Peace Corps Prep

How can you prepare to be the best Peace Corps Volunteer you can be?

This program at UT will help you earn a certificate and strengthen your application to be a Peace Corps Volunteer. Peace Corps Prep (PC Prep) program is a certificate granted by Peace Corps focused on preparing students to be the best Peace Corps Volunteer possible.

Why Peace Corps Prep?

PC Prep is designed to make it easier for students whose interests align with the Peace Corps to gain recognition for activities that may make them a more competitive Peace Corps Volunteer candidate, such as coursework and extracurricular service.

This is 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 competency
• Professional leadership

Program Requirements

The program is focused on these three core competencies that are critical to the fieldwork Peace Corps Volunteers do:

Focused hands-on Experience

Choose one sector to focus on and then complete at least 3 courses offered at UT Austin and 50 hours of related work or volunteer experience in that sector. To learn more about each sector and find pre-approved classes, please refer to the Student Guide below.

• Agriculture
• Community Economic Development
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Youth in Development

Visit our resources page for a list of volunteer opportunities in the Austin area. You may also reach out to The Longhorn Center for Community Engagement (LCCE) for other volunteer opportunities around Austin and at UT!

Intercultural Exchange

Students should deepen their intercultural competence through a mix of three self-reflective courses focused on cross-cultural understanding or communication, or the study of global cultures (outside of the United States.) With prior approval of the Peace Corps Prep faculty advisor, language fluency (from life experience or from college-level coursework) -OR- a prolonged intercultural experience (such as studying/volunteering abroad, supporting new Americans in the community, etc.) may partially fulfill this requirement.

Connect with the UT Austin Education Abroad Team to learn more about different opportunities around the world.

Professional Leadership 

Peace Corps service and similar international development work opportunities are highly professional and selective. PC Prep requires three specific activities that will strengthen your candidacy for the Peace Corps (or any other professional endeavor):

1. Have your resume reviewed by the Peace Corps Campus Recruiter.
2. Attend a workshop or class on interview skills at Career Services.
3. Develop at least one significant leadership experience and be prepared to discuss it thoughtfully. For example, organizing a campus event, leading a work or volunteer project, or serving on the executive board of a student organization.

PC Prep will help you develop these three competencies, integrating coursework with hands-on experience and professional development.

Learn more about PC Prep program requirements and eligible courses in the PC Prep Student Guide. Use this guide to map out your PC Prep course of study and refer to it while completing your PC Prep application, as you’ll need to document how you plan to fulfill each requirement.

Download Student Guide

Get Started

1. Select a sector of focus for your certificate. While not required, meeting with the Peace Corps Campus Recruiter before selecting your sector is highly encouraged.
   • Agriculture
   • Community Economic Development
   • Education
   • Environment
   • Health
   • Youth in Development
2. Join the PC Prep Canvas Page.
   • Click the link above to self-enroll to this canvas page where you can track your progress.
   • You can also find the official PC Prep enrollment form that you must complete on canvas. Students without an enrollment form will not be considered participants in the PC Prep Program.
3. Begin completing your certificate and stay connected with the PC Prep team!
   • Contact the PC Prep Faculty Advisor (Michele Hockett Cooper) with any questions on classes, including pre-approval, and general certificate requirements.
   • Contact the Peace Corps Campus Recruiter (Anne Saldivar) for how to best leverage your certificate to start your Peace Corps Journey.