Peace Corps Prep

Description

The peace corps prep concentration is designed to foster intellectual curiosity in international development while enhancing the competitiveness of Peace Corps applicants. The concentration has six sectors comprising education, youth development, health, environment, community and economic development, and agriculture, with the unifying mandatory course BIS 355 Peace Corps Seminar. Centered around three core competencies in sector-specific skills, intercultural competence and leadership, the concentration encourages participation in service learning, internship opportunities and study abroad experience.

Requirements

The Peace Corps prep concentration requires a minimum of 21 credit hours as outlined below. However, students are able to double count credits from their current major, minor, general studies requirements, or other concentrations, where applicable. Students are encouraged to take courses that develop breadth within their sector rather than limiting their selection to courses in one particular subject area.
Applicants should contact an academic advisor in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, or the Peace Corps liaison at ASU by emailing pcprepcoordinator@asu.edu.

Required Courses -- 6 credit hours
OGL 358: Peace Corps Seminar (G) (3)
any 484 Internship course or IDS 401: Integration: Experiential Learning or OGL 484: Internship (3)
Internship hours may be completed locally, out of state or through an international study abroad
program. The internship must be completed in the same program sector as the affiliated program
sector electives completed for a minimum of 3 credit hours.

Cultural Diversity in the U.S. or Global Awareness Course(s) -- 6 credit hours
Cultural Diversity in the U.S. (C) or Global Awareness (G) (6)
Students complete two additional "C" (Cultural Diversity in the U.S.) or "G" (Global Awareness)
courses, excluding IDS 355/OGL 358 and the nine credit hours of sector related electives. Sector
electives in excess of nine credit hours may count toward this C or G requirement. Classes can be
either lower or upper division.

Electives (Choose one of the six sectors below) -- 9 credit hours
Program Sector Electives (9)
Students will select nine upper-division credit hours from one of the six program sectors of
agriculture, community and economic development, education, environment, health, or youth
development. Students should see their academic advisor for a complete list of sector specific
courses.

Agriculture Sector
Examples of electives include, but are not limited to:
AGB 302: International Management and Agribusiness (G) (3)
AGB 425: Food Supply Networks (3)
AGB 452: Global Food and Agricultural Trade (3)
ASB 300: Food and Culture ((L or SB) & C) (3)

Community and Economic Development Sector
Examples of electives include, but are not limited to:
ABS 364: Urban Forestry (3)
BIO 324: Environmental Ethics (HU) (3)
BIO 434: People and Nature: Ecosystem Services (3)
ECN 360: Economic Development (SB & G) (3)
GCU 364: Energy in the Global Arena (3)
SOS 327: Sustainable Food and Farms (3)

Education Sector
Examples of electives include, but are not limited to:
AFR 350: Inequality and Diversity in Education (L & C) (3)
ECD 321: Foundations in Language, Literacy and Culture in Early Childhood (L) (3)
ECS 315: Classroom Organization and Child Guidance (3)
HCR 402: Advocacy for Health and Health Education (3)
SOC 421: Education and Society (SB) (3)
SPF 301: Culture and Schooling (L) (3)

Environment Sector
Examples of electives include, but are not limited to:
ASB 375: Humans and the Environment: What's the Connection? ((L or SB) & G) (3)
BIO 320: Fundamentals of Ecology (3)
BIO 322: Conservation of Biodiversity (3)
GPH 314: Global Change (HU & G) (3)
SOS 326: Sustainable Ecosystems (3)

Health Sector
Examples of electives include, but are not limited to:
ASB 301: Global History of Health (SB & G & H) (3)
ASB 305: Poverty and Global Health ((L or SB) & G) (3)
ASM 345: Disease and Human Evolution (3)
EXW 450: Social Determinants of Health and Health Behavior ((L or SB) & C) (3)
HSC 310: Health Communication (3)

Youth Development Sector
Examples of electives include, but are not limited to:
ASB 346: Marriage and Family Diversity (SB & C) (3)
NLM 300: Fund Raising and Resource Development (3)
NLM 310: Volunteer Management (3)
PRM 315: Creating Community Through Park and Recreation Systems (3)
SWU 456: Immigrants and Refugees (C) (3)

Students will complete a three-credit-hour internship and can do so by taking any internship course so long as their internship relates to their chosen sector. *** 484 or IDS 401 or OGL 484 (or approved 3-credit internship or applied learning experience). Students from any major have permission to register for OGL 484 in order to complete an internship related to their sector. Students may also meet the internship requirement by completing an internship experience through a study abroad program.

Study abroad or international experience is encouraged but not required. Consider participating in a study abroad program during spring break as a substitute for any required concentration course.

Foreign language study to at least the 200-level is encouraged but not required.

For Peace Corps placements in Spanish or French-speaking countries, foreign language proficiency at the 200-level is often required.

Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this concentration.