Peace Corps Prep

A certificate program for undergraduates, Peace Corps Prep builds the foundation for core competencies critical to serving with the Peace Corps and working collaboratively as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Information for universities and colleges

Being a university partner enables your institution to prepare students for international development fieldwork and potential Peace Corps service.

Become a partner school

The Peace Corps Prep undergraduate certificate program gives academic institutions the opportunity for students to develop intercultural competence through a partnership with the Peace Corps. This intercultural and community-focused program enhances students’ undergraduate experiences. Current Peace Corps Prep partner institutions have used their programs to recruit curious, motivated, high-achieving students, and have won awards for campus internationalization.

Starting a Peace Corps Prep program on your campus

Starting a Peace Corps Prep program does not require creating any new courses, offices, or notations on students’ transcripts, and does not need to be formalized through the campus registrar. It does require a college to collaborate with the Peace Corps and follow the program's guidelines.

The Peace Corps issues a certificate to students who complete the program and has created a streamlined model focused on integrating a school’s relevant curricular and extracurricular offerings. Using the Peace Corps-provided templates as guides, partners map out how their students can develop the program’s three core competencies:

• Focused hands-on experience
• Intercultural exchange
• Professional leadership

How colleges and universities apply

The Peace Corps Prep proposal cycle occurs on a rolling basis. If your institution is interested in learning more about the program and bringing Peace Corps Prep to your campus, please contact the Peace Corps at [email protected].

Information for students

Earn a certificate and get a competitive edge when applying to the Peace Corps, where you can collaborate on projects as a Volunteer in one of more than 60 countries.

Prepare yourself for international service

Peace Corps Prep is a certificate program for undergraduates that centers on one empowering question: How can you prepare yourself to be the best Peace Corps Volunteer you can be?

There is no one right answer to that question, but the Peace Corps has identified three core competencies that are critical to the intercultural fieldwork Peace Corps Volunteers do:

• Focused hands-on experience
• Intercultural courses or experience
• Professional leadership

Build your skills with Peace Corps Prep

The Peace Corps Prep program creates a framework for you to build these three competencies, integrating coursework with hands-on experience and professional development. Upon completion of the program, you will receive a certificate from the Peace Corps — and a competitive edge when applying for Peace Corps service.

Get ready to serve

Peace Corps Prep programs correspond with the Peace Corps’ application process. You can first explore and discover the Peace Corps opportunities that excite you, and what skills you will need to be a competitive applicant for those positions. If you are enrolled in a Peace Corps Prep program, you can then shape your curriculum around those requirements!

Please note: Peace Corps Prep programs are created by colleges and universities in collaboration with the Peace Corps and are available to students only at participating partner schools. Receiving a Peace Corps Prep certificate does not guarantee acceptance into the Peace Corps.