Prepare for the Peace Corps
For many years, the Peace Corps has ranked the University of Mary Washington as among the nation’s top institutions for graduates who serve as Peace Corps Volunteers. The Peace Corps Prep program prepares current students for international development fieldwork and potential Peace Corps service. Through Peace Corps Prep, students build three core competencies through interrelated coursework, hands-on experience, and professional development support.
Quick links to more information from peacecorps.gov:
Where do you want to serve? | Find a Recruiter | What Volunteers Do | Frequently Asked Questions
What is Peace Corps Prep?
Peace Corps Prep is a program for undergraduates that centers on one empowering question: How can you prepare yourself to be the best Peace Corps Volunteer you can be? There is no one right answer to that question, but the Peace Corps has identified three core competencies that are critical to the intercultural fieldwork that Peace Corps Volunteers do:
- Training and experience in a specific work sector
- Intercultural competence
- Professional and leadership development
Completing the Peace Corps Prep program does not guarantee acceptance into the Peace Corps, but completion of the program will give you a competitive edge.
This program is not a UMW Certificate Program (it will not be included on a student’s transcript). Once you complete the program, you will receive a certificate of completion from the Peace Corps.
Competencies
Leveraging concrete knowledge and skills is central to international development work. Through the Peace Corps Prep program, you will begin to build a professional specialty which will serve you well whether or not you become a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Participants will complete the requirements of each competency listed below by their graduation date (Training and Experience in a Specific Work Sector, Intercultural Competence, and Professional and Leadership Development).
Training and Experience in a Specific Work Sector
Complete at least three courses that align with one of six specific work sectors (Education, Health, Environment, Agriculture, Youth in Development, and Community Economic Development). You also must accumulate a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer work experience in that same sector, preferably in a teaching or outreach capacity.
Intercultural Competence
Engaging thoughtfully and fluidly across cultures begins with one’s own self-awareness. With this learning objective, you will deepen your cultural agility through three courses that are self-reflective and focused on global perspectives. The goal is for you to build your capacity to understand multiple cultures and build intercultural competence. This requirement may be met by approved courses, a substantive intercultural experience, foreign language skills, or any combination of the three.
Professional and Leadership Development
Peace Corps service and other international development opportunities are highly selective. Peace Corps Prep requires four specific activities that will strengthen your candidacy for the Peace Corps or any other professional endeavor:
- Review your resume with a career coach in the CCPD
- Engage in an interview workshop or mock interview at the CCPD
- Develop at least one significant leadership experience and be prepared to discuss it thoughtfully
- Connect with a Peace Corps Recruiter, Strategic Campus Recruiter, or Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
Eligibility
- Must be a UMW degree-seeking student
- Must be a second-semester freshman, sophomore, or first-semester junior in good standing.
To apply
- Review the Peace Corps Prep Student Guide
- Complete the Peace Corps Prep Application
- You will be contacted by Michael Dunn, Director of the Center for Career and Professional Development, who also serves as the UMW Peace Corps Prep Coordinator, regarding next steps.
Exit Checklist
- Exit Checklist (pre-2026)
- Exit Checklist (2026)
Program Contacts
- Center for Career and Professional Development, 540-654-5646, ccpd@umw.edu
- Center for International Education, 540-654-1434, cie@umw.edu