Taylor Sutschek '16 volunteered for the Peace Corps in South Africa from 2016-2018.
Completion of the Peace Corps Prep Program requires (1) training and experience in a specific work sector, (2) foreign language skills, (3) intercultural competence, and (4) professional and leadership development. Below is a list of courses relevant to the first three competencies. These are not the only requirements.
Courses for Work Sectors
Students should plan to take three courses in the work sector they have selected as a focus. They must also demonstrate 50 hours of experience or service in that same sector. The courses listed below are suggestions and students are welcome to ask whether other courses could also be applied.
To learn more about each of these sectors within the Peace Corps itself, visit their website.
The Peace Corps has education volunteers working at all levels of education, from elementary to post-secondary, and in a wide range of subjects. Students interested in focusing on this sector should take three courses from the list below.
ANTH 368 Anthropology of Childhood EDST 100 Foundations of Education EDST 110 Teaching and Learning Math EDST 205 Foundations of Literacy EDST 215 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education EDST 220 Theories of Learning EDST 377 Foundations of Art Education MCTE 305 Teaching English Language Learners in K-12 Classrooms (0.5 credit) MCTE 315 Elementary Science Methods (0.5 credit) MCTE 316 Science Content for Elementary Education MCTE 320 Elementary Social Studies Methods (0.5 credit) MCTE 321 Geography Content for Elementary Education (0.5 credit) MCTE 325 Introduction to Literacy Instruction MCTE 333 Practicum: 9-12/K-12 MCTE 350 Principles and Strategies of Middle Level Teaching MCTE 351 Adolescent Psychology MCTE 371 Secondary English Curriculum and Instruction MCTE 372 Secondary Mathematics Curriculum and Instruction MCTE 374 Secondary Social Science Curriculum and Instruction ENGL 299 Writing Fellows MATH 210 Foundations of Math Education I MATH 211 Foundations of Math Education II PSYC 216 Learning and Memory
The Peace Corps has health volunteers working on a range of issues, including water & sanitation, health education, nutrition, and maternal and child health. Students interested in focusing on this sector should take three courses from the list below.
ANTH 220 Anthropology of Food ANTH 370 Medical Anthropology BIOC 201 Principles of Nutrition BIOL 204 Human Anatomy & Physiology BIOL 302 Microbiology BIOL 320 Parasitology BIOL 325 Advanced Anatomy & Physiology EXSC 160 Health & Human Physiology EXSC 280 Community Health EXSC 310 Human Movement & Health GPHS 101 Introduction to Public Health GPHS 105 Introduction to Epidemiology GHPS 410 Internship in Global Public Health GPHS 420 Independent Study in Global Public Health PSYC 239 Health Psychology SPAN 233 Spanish for Health Professions
The Peace Corps has environment volunteers working with community partners to identify and address environmental issues, as well as work on public education regarding those issues. Students interested in focusing on this sector should take three courses from the list below.
BIOL 101 Life on Earth BIOL 155 Introduction to Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity BIOL 201 Field Botany BIOL 307 Ecology BIOL 315 Conservation Biology ECON 380 Environmental Economics ESTS 103 Introduction to Environmental Science & Sustainability ESTS 105 Introduction to Agroecology ESTS 234 Introduction to Cartography & Geographic Information Systems ESTS 393 Natural Areas Practicum PHIL 310 Environmental Ethics PHYS 267 Introduction to the Dynamics of the Atmosphere POLS 375 Environmental Politics
The Peace Corps has agriculture volunteers working with small-scale farmers to address food security and promote conservation, among other projects. Students interested in focusing on this sector should take three courses from the list below.
ANTH 220 Anthropology of Food BIOL: 109 Plants and Society BIOL 212 Plant Biology CHEM 101 Nutrition & Food Chemistry w/Lab BIOC 201 Principles of Nutrition ECON 380 Environmental Economics ESTS 105 Introduction to Agroecology GFSS 101 Introduction to Global Food Security GFSS 401 Research in Global Food Security HIST 221 World History of Food PHIL 310 Environmental Ethics POLS 375 Environmental Politics
The Peace Corps has youth in development volunteers working on a wide range of projects that promote the well-being of youth. Students interested in focusing on this sector should take three courses from the list below.
ANTH 362 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective ANTH 368 Childhood in Cross-Cultural Perspective ANTH 370 Medical Anthropology COMM 231 Interpersonal Communication EDST 215 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education EDST 220 Theories of Learning MCTE 351 Adolescent Psychology EXSC 160 Health & Human Physiology EXSC 280 Personal and Community Health EXSC 310 Human Movement & Health PHED Any Physical Education Courses PSYC 221 Lifespan Development PSYC 233 Social Psychology PSYC 239 Health Psychology PSYC 323 Psychology of Gender PSYC 336 Social Influences and Child Development
The Peace Corps’ community economic development volunteers may find themselves working with small business entrepreneurs, development banks, nongovernmental organizations, or local governments to promote economic development in communities. Students interested in focusing on this sector should take three courses from the list below.
ACCT 203 Financial Accounting ACCT 204 Managerial Accounting BUSI 105 Introduction to Commerce BUSI 201 Business Data Analysis BUSI 205 Business Math and Statistics BUSI 218 Business Writing BUSI 305 Administration and Organization BUSI 307 Principles of Marketing BUSI 345 Globalization and International Management BUSI 367 Advertising BUSI 406 Entrepreneurial Business Strategy COMM 269 Multi-Media Production COMM 333 Organizational Communication COMM 369 Convergent Media Production ECON 200 Principles of Economics ECON 331 Political Economy of Development ECON 360 International Trade and Finance POLS 208 Understanding Capitalism POLS 245 The Politics of Developing Nations POLS 370 Development Policies and Interventions PUBR 241 Introduction to Public Relations PUBR 267 Layout and Design PUBR 363 Media and Public Relations Writing SOCI 345 Social Inequality
Foreign Language Courses
The foreign language requirement is flexible, depending on where you hope to serve as a volunteer. If you are planning to serve in Latin America, you should build strong intermediate proficiency, having completed two 200-level courses or learned Spanish through another medium.
SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish I SPAN 202 Intermediate Spanish II
Students interested in taking other foreign languages should contact one of our program contacts.
Intercultural Competency Courses
For this competency, we require that all students take three of our Identity, Diversity, and Equity (IDE) courses. Departments ranging from the arts and humanities to the social sciences and the health sciences offer applicable courses. Students also may substitute intercultural experiences for one or both electives (see our Requirements page for more information)
