peace orps rep student uide - cu denver...the peace corps prep program will prepare you for...

PEACECORPSPREPSTUDENTGUIDE

ThePeaceCorpsPrepprogramwillprepareyouforinternationaldevelopmentfieldworkandpotentialPeaceCorpsservice.Toaccomplishthis,you’llbuildfourcorecompetenciesthroughinterrelatedcoursework,hands-onexperience,andprofessionaldevelopmentsupport.Thesefourcompetenciesarethefollowing:

1. Trainingandexperienceinaworksector2. Foreignlanguageskills

3. Interculturalcompetence4. Professionalandleadershipdevelopment

Thisdocumentexplainseachoftheserequirementsindetail.UsethisguidetomapoutyourPeaceCorpsPrepcourseofstudy.Inparticular,refertothiswhencompletingyourPCPrepapplication,whereyou’llneedtodocumenthowyouplantofulfilleachrequirement.Thisguidealignspoint-by-pointwitheachsectionoftheapplication!

1. Trainingandexperienceinaspecificworksector

Leveragingconcreteknowledgeandskillsiscentraltoon-the-groundinternationaldevelopmentwork.ThroughthisPCPrepprogram,youwillbegintobuildaprofessionalspecialty,whichshouldserveyourcareerwellwhetherornotyoubecomeaPeaceCorpsVolunteer.ForPCPrep,youneedtocompleteatleast3coursesthatalignwithaspecificworksector(theycanbutdonotneedtocomefromyouracademicmajororminor).Youalsomustaccumulateaminimumof50hoursofvolunteerorworkexperienceinthatsamesector,preferablyinateachingoroutreachcapacity.

IfyouintendtoapplytothePeaceCorps,thebestwaytoassurethatyouwillbeastrongcandidateistoexplorePeaceCorps’openingsandidentifythetypeofassignmentsinwhichyou’dliketoserve(www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/volunteer-openings),thenreviewthepositions’requiredanddesiredqualificationsandbuildthemupaccordingly.Intheprocess,youshouldfulfillthesePCPrepexperientialrequirements!

Therearesixsectors(www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/what-volunteers-do/)inwhichPeaceCorpsVolunteersserve—detailedbelow.Chooseonesectortofocusonthencompleteatleast3courses+50hoursofrelatedexperienceinthatsector.

Note:ActualPeaceCorpsassignmentsarebasedonlocalneeds,andthusmayormaynotalignseamlesslywithyourqualifications.FlexibilityiscentraltothePeaceCorpsexperience!

PeaceCorpsTip!

3courses+50hoursrelatedexperience

#1EDUCATION

Teachlessonsthatlastalifetime.EducationisthePeaceCorp’slargestprogramarea.Volunteersplayanimportantroleincreatinglinksamongschools,parents,andcommunitiesbyworkinginelementary,secondary,andpostsecondaryschoolsasmath,science,conversationalEnglish,andresourceteachersorasearlygradereadingandliteracyteachertrainers.Volunteersalsodeveloplibrariesandtechnologyresourcecenters.

IfyouchooseEducation,take3coursesfromoneofthefollowingareas:o Elementary,Secondary

orSpecialEducationo EnglishorLinguistics

o TEFL/TESLo Matho ComputerScience

o Engineeringo AnyPhysicalorBiological

ScienceRecommendedcourses

o SCED4004-ElementaryScienceTeachingo UNHL3620-Migration,Modernity,andLiteracyo LCRT4001-ElementaryLiteracyInstruction&Assessment3rd-6tho INTE4320-GamesandLearningo INTE4000-DesignThinkingandEducationalInnovationo SCED4400-TheoryandPedagogyofScienceLearningo SCED4401-InquirySciencePedagogyandPractices

**Thisisapartiallist.PleasediscussadditionalrecommendationswithaPCPrep Coordinator.

Andbuild50hoursofrelatedfieldexperiencethroughanactivitysuchas:• Teachinginoneoftheseorasimilarform:inaclassroom,withacommunityoutreach

organization,orinaformaltutoringcapacity• ThesubjectoftheteachingmaybeEnglishasaForeign/SecondLanguage,special

education,drama,oraSTEMsubject• VolunteeratCUDenver’sESLAcademyasaConversationPartner

3

#2HEALTH

Serveonthefrontlinesofglobalhealth.HealthVolunteersworkwithintheircommunitiestopromoteimportanttopicssuchasnutrition,maternalandchildhealth,basichygiene,andwatersanitation.VolunteersalsoworkinHIV/AIDSeducationandpreventionprogramstotrainyouthaspeereducators,developappropriateeducationstrategies,providesupporttochildrenorphanedbythepandemic,andcreateprogramsthatprovideemotionalandfinancialsupporttofamiliesandcommunitiesaffectedbythedisease.

IfyouchooseHealth,takethreecoursesfromoneofthefollowingareas:o Nursingo NutritionorDieteticso HealthEducation

o Pre-medo Biologyo TechnicalEducation

o EnvironmentalorSanitaryEngineering

Recommendedcourses:

o PBHL2000-IntroductiontoPublicHealtho PBHL2020-IntroductiontoEnvironmentalHealtho PBHL3070-PerspectivesinGlobalHealtho PBHL4040-SocialDeterminantsofHealtho NURS3770-TheNursingProfession:History,RoleandTrendso CHEM2300-NutritionalChemistryo ANTH4040-AnthropologyofFoodandNutrition

**Thisisapartiallist.PleasediscussadditionalrecommendationswithaPCPrep Coordinator.

Andbuild50hoursofrelatedfieldexperiencethroughanactivitysuchas:• VolunteerorworkexperienceinsuchareasasHIV/AIDSoutreach,hospice,family

planningcounseling,emergencymedicaltechnician(EMT)orCPRteaching/certification,maternalhealth,andhands-oncaregivinginahospital,clinic,orlabtechniciansetting

• Counselingorteachinginhealthsubjects• Workingasaresidentadvisorinadormitory,asapeernutritionist,orasasexually

transmittedinfectionscounselor• Significantexperienceinmechanicalrepairs,construction,carpentry,masonry,

plumbing,hydrology,orsetdesign• VolunteeratUniversityofColoradoHospitalinanyofthefollowingways:Unit

Assistants;AdministrativeAssistants;PurposefulVisitation;EmergencyDepartment;PatientNavigator;NewbornHearingScreening;On-Callvolunteer;AnschutzCancerPavilion

#3ENVIRONMENT

Helpforgeaglobalmovementtoprotectourplanet.Volunteersleadgrassrootseffortsintheircommunitiestoprotecttheenvironmentandstrengthenunderstandingofenvironmentalissues.Theyteachenvironmentalawarenessinelementaryandsecondaryschoolsandtoyouthgroupsandcommunityorganizations,empoweringcommunitiestomaketheirowndecisionsabouthowtoprotectandconservethelocalenvironment.Volunteersalsoaddressenvironmentaldegradationbypromotingsustainableuseofnaturalresources.

IfyouchooseEnvironment,takethreecoursesfromoneofthefollowingareas:o EnvironmentalScienceor

relatedfieldo NaturalResources

Conservation

o ParkAdministrationo WildlifeBiologyo NaturalResourcesor

WildlifeManagement

o Forestryo Biology,Botany,or

Ecologyo Geology

Recommendedcourses:

o ENVS1342-Environment,SocietyandSustainabilityo SUST3011-TowardaSustainableFutureo ANTH3006-SustainableDevelopmentandEquityo ANTH4070-CultureofDevelopmentandGlobalizationo GEOG3440-Ecotourismo ECON4530-EconomicsofNaturalResourceso GEOG3401-GeographyofFoodandAgriculture

**Thisisapartiallist.PleasediscussadditionalrecommendationswithaPCPrep Coordinator.

Andbuild50hoursofrelatedfieldexperiencethroughanactivitysuchas:• Educatingthepubliconenvironmentalorconservationissues,orworkingon

environmentalcampaigns• Conductingbiologicalsurveysofplantsoranimals• Gardening,farming,nurserymanagement,organicorlow-inputvegetableproduction,

orlandscaping• Providingtechnicalassistanceandtraininginnaturalresourcemanagement• VolunteeratTheGrowhausinDenver• VolunteeratDenverUrbanGardens• VolunteeratDenverUrbanHomesteading

#4AGRICULTURE

Leadgrassrootseffortstofighthungerinachangingworld.AgriculturalVolunteersworkwithsmall-scalefarmersandfamiliestoincreasefoodsecurityandproductionandadapttoclimatechangewhilepromotingenvironmentalconservationpractices.Theyintroducefarmerstotechniquesthatpreventsoilerosion,reducetheuseofharmfulpesticides,andreplenishthesoil.Theyworkalongsidefarmersonintegratedprojectsthatoftencombinevegetablegardening,livestockmanagement,agroforestry,andnutritioneducation.

IfyouchooseAgriculture,takethreecoursesfromoneofthefollowingareas:o AgriculturalScienceo Agribusiness

o AgriculturalEconomicso Businessoreconomics

o Biology

Recommendedcourses:

o ENGR3995-GlobalTechnology,Business&Cultureo GEOG3401-GeographyofFoodandAgricultureo GEOG4450-UrbanFoodandAgriculture:PerspectivesandResearcho GEOG4460-SustainableUrbanAgricultureFieldStudyIo GEOG4680-UrbanSustainability:PerspectivesandPracticeo GEOG4470-SustainableUrbanAgricultureFieldStudyIIo GEOG4710-Disasters,ClimateChange,andHealth

**Thisisapartiallist.PleasediscussadditionalrecommendationswithaPCPrep Coordinator.

Andbuild50hoursofrelatedfieldexperiencethroughanactivitysuchas:• Workingwithalarge-scaleorfamily-runbusinessinvolvingvegetablegardening,

farming,nurserywork,treeplantingorcare,urbanforestry,landscaping,livestockcareandmanagement,orfishcultivationandproduction

• Teachingortutoringthepublicinenvironmentaloragriculturalissues/activities• Workingonthebusinessmanagementormarketingsideofacommercialfarm• VolunteeratTheGrowhausinDenver• VolunteeratDenverUrbanGardens• VolunteeratDenverUrbanHomesteading

#5YOUTHINDEVELOPMENT

Empowerthenextgenerationofchangemakers.Volunteersworkwithyouthincommunitiesonprojectsthatpromoteengagementandactivecitizenship,includinggenderawareness,employability,healthandHIV/AIDSeducation,environmentalawareness,sportingprograms,andinfotechnology.

IfyouchooseYouthinDevelopment,takethreecoursesfromoneofthefollowingareas:

o SocialWorko Counselingo CommunityDevelopment

o DevelopmentalPsychology

o HumanDevelopment

o FamilyStudies

Recommendedcourses:

o SOCY4640-SociologyofChildhoodandAdolescenceo COMM3275-FamilyCommunicationo COMM4262-Mediationo ECON3100-EconomicsofRaceandGendero PSYC3205-HumanDevelopmentI:ChildPsychologyo PSYC4485-PsychologyofCulturalDiversityo ETST3274-Power,Poverty,Culture

**Thisisapartiallist.PleasediscussadditionalrecommendationswithaPCPrep Coordinator.

Andbuild50hoursofrelatedfieldexperiencethroughanactivitysuchas:• Teachingorcounselinginat-riskyouthprograms• Activitiesthatinvolveplanning,organizing,assessingcommunityneeds,counseling,and

leadership,inareassuchaseducation,youthdevelopment,healthandHIV/AIDS,theenvironment,and/orbusiness

• VolunteeratthePhoenixCenteratAuraria

#6COMMUNITYECONOMICDEVELOPMENT

Harness21st-centurytoolstohelpcommunitiesliftthemselves.Volunteersworkwithdevelopmentbanks,nongovernmentalorganizations,andmunicipalitiestostrengtheninfrastructureandencourageeconomicopportunitiesincommunities.Theyfrequentlyteachinclassroomsettingsandworkwithentrepreneursandbusinessownerstodevelopandmarkettheirproducts.SomeVolunteersalsoteachbasiccomputerskillsandhelpcommunitiestakeadvantageoftechnologiessuchase-commerce,distancelearning,andmore.

IfyouchooseCommunityEconomicDev.,takethreecoursesfromoneofthefollowingareas:

o BusinessorPublicAdministration

o NonprofitManagement

o Accounting,BankingorFinance

o ComputerScienceandrelatedmajors

o GraphicDesigno MassCommunicationso InternationalBusiness

Recommendedcourses:o ISMG2050-IntroductiontoBusinessProblemSolvingo INTB3000-GlobalPerspectiveso MGMT3000-ManagingIndividualsandTeamso PUAD3004-ManagingNonprofitOrganizationso PUAD3005-CollaborationAcrossSectorso FINE2415-TypographyStudio o COMM2071-MediaWritingSkills

**Thisisapartiallist.PleasediscussadditionalrecommendationswithaPCPrep Coordinator.

Andbuild50hoursofrelatedfieldexperiencethroughanactivitysuchas:• Workingwithbusinesses,organizations,orcooperativesinaccounting,finance,

microfinance,management,projectmanagement,budgeting,ormarketing• Startingandrunningyourownbusinessorotherentrepreneurialactivity• Trainingothersincomputerliteracy,maintenance,andrepair• Websitedesignoronlinemarketing• Foundingorleadingacommunity-orschool-basedorganization• ParticipateinCUDenver’sInworksmeetupsattheinnovationlab• ParticipateinPosnerCenter’sPovertyHack• ParticipateinCUDenver’sPosnerCenterIndependentStudycourse• VolunteerattheUrbanLandConservancy• VolunteeratRadian(communitydesignfirm)• VolunteeratWestDenverRenaissanceInitiativepartneringwithCUDenverCAP

Nearlytwo-thirdsofPeaceCorpsVolunteersserveinEducationorHealth.Courseworkandmeaningfulexperienceinoneoftheseareas—especiallyteachingEnglishasasecond/foreignlanguage—producesomeofthestrongestcandidates.

PeaceCorpsTip!

2. ForeignlanguageskillsWorkingacrossculturesoftenentailsverbalandnonverballanguagesdistinctfromyourown.BuildingforeignlanguageskillsisthusasecondkeycomponentofthePCPrepcurriculum.

Wherewouldyouliketoserve?PCPrepminimumcourserequirementsalignwiththoseneededbyapplicantstothePeaceCorpsitself,whichvarybylinguisticregion.

• LatinAmerica:IndividualswantingtoserveinSpanish-speakingcountriesmustapplywithstrongintermediateproficiency.Thistypicallymeanscompletingtwo200-levelcourses.

• WestAfrica:IndividualswantingtoserveinFrench-speakingAfricancountriesshouldbeproficientinFrench(or,insomecases,anyRomanceLanguage),usuallythroughone200-levelcourse.

• Everywhereelse:ThePeaceCorpshasnoexplicitlanguagerequirementsforindividualsapplyingtoserveinmostothercountries.However,youwillstilllikelylearnandutilizeanotherlanguageduringservice,soitisonlyhelpfultohavetakenatleastoneforeignlanguageclass.

Note:Ifyouareastrongnativespeakerandhopetoserveinacountrythatspeaksyoursamelanguage,youcanskipthisrequirement!

Requirementsvarybylanguage

3. Interculturalcompetence

Engagingthoughtfullyandfluidlyacrossculturesbeginswithone’sownself-awareness.Withthislearningobjective,youwilldeepenyourculturalagilitythroughamixofthreeintrospectivecoursesinwhichyoulearnaboutotherswhilereflectinguponyourownselfinrelationtoothers.Thegoalisforyoutobuildyourcapacitytoshiftperspectiveandbehavioraroundrelevantculturaldifferences.Someexamplecourses:You’lltakeatleast1ofthesecorecourses:

• COMM4270-InterculturalCommunication

• ANTH3142-CulturalDiversityintheModernWorld

• COMM4720-DynamicsofGlobalCommunication

• COMM3271-CommunicationandDiversity

Andchoose2additionalelectivesfromtheabovelistorthesebelow:

• ANTH3008-ContemporaryWorldProblems:AnAnthropologicalPerspective

• GEOG1102-WorldRegionsGlobalContext

• PSCI4265-SocialJusticeandGlobalization

• SOCY3720-GlobalPerspectivesonSocialIssues

Isthereanothercourseinthecatalogthatyoufeelmeetsthisrequirement?PleasediscussitwithyourPCPrepCoordinator.o Studyingorvolunteeringabroadmaycountifthestudentisinacountrythathasatsome

pointhostedPeaceCorpsVolunteers(seethelistofcurrentandpastcountrieshere[www.peacecorps.gov/countries]).Studying/volunteeringabroadinthesecountriesfromoneweektoasummermaysubstituteforonecourse.Experiencesthatlastafullsemestermaysubstituteforbothelectives.

o Otherinterculturalexperiences,suchashelpingnewimmigrants/refugeesacculturatetotheU.S.orvolunteeringindiverseschools,mayalsocount.IftheyalsoalignwithoneofPeaceCorps’sixsectors,theseexperiencesmaysimultaneouslycountforthathands-onexperientialrequirement.Eachdistinctinterculturalexperiencelastingatleastfortyhoursmaysubstituteforoneelective.

Prolongedinterculturalexperiences—suchasstudyingorvolunteeringabroad,supportingnewimmigrantsorrefugeesacculturatetotheUnitedStates,orvolunteeringindiverseschools—wouldalsostrengthenyourPeaceCorpscandidacysignificantly.

3approvedcoursesor1-2courses+substantiveinterculturalexperience

PeaceCorpsTip!

4. Professionalandleadershipdevelopment

PeaceCorpsserviceandsimilarinternationaldevelopmentworkopportunitiesarehighlyprofessionalandselective.PCPreprequiresthreespecificactivitiesthatwillstrengthenyourcandidacyforthePeaceCorps(oranyotherprofessionalendeavor):

1. HaveyourresumecritiquedbysomeoneintheCareerCenter.2. AttendaworkshoporclassoninterviewskillsattheCareerCenter.3. Developatleastonesignificantleadershipexperienceandbepreparedtodiscussit

thoughtfully.Forexample,organizingacampusevent,leadingaworkorvolunteerproject,orservingontheexecutiveboardofastudentorganization.Leadershipopportunitiescaninclude(butarenotlimitedto):

• InternationalStudiesStudentClub• StudentClubsandPrograms• StudentGovernmentAssociation• CUDenverLeadershipPrograms• PeerAdvocateLeaders(PAL)program• ColoradoStudentLeadersInstitute• PukstaFoundation

Resumeandinterviewsupport+Leadershipexperience

EXITCHECKLIST

BelowarethePeaceCorpsPrepcertificationrequirements.IfyouapplytoPeaceCorps,pleasescanandattachthissignedformtoyourapplicationwiththename“PCPrepChecklist.”IfyouapplytoPeaceCorpsbeforecompletingarequirementbelow,write:“[Activity]:planned[month/year].”

1. TrainingandexperienceinaspecificworksectorPleasechecktheboxofthesectorinwhichyouhavepreparedyourselftoserve:

q Educationq Health

q Environmentq Agriculture

q YouthinDevelopmentq CommunityEconomicDevelopment

(1) Coursework.Listthe3highestapprovedsector-alignedcourse#sandtitlesyoutook:1. ________________________________2. ________________________________

3. _________________________________

(2) Hands-onexperienceinthatsamesector.TotalHours(mustbeatleast50):_______Descriptionofexperience:

2. ForeignlanguageskillsRequirementsdependupondesiredPeaceCorpsvolunteerplacementsite.(1)Spanish-speakingcountriesàtwo200-levelcourses.(2)French-speakingcountriesàone200-levelcoursesinanyRomanceLanguage.(3)Everywhereelseànoexplicitrequirements,butlanguageskillsareaplus.

Language:_____________________Listyour2highestlevelcourse#sandtitles:

1.____________________________ 2._________________________________Ordescribeyouralternativelearningprocess(e.g.,nativespeaker):

3. InterculturalcompetenceListyour3approvedcourses/experiencesthatbolsteredyourinterculturalcompetence:1. _____________________________2. _____________________________

3.________________________________

4. Professionalandleadershipdevelopment1. Professionalresumefeedback:qYesqNoDate:Where:2. Professionalinterviewprep:qYesqNoDate:Where:3. Demonstratedleadershipexperiences(i.e.,studentorgs,work,volunteer,etc.)Describe:

__________________________________________________________________SignatureofStudentDate SignatureofPCPrepCoordinatorDate

StudentName:_______________________________

University:__________________________________

PCPrepCoordinator:________________________

RELEASEOFINFORMATIONFORMWithyourapproval,theUniversityofColoradoDenverPeaceCorpsPreparatory(PCPrep)programwillreleaseinformationonaregularbasistothePeaceCorps,includingdetailsabouttheparticipantsinthisprogramandotherrelevantdatathathelpthePeaceCorpsevaluatetheeffectivenessofPCPrep.TheseeducationalrecordsaresubjecttotheFamilyEducationalRightsandPrivacyAct(FERPA),aFederallawdesignedtoprotecttheprivacyofastudent’seducationalrecords. ThisActprohibitscollegeofficialsfromdisclosinganyrecords,includinggradereports,academicstandings,transcriptsofrecords,oranyotherrecords,whichcontaininformationdirectlyrelatedtothestudentandfromwhichthestudentcanbeindividuallyidentifiedwithoutthestudent’sconsent.ConsistentwithFERPAguidelines,UniversityofColoradoDenverwillnotreleaserecordsrelatedtoyourperformanceinthePCPrepprogram,otherthanthoseenumeratedinthisdisclosureagreement.IherebypermitUniversityofColoradoDenvertodisclosepersonallyidentifiableinformationtoPeaceCorpsregardingmyparticipationinthePeaceCorpsPreparatoryprogramforthepurposesofevaluatingPCPrep.Thisinformationwillbelimitedtomyname,dateofadmissiontoPCPrep,thecourseworkandotheractivitiesIpursuedtosatisfyPCPreprequirements,dateofgraduation,andwhetherIsuccessfullycompletedthePCPrepupongraduation. IfIdonotultimatelyenterthePeaceCorps,UniversityofColoradoDenvermayreportpost-graduationcareerinformationtotheextentthatUniversityofColoradoDenverhasthatinformation.StudentName(printed)___________________________________________________StudentSignature_________________________________________________________Date_____________________