Peace Corps Prep Requirements

The University of Montana’s Peace Corps Prep Certificate Program (PCPP) is designed for students who are interested in applying for the US Peace Corps or other positions in international development. The PCPP Certificate gives Peace Corps applicants a competitive advantage. This certificate program allow students to follow one or more areas of interest or passion. The specialization areas include health, education, youth in development, community economic development, environment, and agriculture. The courses in these areas overlap to a large extent with the International Development Studies minor. If you are interested in international service through the Peace Corps or post-graduation employment with other international development organizations, the PCPP may be for you. To sign up, please contact the advisor(s) for your preferred sector(s). Click on the Specialization tab and you will find the contact information.

Requirements

Training and experience in a specific work sector: 3 courses + 50 hours related experience’s (see PCPP specialization advisor for course and volunteer/internship recommendations).
Foreign language requirements vary by region of interest: Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America - two 200-level Spanish courses; French-speaking African countries - one 200-level French or another Romance language course; everywhere else - no explicit language requirements.
Intercultural competence: 3 approved courses + substantive intercultural experience (at least one Diversity & Inclusion course and at least one International Development course – listed below).
Professional and leadership development: Resume and interview support + leadership experience (attend workshops and develop one leadership experience).

Intercultural Competence Courses

Please take a total of 3 courses in the following two areas.

Area 1: Diversity and Inclusion Courses

Take at least one (which may not duplicate courses in your chosen specialization sector or Area 2). These courses can be, but don't have to be, IDS courses.

**IDS 491-50 Social and Behavioral Change Communication
ANTY 122 Race and Minorities
*ANTY 220 Culture and Society
*ANTY 427 Anthropology of Gender
**ANTY 326E Indigenous People and the Ethics of Development
AAST 372 African American Identity
*ANTY 241Central Asian Culture and Civilization
*ANTY 330X Peoples and Cultures of the World
CHIN 391 Chinese Culture through Films
CHIN 338 Chinese Folk Tales
**COMX 204X International and Development Communication
*COMX 415 Intercultural Communication
*COMX 493 Hong Kong, Macau, & China: Communication, Culture, and Development (Study Abroad)
COMX 380 Gender and Communication
**COMX 204X International and Development Communication
*GPHY 433 Community Resilience
*HSTR 435 Human Rights in Latin America
NASX 231X Indigenous World View Perspectives
NASX 405H Gender Issues in Native American Studies
**NASX 306X Contemporary Global Issues of Indigenous People
**NASX 260X Indigenous Community Development in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada
*NASX 475X Indian Sovereignty
PSCI 330 Transnational Competence for Global Leadership
**PSCI 463 Development Administration
*PSCI 443 Politics of Social Movements
PSYX 352 Comparative Psychology
PSYX 362 Multicultural Psychology
SOCI 220S Race, Gender, and Class
SOCI 325 Social Stratification
SPNS 331 Cultures and Societies of Latin America
SW 464 Cultural Humility in Social Work Practice: Valuing Diversity
WGSS 150X Women’s Rights and Women’s Roles Around the World
WGSS 263S Social and Political Perspectives on Women, Men, and Sexuality
*SSEA 202X Introduction to India
Studying or volunteering abroad (Two weeks to one semester can substitute for one course; two semesters can substitute for two courses.)
Are there other courses that you feel meet this requirement? Please discuss with your PC Prep Sector Advisor.

Area 2: International Development Courses

Take at least one (which may not duplicate courses in your chosen sector or Area 1)

**IDS 191X Global Justice & Sustainable Development
**IDS 491.50 Social and Behavior Change Communication
**ANTY 326E Indigenous People and the Ethics of Development
**BGEN 360 International Business
**BGEN 445 Sustainability Reporting
**COMX 204X International and Development Communication
**ECNS 217X Issues in Economic Development
**ECNS 431 International Trade
**ECNS 450 Advanced Topics in Economic Development
**ENST 427 Society, Economy and Environment of the Mekong Delta (Study Abroad)
**ENST 489S Environmental Justice Issues and Solutions
**GPHY 141SX Geography of World Regions
**GPHY 338 Mountains and Society
**HSTR 231X Modern Latin America
**HSTR 337 The History of Capitalism in Latin America
**NASX 260X Indigenous Community Development in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada
**NASX 306X Contemporary Global Issues of Indigenous People
**NRSM 170 International Environmental Change
**NRSM (FOR/RSCN) 424 Community Forestry and Conservation
**NRSM (FOR/RSCN) 475 Sociology of Environment & Development
**PSCI 322 Global Environmental Politics
**PSCI 327 Politics of Mexico (Study Abroad)
**PSCI 377 Issues of Global Health
**PSCI 420 Refugees and International Relations
**PSCI 482 Politics of the World Economy
**PSCI 431 Politics of Global Migration
**PSCI 463 Development Administration
**PTRM 345 Sustaining Human Societies and Natural Environment: Zambia & Botswana (Study Abroad)
**PTRM 451Tourism and Sustainability
**SW 465 Social Work in a Global Context
*ANTY 220 Culture & Society
*ANTY 241 Central Asian Culture and Civilization
*ANTY 330X Peoples and Cultures of the World
*ANTY 427 Anthropology of Gender
*COMX 415 Intercultural Communication
*COMX 421Communication and Nonprofit Organizations
*COMX 493 Hong Kong, Macau, & China: Communication, Culture, and Development (Study Abroad)
*BGEN 160S Issues in Sustainability (Missoula College)
*BMGT 410 Sustainable Business Practices
*ECNS 101S Economic Way of Thinking
*ECNS 445 International Environmental Economics and Climate Change
*ENSC 470 Agroecology
*ENST 225 Sustainable Communities
*ENST 480 Food Justice and Sustainability
*ENST 521 Foundation in Environmental Education (Seniors are welcome-contact instructor for override)
*ENST 437 Climate Change Effects and Adaptation in the Mekong Delta (Study Abroad)
*GEO 107N Natural Disasters
*GPHY 121S Introduction to Human Geography
*GPHY 433 Community Resilience
*GPHY 444 High Asia
*HSTR 334 Reform and Revolution in Latin America
*HSTR 335 Latin America: Workers and Labor
*HSTR 435 Human Rights in Latin America
*JRNL 105X Global Current Events
*NASX 475X Indian Sovereignty
*PHL 423 Science and the Environment
*PSCI 220S Introduction to Comparative Government
*PSCI 230 International Relations
*PSCI 325 Politics of Latin America
*PSCI 326 Politics of Africa
*PSCI 327 Politics of Mexico (on-campus section)
*PSCI 328 Politics of China
*PSCI 311 Revolution and Reform in Modern China
*PSCI 443 Politics of Social Movements
*PSCI 334 International Security
*PSCI 433 International Law & Organizations
*SSEA 202X Introduction to India

**IDS Core Course
* IDS Content Course

Note: Some courses are listed in both areas because they serve both to enhance intercultural competence and to enhance your understanding of international development. However, each course should be used to count toward only one area. In other words, you need to complete three different courses to fulfill the "Intercultural Competence" Peace Corps Prep requirement.