Peace Corps Prep Program Requirements

The Peace Corps Prep program will prepare you for international development fieldwork and potential Peace Corps service. To accomplish this, you’ll achieve four learning objectives through interrelated coursework, hands-on experience, and professional development support. These four learning objectives, and the component of the Peace Corps Prep program that support each one are listed in the table below.

Students must complete 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.

Please see the Mercer PC Prep Student Guide for a full list of Mercer courses and volunteer work that satisfy this requirement.

Engaging thoughtfully and fluidly across cultures begins with one’s own self-awareness. With this learning objective, you will deepen your cultural agility through a mix of three introspective courses in which you learn about others while reflecting upon your own self in relation to others. The goal is for you to build your capacity to shift perspective and behavior around relevant cultural differences.

Please see the Mercer PC Prep Student Guide for a full list of Mercer courses that satisfy this requirement.

Students must complete the following:

1. Have your resume critiqued by someone in Mercer’s Center for Career and Professional Development or the Peace Corps Recruiter.

2. Attend a workshop or class on interview skills with Mercer’s Center for Career and Professional Development or the Peace Corps Recruiter.

3. Develop at least one significant leadership experience and be prepared to discuss it thoughtfully. For example, organizing a campus event, leading a work or volunteer project, or serving on the executive board of a student organization.

Please see the Mercer PC Prep Student Guide for a full list of leadership opportunities at Mercer that satisfy this requirement.

Requirements vary by region – Most students must hone their capacity to interact professionally using a non-English language. Minimum course requirements vary by desired peace corps placement region.

For those who do not wish to serve in the Peace Corps upon graduation, the minimum requirement is two courses in the same foreign language.

For a more detailed outline of program requirements please see the Mercer PC Prep Student Guide.