFinance
•
ECN386:TheEconomicsofRace,Gender,andClass
•
ENG160:LiteraturesoftheWorld
•
ENG247:IntroductiontoLiteratureoftheAfricanDiaspora
•
ENG360:AfricanaFolkLife
•
ENG364:ContemporaryAfricanLiterature
•
GEO305:GlobalClimateChange
•
GWS150:IntroductiontoGenderandWomen'sStudies
•
GWS305:CurrentIssuesinWomen'sStudies
•
GWS310:Race,Class,andSexualityinWomen'sLives
•
GWS325:InternationalWomen'sIssues
•
GWS386:TheEconomicsofRace,Gender,andClass
•
GWS430:WomenandHumanRightsPolicy
•
HDF203:IntroductiontoWorkwithChildren
•
HDF357:FamilyandCommunityHealth
•
HDF412:Historical,Multi-Ethnic,andAlternativeLeadership
•
HDF414:LeadershipforActivismandSocialChange
•
HDF416:PersonalandOrganizationalLeadership
•
HDF434:ChildrenandFamiliesinPoverty
•
HPRXXX:HonorsProgramscourses(listupdatedeachsemester,manywithglobalthemes)
•
NVP200:NonviolenceandPeaceStudiesColloquium
•
NVP500:TheoryandResearchonNonviolenceandPeace
•
VP425:PeacePsychology
•
PHL210:WomenandMoralRights
•
PHL217:SocialPhilosophy
•
PHL346:ExistentialProblemsinHumanLife
•
PHP143:SustainableSolutionsforGlobalHealthProblems
•
PSC116:IntroductiontoInternationalPolitics
•
PSC403:GlobalEcopolitics
•
PSC410:IssuesinAfricanDevelopment
•
PSC422:InternationalPoliticalEconomy
•
PSC435:TheoriesofInternationalConflict
•
PSC431:InternationalRelations
•
PSY103:TowardsSelf-Understanding
•
PSY384:CognitivePsychology
•
PSY480:PsychologyofWomen
•
SOC212:FamiliesinSociety
•
SOC214:UrbanSociology
•
SOC240:RaceandEthnicRelations
•
SOC242:SexandGender
•
SOC336:SocialInequality
•
SOC413:GenderInequality
•
SOC444:TheSociologyOfReligion
Isthereanothercourseinthecatalogthatyoufeelmeetsthisrequirement?Pleasediscussit
withyourPCPrepCoordinator.
Peace
Corps
Tip!
Prolongedinterculturalexperiences—suchasstudyingorvolunteeringabroad,
supportingnewimmigrantsorrefugeesacculturatetotheUnitedStates,or
volunteeringindiverseschools—wouldalsostrengthenyourPeaceCorps
candidacysignificantly.
URIprovidesyouwiththeopportunitytostudyinmorethan200affiliatedstudy
abroadprogramsinover60differentcountriesthatincludeexchange opportunitieswithotheruniversitiesintheUSAanditsterritories.Short- term,semesterandyear-longprogramsprovideyouwitharangeofexciting
options.Andyoucantakeclassesinalmostanyareaofstudyforyourmajor,
yourminororyourgeneraleducationelectives,withofferingsinEnglishOR
inaforeignlanguage.URIalsohasover30faculty-ledprogramsduringspring,
summerandthe J-term(January2weekclass),whichprovideopportunitiesto
immerseyourselfinadifferentcultureandgetcredittowardsyourdegree.
URIstudentshavewonprestigiousexternalscholarshipsandfellowshipsto
supporttheirstudyabroadexperiences.Deadlinesareoftenafullyearormore
beforeyourdeparture,sobesuretoconnectwiththeURIOfficeofNational
Fellowships,locatedinLippittHall,earlyinyourplanning.
4. Professionalandleadershipdevelopment
Resumeandinterviewsupport+Leadershipexperience
Internationaldevelopmentisahighlyprofessionalsector.Itisdifficulttobreakintoand
demandsgreatinitiativeandleadershiptoadvanceprofessionallywithinthefield.PCPrep
requiresthreespecificactivitiesthatwillstrengthenyourcandidacyforthePeaceCorps
(oranyotherprofessionalendeavor):
1. HaveyourresumecritiquedbysomeoneinURI’sCenterforCareerandExperiential
Educationweb.uri.edu/career/http://web.uri.edu/career/
2. AttendaworkshoporclassoninterviewskillsatURI’sCenterforCareerandExperiential
Education.http://web.uri.edu/career/
3. Developatleastonesignificantleadershipexperienceandbepreparedtodiscussit
thoughtfully.Forexample,organizingacampusevent,leadingaworkorvolunteer
project,orservingontheexecutiveboardofastudentorganization.
URI’sCenterforStudentLeadershipDevelopmentprovidesguidanceabout
opportunities.ALeadershipStudiesminorisalsooffered.