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