Peace Corps Prep Program

West Virginia University strongly supports the Peace Corps’ mission that peace and cooperation among nations can best be achieved through global engagement. As a national leader in higher education, WVU seeks to provide the best educational opportunities for our students, including preparing them for careers in international development. The Peace Corps Prep Program (PCPP) is a certificate that complements any undergraduate degree at West Virginia University and helps prepare students broadly for global careers, and more specifically, prepares students to apply for Peace Corps after graduation.

Combining traditional academic instruction with a significant component of service-learning, the program enhances the educational experience of our students and prepares them to be leaders in their communities and across the globe. Students will choose one of six Peace Corps work sectors: Education, Health, Environment, Agriculture, Youth in Development, or Community Economic Development. WVU’s PCPP will seek to have a diverse cohort, with students from a variety of majors and backgrounds.

In short, completing the PCPP and earning the certificate will require:

1.     Training and Experience in a specific sector

a.     Complete 9 credits in approved sector courses

b.     Complete 75 hours of volunteer or professional experience in the sector

2.     Intercultural Competence

a.     3 credits in an approved “core course” and 6 credits from approved “elective courses”

            OR

b.     3-6 credits from approved courses AND a substantial intercultural experience (for example, long-term study abroad)

3.     Professional and Leadership Development

a.     Complete Principles of Leadership (LDR 201)

b.     Complete a resume review by WVU Career Services Center

c.     Attend a workshop on interviewing skills with the WVU Career Services Center

d.     Plan and execute one significant leadership experience on campus (student-led service initiative, min 25 hours)

4.     Optional: foreign language instruction is strongly encouraged, especially if a student hopes to serve in a Spanish or French-speaking country

See Student Guide for more details.