Students can apply at any point in their college career, but it is suggested that they wait until sophomore year to ensure they have fully considered their major and post-college interests, and begin no later than the first semester of junior year in order to complete all coursework in a timely manner. Interested students should first meet with the Peace Corps Prep campus coordinator in order to discuss the program, how it works, the benefits and the application process

General Requirements

The following requirements are necessary for the completion of every track.
A downloadable PDF of this information is available at the bottom of the page.

1. 3 courses + 50 hours of related experience. 

Leveraging concrete knowledge and skills is central to on-the-ground international development work. Through this PC Prep program, you will begin to build a professional specialty, which should serve your career well whether or not you become a Peace Corps Volunteer.

For PC Prep, you need to complete at least 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.

For examples of accepted courses and activities, refer to the requirements for your specific sector: education, health, environment, agriculture, youth in development, community economic development.

2. Intercultural competency.

Engaging thoughtfully and fluidly across cultures begins with one's own self-awareness. With this learning objective, you will deepen your cultural agility by taking three intercultural courses that provide opportunities to learn about others while reflecting upon your own self in relation to others. The goal is for you to build your capacity to understand multiple cultures and build intercultural competence.

A maximum of two intercultural courses can be substituted with an lntercultural Experience or Foreign Language Proficiency.

3. Professional and leadership development. 

International development is a highly professional sector. It is difficult to break into, and it demands great initiative and leadership to advance professionally within the field.

PC Prep requires three specific activities that will strengthen your candidacy for the Peace Corps (or any other professional endeavor):

  1. Have your resume critiqued by someone in the Career Development Office.
  2. Attend a workshop or class on interview skills at the Career Development Office.
  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.
  4. Connect with a Peace Corps recruiter, strategic campus recruiter or returned Peace Corps volunteer about volunteer service, the application process and benefits of service.

Note: If you are interested in taking a course or pursing a volunteer opportunity that you believe relates to your track but do not see above, contact Stephen Volz at volzs@kenyon.edu or Jacqueline Zubin at zubin1@kenyon.edu to discuss whether it could be counted towards the program requirements.

Download General Requirements for All Tracks