Training & Experience in a Specific Work Sector
3 courses + 50 hours related experience
Leveraging concrete knowledge and skills is central to on-the-ground international development work. Through this PC Prep program, you will begin to build a professional specialty, which should serve your career well whether or not you become a Peace Corps Volunteer.
For PC Prep, you need to complete at least 3 courses that align with a specific work sector (they can but do not need to come from your academic major or minor). You also must accumulate a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer or work experience in that same sector, preferably in a teaching or outreach capacity.
There are six sectors in which Peace Corps Volunteers serve—detailed below. Choose one sector to focus on then complete at least 3 courses + 50 hours of related experience in that sector.
Note: Actual Peace Corps assignments are based on local needs, and thus may or may not align seamlessly with your qualifications. Flexibility is central to the Peace Corps experience!
1. Education
Teach lessons that last a lifetime.
Education is the Peace Corp’s largest program area. Volunteers play an important role in creating links among schools, parents, and communities by working in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools as math, science, conversational English, and resource teachers or as early grade reading and literacy teacher trainers. Volunteers also develop libraries and technology resource centers.
If you choose Education, take 3 courses from one of the following areas:
- Elementary, Secondary or Special Education
- English or Linguistics
- TEFL/TESL
- Math
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Any Physical or Biological Science
Sample courses:
- ELED 4040 - Teacher Education and Leadership
- CMST 1330 - Introduction to Global Communication (BSS)
- ENGL 4220 linked with 4300 - Teaching Literacy-Diversity
- TEAL 5710, 5735, 4755, 4770, 4780 - ESL Endorsement Courses (5 required)
And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:
- Completing an ESL project or internship with Centro de la Familia (CCE Partner). Examples of previous projects include the development of a Bilingual Library or ESL classes for parents.
- Completing a project or internship with Cache Valley English Language Center (CCE Partner) whose mission is “to teach English, basic life skills, U.S. Citizenship preparation, and employment education to adult speakers of other languages. These services act as a catalyst for real education-based change leading to opportunities for individual and community prosperity, self-sufficiency, and cultural integration.
2. Health
Serve on the front lines of global health.
Health Volunteers work within their communities to promote important topics such as nutrition, maternal and child health, basic hygiene, and water sanitation. Volunteers also work in HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs to train youth as peer educators, develop appropriate education strategies, provide support to children orphaned by the pandemic, and create programs that provide emotional and financial support to families and communities affected by the disease.
If you choose Health, take three courses from one of the following areas:
- Nursing
- Nutrition or Dietetics
- Health Education
- TEFL/TESL
- Math
- Computer Science
- Civil or Environmental Engineering
Sample courses:
- NDFS 1260 – Food Literacy
- NDFS 4480 – Community Nutrition Experience 1
- NDFS 5750 – Advanced Dietetics Practicum
- NDFS 6050 – Community Nutrition Internship
- NURS 1030 – Fundamental Concepts of Nursing Clinical
- COMST 5600 – Community-Based Hearing HealthCare and Humanitarian Audiology
- CEE 5860 – Air Quality Management
- CEE 3880 – Civil Engineering Design 1
- CEE 4879 – Civil Engineering Design 2
- CEE 3640 – Drinking Water Engineering
- CEE 3650 – Wastewater Engineering
- CEE 3780 – Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:
- Completing a community nutrition or community nursing practicum.
- Completing a 50+ hour project or AmeriCorps internship with the Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC). Examples of previous projects include developing recipes for food pantry patrons or working with the Campus Kitchens project to create meals for community members in need from recovered food that would otherwise have gone to waste.
- Completing a project with USU Engineers without Borders to be implemented in “developing” or low-income countries.
3. Environment
Help forge a global movement to protect our planet.
Volunteers lead grassroots efforts in their communities to protect the environment and strengthen understanding of environmental issues. They teach environmental awareness in elementary and secondary schools and to youth groups and community organizations, empowering communities to make their own decisions about how to protect and conserve the local environment. Volunteers also address environmental degradation by promoting sustainable use of natural resources.
If you choose Education, take 3 courses from one of the following areas:
- Environmental Science or related field
- Natural Resources Conservation
- Park Administration
- Wildlife Biology
- Natural Resources or Wildlife Management
- Forestry
- Biology, Botany, or Ecology
- Geology
Sample courses:
- ENVS 4600 – Natural Resource Interpretation
- ENVS 4700 – Communicating Sustainability
- ENVS 1350 – Introduction to Environmental Science
- ASTE 2900 – Food Matters: Ethics, Economics, and the Environment
- ENVS 3600 – Living with Wildlife
- ENVS 4950 – Environmental Advocacy and Action
- HIST 3850 – Environmental History
- WILD 5220 – Community Based Conservation Partnerships
- CEE 3610 – Introduction to Environmental Management
And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:
- Completing a 50+ hour project or AmeriCorps position with Utah Conservation Corps. This statewide program is housed within the USU Center for Community Engagement. Projects include habitat restoration, trail design and construction, and wildfire mitigation with the National Park Service, US Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management.
- Complete a 50+ hour project or AmeriCorps internship with Stokes Nature Center, Wasatch Community Gardens or other non-profit environmental education programs (CCE Partners). Previous projects have included the development and implementation of summer camps, interpretive programs, and youth garden projects.
4. Agriculture
Lead grassroots efforts to fight hunger in a changing world..
Agricultural Volunteers work with small-scale farmers and families to increase food security and production and adapt to climate change while promoting environmental conservation practices. They introduce farmers to techniques that prevent soil erosion, reduce the use of harmful pesticides, and replenish the soil. They work alongside farmers on integrated projects that often combine vegetable gardening, livestock management, agroforestry, and nutrition education.
If you choose Education, take 3 courses from one of the following areas:
- Agronomy
- Horticulture
- Botany
- Entomology
- Agricultural Science
- Agribusiness
- Agricultural Economics
- Business or economics
- Biology
Sample courses:
- ASTE 3100 – Leadership Applications in Agricultural Science, Management, and Development
- APEC 5700 – Regional and Community Economic Development
- PSC 2800 – Fundamentals of Organic Agriculture
And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:
- Completing a 50+ hour project or AmeriCorps internship with the UCC Urban Farm • Completing a 50+ hour project or AmeriCorps internship with the USU Student Organic Farm
- Completing a 50+ hour project or AmeriCorps internship with the USU Campus Farmers Market. Projects include working with local farmers to market their product.
- Volunteering for the USU Gleaning Program and work with local landowners to harvest excess fruit and vegetables to be distributed through the Food Pantry.
5. Youth Development
Empower the next generation of changemakers.
Volunteers work with youth in communities on projects that promote engagement and active citizenship, including gender awareness, employability, health and HIV/AIDS education, environmental awareness, sporting programs, and info technology.
If you choose Education, take 3 courses from one of the following areas:
- Social Work
- Counseling
- Community Development
- Developmental Psychology
- Human Development
- Family Studies
Sample courses:
- PEP 2900 – Presence, Awareness and Community Building Skills
- REH 6140 – Rehabilitation Counseling Internship
- SOC 3110 – Methods of Social Research
- SOC 4640 – Managing Community Conflict
- CMST 3600 – Advanced Communication and Conflict
- SOC 6720 – Applied Community Development
- SW 2400 – Social Work with Diverse Populations
- SW 3650 – Mental Health
- PSY 4240 – Multicultural Psychology
And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:
- Completing an AmeriCorps position or volunteer for 50+ hours with Logan City and Cache County After School Club programs. This program is run through the USU Center for Community Engagement Education Outreach program.
- Volunteering or complete a 50+ hour project with Athletics United, a CCE community partner that “Uses sport to provide a supportive environment for refugee youth to integrate with local communities for personal, physical and social growth.”
6. Community Economic Development
Harness 21st-century tools to help communities lift themselves.
Volunteers work with development banks, nongovernmental organizations, and municipalities to strengthen infrastructure and encourage economic opportunities in communities. They frequently teach in classroom settings and work with entrepreneurs and business owners to develop and market their products. Some Volunteers also teach basic computer skills and help communities take advantage of technologies such as e-commerce, distance learning, and more.
If you choose Education, take 3 courses from one of the following areas:
- Business or Public Administration
- Nonprofit Management
- Accounting, Banking or Finance
- Computer Science and related majors
- Graphic Design
- Mass Communications
- International Business
Sample courses:
- JCOM 3310 – Writing for Public Relations
- JCOM 4040 – Social Media
- BUSN 1500 – Huntsman Scholar (Business) Leadership Lab
- Small Enterprise Education & Development (SEED) 12-week international internship:
- MSLE 4250 - Marketing and Strategy Internship
- MGT 4250 - Management Internship
- ACCT 4250 - Accounting Internship
- ECN 4250 - Economics Internship
- FIN 4250 - Finance Internship
- MIS 4250 - Management Information Systems Internship
And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:
- Serving as a director of one of 15 student-led CCE service center programs, building sector-specific program management and leadership skills
- Completing a SEED (Small Enterprise Education and Development) internship, teaching mentoring and assisting entrepreneurs in “developing” or low-income countries
- Writing a student sustainability grant for a campus sustainability project and overseeing project implementation
- Creating website or marketing materials for one of the CCE non-profit partners