Peace Corps Preparatory Certificate Program

Merose Hwang, (2012) Coordinator of the Peace Corps Preparatory Program; Associate Professor of History
B.A., University of Colorado at Boulder; M.A., Yonsei University, South Korea; Ph.D., University of Toronto
hwangm@hiram.edu
330.569.5465

Program Website: Peace Corps Preparatory Program – Hiram College

Hiram College began offering a Peace Corps Preparatory Program in Fall 2014. We were one of the first colleges/universities in Ohio to offer a program officially designated as preparation for Peace Corps service.

The program’s curriculum is designed to prepare students to serve in the Peace Corps upon graduation. Upon completion, you will earn a certificate from the Peace Corps Completion. This does not guarantee placement in the Peace Corps but makes you a stronger candidate.

Program Learning Goals:

The Peace Corps Preparatory Program is well integrated into our broad education curriculum in social responsibility, attends to our global urgent challenges, builds on our strong tradition of service learning and study abroad.

Requirements for the Certificate

  • Demonstration of foreign language acquisition capability. Four courses in Spanish or French are strongly desired, especially if you wish to serve in those language-related countries.
  • Six courses in any major, minor or interdisciplinary field: three related to a Peace Corps service sector and three related to intercultural competence.
  • At least 50 hours of hands-on experience in one Peace Corps service sector (choose from: education, health, environment, agriculture, youth in development, or community economic development).  These can be co-curricular experiences, including study abroad, a volunteer/service project, internship, teaching experience, etc.
  • Professional and leadership development experience. These can be work in student organizations, events organizing, and other types of volunteer experience.

Required Courses:

Foreign Language Courses

A minimum of four courses in a single language (students may test out of one or more or report an alternative foreign language acquisition experience)

Academic Courses

Three course related to a Peace Corps service sector and three related to intercultural competence

Examples of courses that may fulfill Peace Corps Service Sector or intercultural competence requirements may be those with CA, ES, EW, UD, or UCS core designations, or any course in which at least 50% of its content focuses on international, global, social inequity, social justice, or development themes. Consult with your PCPP coordinator for courses that may fulfill these requirements.

50 Peace Corps Service Sector Experience Hours

Possible hands-on experience in a sector and leadership experiences may include:

  • a study abroad course
  • a lab, practicum, shadowing, apprenticeship
  • a volunteer service-learning project in a community
  • an internship, work placement, residence, on-the-job training experience
  • a skilled trade work experience
  • tutoring/teaching experience (serve as a writing tutor, an assistant in English as a Second Language courses offered by the College, a student teacher offered through the education major)
  • student club/organization executive member experience
  • health care/health education experience