The Peace Corps Prep Program is open to all students, regardless of major, and is intended to help prepare students for international development fieldwork, potential Peace Corps service or any career in service.
The Peace Corps Prep Program is offered through a partnership between Penn State and the Peace Corps, and Career Services greatly appreciates the support and guidance in developing this program from our partners on campus – The College of Agricultural Sciences, The College of Engineering, and the School of International Affairs.
Students participating in the program earn credit, schedule coursework, and have access to resources to help prepare them for service or a career helping others. To accomplish this, students build four core competencies through interrelated coursework, hands-on experience, and professional development support. These four competencies are the following: 1) Training and experience in a work sector 2) Foreign language skills 3) Intercultural competence and 4) Professional and leadership development.
Students choose to complete their work in 1 of 6 sectors to focus on: Agriculture, Education, Health, Environment, Youth in Development, and Community Economic Development. At the completion of the program, participants will earn a certificate along with valuable skills that make them strong candidates for whatever they pursue. This program does not guarantee acceptance into the Peace Corps but does give the candidate a strong advantage.
For more information, students can visit the dedicated website and fill out an interest form: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/career/peace-corps-prep
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Lesley Jackson, Student Outreach Coordinator at pcprep@psu.edu.
