To prepare you for Peace Corps service, you are expected to complete 3 courses and 50 hours of volunteer work in your desired work sector.

The Peace Corps currently has six specific work sectors: education, health, the environment, agriculture, youth in development, and community economic development. Completing Peace Corps Prep coursework and hands-on experience in these sectors will greatly improve your chances of Peace Corps acceptance after college. Listed below are suggested courses and experiential extracurricular activities for each sector. 

A downloadable PDF for each individual track is available at the end of each description.

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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 3 courses from among the following areas:

  • Elementary, Secondary or Special Education
  • English or Linguistics
  • Math
  • Computer Science

Recommended courses:

  • Child Development (PSYC 223)
  • Educational Psychology (PSYC 324)
  • Adolescence (PSYC 348)
  • Introduction to Fiction Writing (ENGL 200)
  • Calculus 1 (MATH 111)
  • Linear Algebra (MATH 224)
  • Mathematical Problem Solving (MATH 231)
  • Elements of Statistics (STAT 106)
  • Data Analysis (STAT 206)
  • Introduction to Programming (SCMP 118)

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

  • Teaching in a classroom, with a community outreach organization, or in a formal tutoring capacity. The subject of the teaching may be English as a Second Language, special education, drama or a STEM subject.
  • Volunteer or service hours acquired in a school or other educational institution during study abroad.
  • Volunteering and teaching at local schools, such as Wiggin Street School in Gambier or East Knox Elementary in Danville.
  • Volunteering and teaching at local agencies, such as Head Start.
  • Engaging in translation services as part of the Kenyon Latino Studies concentration
    Peace Corps Prep work can be done at any point.

Download Education Track Description

Health

Serve on the front lines of global health. Health Volunteers work within their communities to promote important topics such as nutrition, maternal and child health, basic hygiene and water sanitation. Volunteers also work in HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs to train youth as peer educators, develop appropriate education strategies, provide support to children orphaned by the pandemic, and create programs that provide emotional and financial support to families and communities affected by the disease.

If you choose Health, take 3 courses from among the following areas:

  • Pre-med Biology and Chemistry
  • Health Studies

Recommended courses:

  • Energy in Living Systems (BIOL 115)
  • Health Service and Biomedical Analysis (BIOL 211)
  • Microbiology (BIOL 238)
  • Immunology (BIOL 345)
  • Introductory Chemistry (CHEM 101)
  • Health Psychology (PSYC 230)
  • Medical Anthropology in Biocultural Perspective (ANTH 358)
  • Economics of Health (ECON 386)
  • History of Public Health (HIST 342)
  • Sociology of Health and Illness (SOCY 224)

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

  • Volunteer or work experience in such areas as HIV/AIDS outreach, hospice, family-planning counseling, emergency medical technician (EMT) or CPR teaching/certification, maternal health and hands-on caregiving in a hospital, clinic or lab technician setting.
  • Conducting research or volunteering with public health agencies during study abroad.
  • Counseling or teaching in health subjects.
  • Working as a resident advisor in a dormitory, as a peer nutritionist or as a sex health counselor.
  • Significant experience in mechanical repairs, construction, carpentry, masonry, plumbing or set design.

Download Health Track Description

Environment

Help forge a global movement to protect our planet. Volunteers lead grassroots efforts in their communities to protect the environment and strengthen understanding of environmental issues. They teach environmental awareness in elementary and secondary schools and to youth groups and community organizations, empowering communities to make their own decisions about how to protect and conserve the local environment. Volunteers also address environmental degradation by promoting sustainable use of
natural resources.

If you choose Environment, take 3 courses from among the following areas:

  • Environmental Studies
  • Environmental Science and Ecology
  • Environmental Policy and Sustainability

Recommended courses:

  • Solar Power Systems (ENVS 104) Life on the Kokosing (ANTH 157)
  • Introduction to Environmental Studies (ENVS 112) Human Ecology (ANTH 324)
  • Geographic Information Science (ENVS 261) Religion and Nature (RLST 350)
  • Conservation Biology (BIOL 106) Environmental Economics (ECON 336)
  • Ecology (BIOL 228) Global Environmental Politics (PSCI 363)
  • Environmental Chemistry (CHEM 110)
  • Earth Systems Science (ENVS 231)
  • The Science of Climate Change (ENVS 341)

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

  • Volunteering at the Brown Family Environmental Center of Kenyon College.
  • Educating the public on environmental or conservation issues, or working on environmental campaigns.
  • Conducting biological surveys of plants or animals.
  • Conducting research or volunteering with environmental agencies during study abroad.
  • Gardening, farming, nursery management, organic or low-input vegetable production or landscaping.
  • Providing technical assistance and training in natural resource management.

Download Environment Track Description

Agriculture

Lead grassroots efforts to fight hunger in a changing world. Agricultural volunteers work with small-scale farmers and families to increase food security and production and adapt to climate change while promoting environmental conservation practices. They introduce farmers to techniques that prevent soil erosion, reduce the use of harmful pesticides and replenish the soil. They work alongside farmers on integrated projects that often combine vegetable gardening, livestock management, agroforestry and nutrition education.

If you choose Agriculture, take 3 courses from among the following areas:

  • Agricultural Science
  • Social, Cultural and Political Aspects of Agriculture

Recommended courses:

  • Anthropology of Food (ANTH 320)
  • Plant Biology (BIOL 245)
  • Permaculture and Homestead Winter Farming (ENVS 240)
  • Sustainable Agriculture (ENVS 253)
  • Corn, Farming and Plant Knowledge Systems in North America (HIST 360)
  • Feast, Fast, Famine: Food in the Premodern World (HIST 481)
  • Sociology of Food (SOCY 233)

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, or fish cultivation and production.
  • Teaching or tutoring the public in environmental or agricultural issues and activities.
  • Working on the business management or marking side of a commercial farm.
  • Volunteering or working on the Kenyon Farm.

Download Agriculture Track Description

Youth in Development

Empower the next generation of change makers. Volunteers work with youth in communities on projects that promote engagement and active citizenship, including gender awareness, employability, health and HIV/AIDS education, environmental awareness, sporting programs, and info technology.

If you choose Youth in Development, take 3 course from among the following areas:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Family or Gender Studies
  • Community Development

Recommended courses:

  • Human Sexuality and Culture (ANTH 350)
  • Child Development (PSYC 223)
  • Psychology of Women and Gender (PSYC 246)
  • Adolescence (PSYC 348)
  • Psychology in Context (PSYC 350)
  • Sociology of Health and Illness (SOCY 224)
  • Notions of Family (SOCY 225)
  • Gender, Power and Policy (SOCY 231)
  • Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies (GSS 111)
  • Gender and Race in Popular Culture (GSS 150)
  • Topics in Masculinity (GSS 232)
  • Transnational Feminisms (GSS 242)

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

  • Teaching or counseling in at-risk youth programs.
  • Activities that involve planning, organizing, assessing community needs, counseling, and leadership, in areas such as education, youth development, health and HIV/AIDS, the environment, and/or business.
  • Service required for the Psychology in Context course.
  • Service or volunteerism acquired through the Psychology Department’s Off Campus Activity Program.
  • Service at the local domestic violence shelter, New Directions.
  • Service at other local agencies that service the community, such as AMIGOS.

Download Youth in Development Track Description

Community Economic Development

Harness 21st-century tools to help communities lift themselves. Volunteers work with development banks, nongovernmental organizations, and municipalities to strengthen infrastructure and encourage economic opportunities in communities. They frequently teach in classroom settings and work with entrepreneurs and business owners to develop and market their products. Some volunteers also teach basic computer skills and
help communities take advantage of technologies such as e-commerce, distance learning and more.

If you choose Community Economic Development, take 3 courses from among the following areas:

  • Business
  • Computer Science
  • Economic Development

Recommended courses:

  • Microeconomics (ECON 101) Commodities and Consumption (ANTH 200)
  • Macroeconomics (ECON 102) Habitat and Humanity (ANTH 256)
  • Economics of Development (ECON 331) Politics of Development (PSCI 342)
  • International Trade (ECON 338) Globalization (PSCI 361)
  • Elements of Statistics (STAT 106) Global Poverty, Policy and Politics (PSCI 366)
  • Calculus I (MATH 111) Institutions and Inequalities (SOCY 107)
  • Introduction to Programming (SCMP 118) Wealth and Power (SOCY 223)

    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 or marketing.
  • Starting and running your own business or other entrepreneurial activity (needs to be pre-approved).
  • Training others in computer literacy, maintenance and repair.
  • Website design or online marketing.
  • Founding or leading a community- or school-based organization.

Download Community Economic Development Track Description