Peace Corps

Requirements for completion of the Peace Corps Prep Certificate

Students must complete all requirements by the end of the term in which the degree is to be awarded.

Work Sectors

12 semester hours in one of the following six work sectors

A. Education
 12 semester hours from one of the following areas

Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Education
English
Geosciences
Math
Physics

B. Health
12 semester hours from any of the following 

  • Biology
    • BIOL 111: Biology and the Modern World
    • BIOL 201: Introductory Microbiology
    • BIOL 205: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
    • BIOL 206: Human Anatomy and Physiology II
    • BIOL 225: Molecules, Cells, and Organisms
    • BIOL 341: Developmental Biology
    • BIOL 342: Microbiology
    • BIOL 352: Comparative Anatomy
    • BIOL 357: Histology
    • BIOL 444: Neurobiology
    • BIOL 448: Immunology
    • BIOL 449: Virology
    • BIOL 453: Mammalian Physiology
  • Chemistry
    • CHEM 105: Chemistry of Life
    • CHEM 403: Biochemistry I
    • CHEM 405: Biochemistry II
  • Kinesiology
    • KINS 277: Foundations of Kinesiology
    • KINS 278: Injury Prevention and Therapeutic Care
    • KINS 315: Body Image
    • KINS 320: Nutrition, Health, and Performance
    • KINS 324: Physical Activity and Lifespan
    • KINS 362: Healing Arts of the Mind and Body
    • KINS 366: Health Psychology
    • KINS 384: Foundations of Health and Fitness Promotion
    • KINS 395: Comprehensive School Health
  • Nursing (any NURS courses)
  • Additional Courses
    • ANTH 380: Sickness, Madness, and Health
    • HIST 326: A History of Medicine: Antiquity to European Renaissance
    • SOCW 325: Social Educational and Health Services in Tobago

C. Environment
12 semester hours from any of the following

  • Biology
    • BIOL 116: Introductory Ecology
    • BIOL 226: Genes, Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology
    • Any course in the Ecology and Evolution track of the major
  • Environmental Studies
    • Any ENVT course
    • ANTH 368: Edible Landscapes, The Foraging Spectrum
    • BIOL 116: Introductory Ecology
    • BIOL 366: Comparative Ecology of Latin America
    • BIOL 367: Conservation Biology and Management
    • BIOL 368: Ecology
    • BIOL 369: Marine Biology
    • BUSA 362: Sustainable Marketing
    • CHEM 104: Environmental Chemistry
    • ECON 111: Principles of Microeconomics: Global and Environmental
    • ECON 311: Energy and Natural Resource Economics
    • ECON 313: Environmental Literature
    • ECON 315: Investigating Environmental & Economic Change in Europe
    • ENGL 234: Environmental Literature
    • GEOS 104: Conservation of Natural Resources
    • GEOS 332: Geomorphology
    • GEOS 334: Hydrogeology
    • HIST 370: Environmental History of the U.S.
    • NORD 363: Culture, Gender, and the Wild
    • PHIL 226: Environmental Ethics
    • PHIL 327: Philosophy, Animals, and the Environment
    • POLS 346: Environmental Politics and Policy
    • RELI 239: Environment and Culture
    • RELI 247: Christian Theology (when topic is “Women, Nature, and the Sacred”)
    • RELI 365: Christian Moral Issues (when topic is “Christian Ecological Ethics”)
    • RELI 393: Topics in Comparative Religions
  • Geosciences
    • GEOS 103: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Geologic Hazards
    • GEOS 107: Global Climate Changes
    • GEOS 201: Geologic Principles
    • GEOS 340: Glacial Geology

D. Agriculture
12 semester hours from any of the following

  • ANTH 368: Edible Landscapes, The Foraging Spectrum
  • BIOL 116: Introductory Ecology
  • BIOL 356: Economic and Cultural Botany
  • BIOL 358: Plant Physiology
  • BIOL 367: Conservation Biology and Management
  • BIOL 368: Ecology
  • BIOL 443: Plant Development and Genetic Engineering
  • BIOL 462: Plant Diversity and Distribution
  • ECON 111: Principles of Microeconomics: Global and Environmental
  • ECON 311: Dynamic Modeling Natural Resources
  • ENVT/GEOS 104: Conservation of Natural Resources

E. Youth in Development
12 semester hours from any of the following

  • Education
    • Any course in Elementary Education or Secondary Education
  • Global Studies
    • Any course in the Development and Social Justice Concentration
  • Kinesiology
    • Any course in Health and Fitness Education Concentration
  • Women’s and Gender Studies
    • Any course that counts for the major
  • Additional Courses
    • ENGL 235: Children’s Literature
    • ENGL 334: Special Topics in Children’s Literature
    • PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology
    • SOCI 101: Introduction to Sociology
    • SOCI 226: Delinquency and Juvenile Justice
    • SOCI 240: Social Problems
    • SOCI 330: The Family
    • SOCW 320: Child Welfare, A Global Perspective
    • SOCW 375: Social Services in the Community
    • SOCW 460: Social Work Practice II: Families and Groups

F. Community Economic Development
12 semester hours from any of the following areas

Business
Communication
Computer Science
Economics
Global Studies: Any course in the Development and Social Justice Concentration
Studio Arts: Any course in Graphic Design
Additional Course: PSYC 345: Community Psychology

Additional Requirements

Hands-on Experience

Completion of 50 semester hours of approved hands-on experience (internship, work experience, and/or volunteer project) in the same work sector as used to satisfy the Work Sector requirements, as certified by the program coordinator.

Foreign Language

Four semester hours in a foreign language or equivalent demonstrated proficiency. Note: Students wanting to serve in Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America must apply to the Peace Corps with strong intermediate proficiency (at least HISP 202 or equivalent). Students wanting to serve in French-speaking African countries should be proficient in French (FREN 201 or equivalent) or in some cases in another Romance language.

Intercultural Competence

Twelve semester hours in intercultural Competence, as follows:

  • 4 semester hours from:
    • ANTH 102: Human Cultural Diversity
    • COMA 304: Intercultural Communication
    • ECON 333: Economic Development: Comparative Third-World Strategies
    • ENGL 233: Post-Colonial Literature
    • GLST 210: Global Perspectives
    • HIST 215: Modern World History
    • RELI 230: Religion and Culture
  • 8 other semester hours that fulfill the Cross-Cultural (C) element of the General Education Program.
    Approved, semester-long study away programs may be substituted for some or all of these hours.

Professional Resume

Completion of a professional resume review with the Career Connections office, as certified by the program coordinator.

Interview Skills

Completion of a class or workshop on interview skills with the Career Connections office, as certified by the program coordinator.

Leadership Experience

Creation and completion of an approved, significant leadership experience, as certified by the program coordinator.