Housed within the CU Boulder Center for Leadership, Peace Corps Prep is an undergraduate certificate program offering future U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer applicants sector-specific job skills, foreign language proficiency, intercultural competence, and professional leadership development skills. As an official Peace Corps Prep Program, earning the certificate is excellent preparation, and a likely advantage, for future Peace Corps Volunteer applicants.
Launched in fall 2018, the Peace Corps Prep Program is open to all undergraduates at the University of Colorado Boulder, regardless of their major, minor, department, academic year or participation in other programs.
As there are many international, organizational and individual variables involved, completing the Peace Corps Prep program does not guarantee acceptance as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer.
Benefits
The Peace Corps has identified four core competencies that are critical to the intercultural fieldwork Peace Corps Volunteers do, and CU Boulder’s Peace Corps Prep Program helps ensure that undergraduate students gain demonstrated proficiencies:
• Sector-specific skills.
• Foreign language proficiency.
• Intercultural competence.
• Professional savvy and leadership.
CU Boulder’s Peace Corps Prep Program creates a framework for students to build these four competencies, integrating coursework with hands-on experience and professional development. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a certificate from the Peace Corps – and a competitive edge when applying for Peace Corps service.
Application Process
Students interested in the Peace Corps Prep Program should first review the CU Boulder PC Prep Student Guide. Interested students should then email a completed application to the Boulder PC Prep coordinator, Seth Webb, at seth.webb@colorado.edu. He will then schedule an individualized progress meeting.
Upon completion of all requirements, students should then email the CU Boulder PC Prep exit checklist to the PC Prep coordinator. The Peace Corps Prep Program application is available here: CU Boulder PC Prep application.
Events
CU Boulder’s assigned Peace Corps regional recruiter conducts a twice yearly (fall and spring) information session on the CU Boulder campus for current and prospective Peace Corps Prep Program students. These sessions include a meet-and-greet with returned Peace Corps volunteers. Please check the CU Events Calendar or follow us on Facebook for announcements about upcoming event schedules.
Contact
Seth Webb
CU Boulder Peace Corps Prep Institutional Coordinator
Director of Experiential Education, Center for Leadership
seth.webb@colorado.edu