Training & Experience in a Specific Work Sector

3 courses + 50 hours related experience

Peace Corps Tip!

If you intend to apply to the Peace Corps, the best way to assure that you will be a strong candidate is to explore Peace Corps’ openings and identify the type of assignments in which you’d like to serve, then review the positions’ required and desired qualifications and build them up accordingly. In the process, you should fulfill these PC Prep experiential requirements!

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 three (3) courses from one of the following areas:

Elementary, Secondary, or Special Education
English or Linguistics
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Math
Computer Science
Engineering
Any Physical or Biological Science

Recommended courses:

EDUC 1000 & 1005 – Teacher Assistant Experience
EDUC 2977 – Cooperative Education
ELED 4040 – Reading Assessment and Intervention (CI)
CMST 1330 – Introduction to Global Communication (BSS)
TEAL 4780 – Assessment for Language Learners
TEAL 5710 – Instruction for Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Learners
TEAL 5735 – Language Systems, Acquisition, and Instruction for English Learners

And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:

Teaching in one of these or a similar form: in a classroom, with a community outreach organization, or in a formal tutoring capacity
- For example, the teaching subject(s) might include English as a Second Language, special education, drama, or a STEM subject
- Completing an ESL project or internship with Centro de la Familia (CCE Partner)
- Completing a project or internship with Logan Library (CCE Partner)

2. Health

Serve on the front lines of global health.

HHealth Volunteers work with clinics and healthcare providers in their communities to develop strategies to promote nutrition, maternal and child health, hygiene, water and sanitation, malaria prevention, and HIV/AIDS education.

If you choose Health, take three (3) courses from one of the following areas:

Nursing
Nutrition or Dietetics
Health Education
Pre-Med
Biology
Technical Education
Civil or Environmental Engineering

Recommended courses:

NDFS 1240 – Food Literacy
NDFS 5750 – Advanced Dietetics Practicum
NDFS 6050 – Community Nutrition Experience
NURS 1030 – Fundamental Concepts of Nursing Clinical
CEE 3880 – Civil and Environmental Design I
CEE 4870 – Civil and Environmental Design II (CI)
CEE 4880 – Civil and Environmental Design III (CI)
CEE 5860 – Air Quality Management
PUBH 3120 – Family and Community Health

And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:

Volunteer or work experience in such areas as health outreach, hospice, nutrition counseling, emergency medical technician (EMT) or CPR teaching/certification, maternal health, or hands-on caregiving in a hospital, clinic, or lab technician setting
Counseling or teaching in health subjects
Working as a resident advisor in a dormitory, as a peer nutritionist, or as a peer health counselor
Significant experience in mechanical repairs, construction, carpentry, masonry, plumbing, hydrology, or set design
Completing a 50+ hour project or AmeriCorps internship with the Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC)
Completing a project with USU Engineers Without Borders to be implemented in a specific country

3. Environment

Create a more sustainable world.

Volunteers promote efforts to protect natural resources at the local level and strengthen understanding of environmental and sustainability issues.

If you choose Environment, take three (3) courses from one of the following areas:

Environmental Science or a related field
Natural Resources Conservation
Recreation Administration
Wildlife Ecology
Forestry
Biology, Botany, or Ecology
Geology

Recommended courses:

ENVS 1350 – Introduction to Environmental Science (BLS)
ENVS 4700 – Communicating Sustainability (CI)
ENVS 5600 & 6600 – Natural Resource Interpretation
ASTE 2900 – Food Matters: Ethics, Economics, and the Environment (BSS)
ENVS 3600 – Living with Wildlife (DSC)
HIST 3950 – Environmental History (DHA/CI)
WILD 5220 – Community-based Conservation Partnerships

And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:

Educating the public on environmental or conservation issues
Conducting biological surveys of plants or animals
Gardening, farming, nursery management, organic or low-input vegetable production, or landscaping
Providing technical assistance and training in natural resource management
Completing a 50+ hour project or AmeriCorps position with Utah Conservation Corps
Complete a 50+ hour project or AmeriCorps internship with Stokes Nature Center (CCE Partner) or other non-profit environmental education program

4. Agriculture

Strengthen food security

Agriculture Volunteers work with farmers to support programs in food security, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods.

If you choose Agriculture, take three (3) courses from one of the following areas:

Agronomy
Horticulture
Botany
Entomology
Agricultural Science
Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Science
Agribusiness
Agricultural Economics
Business or Economics
Biology

Recommended courses:

PSC 3800 – Fundamentals of Organic Agriculture
APEC 3010 – Agricultural Economics (DSS)
APEC 5700 – Regional and Community Economic Development
ADVS 5030 – Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems with Animals

And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:

Working with a large-scale or family-run business involving vegetable gardening, farming, nursery work, tree planting or care, urban forestry, landscaping, livestock care and management, fish cultivation and production, or related areas
Teaching or tutoring the public in environmental or agricultural issues/activities
Working on the business management or marketing side of a commercial farm
Completing a 50+ hour project or AmeriCorps internship with the Utah Conservation Corps Urban Community Farm (CCE Partner)
Volunteering for the USU Harvest Rescue and work with local landowners to harvest excess fruit and vegetables to be donated to organizations to feed people

5. Youth Development

Empower the next generation.

Volunteers work with youth in communities to increase youth community engagement and strengthen leadership, life, and employability skills, guiding young people to realize their social, economic, and civic potential.

If you choose Youth Development, take three (3) courses from one of the following areas:

Social Work
Counseling
Community Development
Developmental Psychology
Human Development and Family Studies

Recommended courses:

HDFS 3570 – Youth and Adolescence
REH 6140 – Counseling Practicum
SOC 3110 – Methods of Social Research (CI)
SOC 4640 – Managing Community Conflict (CI)
CMST 3600 – Communication and Conflict
SOC 6720 – Applied Community Development
SW 2400 – Social Work with Diverse Populations
SW 3650 – Mental Health
PSY 4240 – Multicultural Psychology (DSS)

And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:

Teaching or counseling in youth programs
Activities that involve planning, organizing, assessing community needs, counseling, and leadership, in areas such as education, youth development, health, the environment, and/or business
Completing an AmeriCorps position or volunteer for 50+ hours with Logan City After School Club Program
Volunteer or complete a 50+ hour project with Athletics United

6. Community Economic Development

Cultivate and grow local economic opportunities

Volunteers work to strengthen economic infrastructure through urban planning or supporting entrepreneurs and business owners.

If you choose Community Economic Development, take three (3) courses from the following areas:

Business or Public Administration
Nonprofit Management
Accounting, Banking, or Finance
Computer Science and related fields
Graphic Design
Mass Communications
International Business

Recommended courses:

JCOM 3310 – Writing for Public Relations (CI)
JCOM 4040 – Social Media Content Development
ART 2400 – Introduction to Graphic Design
BUSN 1500 – Business Leadership Club
MSLE 4250 – Marketing-Strategy-Leadership-Entrepreneurship Internship
MGT 4250 – Management Internship
ACCT 4250 – Accounting Internship
ECON 4920 – Economics Internship
FIN 4250 – Finance Internship
IS 4250 – Data Analytics and Information Systems Internship

And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:

Working with businesses, organizations, or cooperatives in accounting, finance, microfinance, management, project management, budgeting, marketing, or related areas
Starting and running your own business or other entrepreneurial activity
Training others in computer literacy, maintenance, or repair
Website design or online marketing
Founding or leading a community- or school-based organization
Completing a SEED (Small Enterprise Education and Development) internship
Writing a student sustainability grant for a campus sustainability project and overseeing project implementation

Peace Corps Tip!

Nearly two-thirds of Peace Corps Volunteers serve in Education or Health. Coursework and meaningful experience in one of these areas—especially teaching English as a second language—produce some of the strongest candidates.