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Globalize our Campus through Peace Corps Prep

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Peace Corps

The Peace Corps Prep program is a flexible certificate that can easily be earned in conjunction with most Missouri State degree programs. This program allows for a variety of interests in:  

  • Agriculture  
  • Community and economic development  
  • Education  
  • Environment  
  • Health  
  • Youth Development  

There is plenty of room to expand your service skills and global knowledge for potential use in the U.S. Peace Corps, related programs, or to stand out in the general workforce.  

How to Start Your Peace Corps Prep Journey?  

Step 1: Connect with Missouri State’s Peace Corps Prep Coordinator 

  • Alex Johnson is the Center for Community Engagement Director and is in charge of advising Peace Corps Prep students!
  • Set up a meeting with Alex here to learn about the ins and outs of the certificate program, select relevant courses, and stay on track to complete by graduation.  

Are you in your final years at Missouri State? Guess what! Most upperclassmen may already meet most of the requirements for the PCP certificate. Interested in making it happen? Reach out to see what final steps will lead you to graduate with this certificate!  

Step 2: Review the PCP Student Guide  

This guide outlines the competencies and requirements that will be met through the Peace Corps Prep program.   

This guide outlines the competencies and requirements that will be met through the Peace Corps Prep program  

  • Complete 3 courses that align with your area of interest  
  • Accumulate 50 volunteer hours during your college career 
  • Hone your foreign language skills – coursework will vary based on an area of interest 
  • Take 3 courses that focus on cultural differences or behaviors  
  • Partake in a significant leadership experience   

Continue to check in with your PCP advisor to ensure you are participating in service-based experiences to enhance your public affairs work.  

Step 3: Complete the Exit Checklist  

Ready for graduation? Make sure to review the exit checklist to ensure all requirements have been completed before graduating so the Peace Corp can issue your certificate. This checklist will also be included within a Peace Corp application to display your qualifications if chosen to do so in the future.  

Connect with Alex Johnson at alexjohnson@missouristate.edu or find more information here

Highlight your work in Public Affairs. Earn a certificate from the Peace Corps.

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Missouri State University is continuing its official partnership with the Peace Corps to provide an opportunity for MSU students to highlight their work on campus and in the community.  The Peace Corps Prep Certificate program is housed in the Center for Community Engagement, and students interested in learning more can contact CCE Director, Alex Johnson, for more information.

Peace Corps Prep is available to any undergraduate at Missouri State, and students can join at any time.  This certificate program for undergraduates centers around one empowering question: How can you prepare yourself to be the best Peace Corps Volunteer you can be?

The Peace Corps logo
The Peace Corps partnered with Missouri State University in 2019.

Going Global

As a Peace Corps Prep institution, Missouri State can suggest curriculum and provide guidance to students interested in serving internationally. Although completion of the program does not guarantee acceptance as a Peace Corps volunteer, the specialized curriculum and experience through Peace Corps Prep will greatly increase your chances.

The Peace Corps Prep Program integrates four key objectives into coursework and community engagement:

  • Training and experience in a work sector
  • Foreign language skills
  • Intercultural competence
  • Professional and leadership development

Connecting to Public Affairs through leadership and Peace Corps Prep

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Julia Wilks is an Early Childhood Education major who hopes to one day serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer,  working with children in primary grades.  Julia joined Missouri State’s Peace Corps Prep program in 2019!

Building core competencies

Peace Corps Prep participants build four core competencies through through interrelated coursework, hands-on experience, and professional development support.
“Working through the Peace Corps prep program has opened up my mind to the world around me,” Julia said. “The classes and requirements have helped me to see the need for the Public Affairs Mission and have helped me really understand the importance of public affairs and the mission Missouri State has.”

Student Leadership

“One of the greatest experiences of my college career thus far would be being a Resident Assistant for 2 years,” said Julia. “We focused a lot on the public affairs mission and creating events/programs that educated and discussed public affairs and why it relates to you as a college student.”
“By being an RA, I got to work with many different people from all over the world and interact with people very different than me. It opened up my eyes to loving and accepting others and really grew my heart for the world. I was taught the importance of community and how to foster community when there wasn’t one previously. Being an RA has ultimately grown me tremendously and taught me a lot about the world and myself!”

 

Peace Corps Prep kicks off its second year at Missouri State

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Missouri State University is beginning its second year in partnership with the Peace Corps through a program called Peace Corps Prep. This program provides an opportunity for MSU students to highlight their work on campus and in the community through four core objectives:

  • Training and experience in a work sector
  • Foreign language skills
  • Intercultural competence
  • Professional and leadership development

Attend an Informational Webinar

September 17th, 2020 2:00p.m. Central Standard Time

Hosted by the Peace Corps National Headquarters, this event will inform current and future Peace Corps Prep students about the basics of the program and Peace Corps service. The webinar will also feature two Peace Corps recruiters, one being a Peace Corps Prep Certificate recipient, speaking about the benefits of the program and how to apply for Peace Corps Service.

Register for the Webinar

Learn More about the Peace Corps Prep Certificate

To learn more about Peace Corps Prep at Missouri State, contact Peace Corps Prep Coordinator, Alex Johnson at AlexJohnson@missouristate.edu or visit the Peace Corps Prep website.

 

Peace Corps Prep program arrives at Missouri State University

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By Lucy Beeler

The Center for Community Engagement is excited to establish the Peace Corps Prep program at Missouri State University. The official partnership between the Peace Corps and the university is designed to prepare students for international development fieldwork and potential Peace Corps Service.

What is Peace Corps?

The Peace Corps was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. Since that time, the government-run program has sent American volunteers to 141 countries across the globe. Peace Corps volunteers serve within a variety of sectors, including education, health, environment, agriculture, youth in development, and community economic development, meaning there is something for everyone. The Peace Corps mission is to “promote world peace and friendship,” by implementing three goals:

  1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
  2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
  3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

To find out more information about the Peace Corps and various volunteer openings, check out the website.

https://www.peacecorps.gov/

Why is the Peace Corps Prep Program important to Missouri State University?

Missouri State University implements learning in the framework of public affairs. Through the Peace Corps Prep program, students will directly engage in Missouri State’s public affairs mission, which includes pillars of cultural competence, ethical leadership, and community engagement. The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) will serve as a central hub for the program, connecting students with resources and experiences on and off campus. The CCE has a variety of ways to get students involved. Through completing a service-learning course, signing up for service opportunities, going on a Bear Breaks Immersion trip, or participating in Bear Service there are opportunities for all. The CCE’s goal is to help students learn how to become active citizens who have a passion for using their skills in the community.

If you would like to learn more information about MSU’s Peace Corps Prep program, visit www.missouristate.edu/cce/peaceprep.htm, call us at 417-836-5774, or drop by our office located in Plaster Student Union 131.

The Center for Community Engagement

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