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GGC Peace Corps Prep General Requirements

  • Possess a 2.7 Cumulative GPA at the time of application, and remain in good academic standing thereafter. 
  • Have completed 12 hours of academic credit at GGC.
  • Complete/sign Peace Corps Prep Program Application (signatures required by the student, faculty advisor and PCPP Campus Coordinator).

Peace Corps Prep Application and Other Documents

Plan early. There’s no formal deadline in the rolling admission process, but you should plan early. The ideal time to join is during your sophomore year. Using your GGC username and password, start your .

Peace Corps Prep Program Requirements

To prepare you for Peace Corps service (or simply to expand your academic experience and increase your career prospects), you’ll build on the program’s four core competencies through interrelated coursework, hands-on experience and professional development support.

Training and Experience in a Work Sector

3 courses + 50 hours of related experience

Leveraging concrete knowledge and skills is central to on-the-ground international development work. In the Peace Corps Prep Program, you’ll begin to build a professional specialty, which serves your career well, whether or not you become a Peace Corps volunteer.

  • Complete at least three courses that align with a single work sector (which may or may not align with academic major or minor). 
  • Accumulate a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer- or work-experience in that same sector, preferably in a teaching or outreach capacity.

Work Sectors (pick one)

  • Agriculture: Lead grassroots efforts to fight hunger 
  • Community Economic Development: Help communities lift themselves
  • Environment: Forge a global movement to protect our planet 
  • Health: Build healthy global communities 
  • Youth in Development: Empower the next generation of leaders 
  • Education: Teach lessons that last a lifetime

Note: Actual Peace Corps assignments are based on local needs, and thus may or may not align seamlessly with your qualifications. Flexibility is central to the Peace Corps experience.

Foreign Language Skills

Requirements vary by language.

Working across cultures often entails verbal and nonverbal languages distinct from your own. Building foreign language skills is, thus, a second key component of the Peace Corps Prep curriculum. Select from three options.

Option A: French or Spanish

  • Course credit at the 2002 level or higher, or 
  • Score “intermediate mid” or better on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) or Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) through .

Option B: Other Languages

  • Course credit at the 1002 level, or
  • Score “novice high” or better (OPI/WPT) through .

Option C: CLEP French or Spanish

Peace Corps accepts CLEP test results in lieu of high school or college course credit.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)ܾ𳾱Գٲ:

  • Spanish 1: a score between 50-62 on the Spanish CLEP in the past 6 years
  • Spanish 2: a score of 63 on the Spanish CLEP in the past 6 years
  • French requirement: a score of 50 on the French CLEP in the past 6 years

Intercultural Competence

3 approved courses

Engaging thoughtfully and fluidly across cultures begins with self-awareness. Deepen your cultural agility through a mix of three introspective courses where you’ll learn about others while reflecting upon yourself in relation to others. The goal is to build your capacity to shift perspectives and behavior around relevant cultural differences.

Complete one course from each track (total of 3 courses):

Learn more about available i-courses, and check back to view those continually being added.

Professional and Leadership Development

Résumé and interview support + leadership experience

International development is a highly professional sector. It is difficult to break into and demands great initiative and leadership to advance professionally within the field. Peace Corps Prep requires three specific activities that will strengthen your candidacy for the Peace Corps (or any other professional endeavor):

  • Have your resume, cover letter, and personal statement critiqued by someone in the Career Services.
  • Attend a workshop or class on career planning, job searching, and interview skills in the Career Services.
  • Participate in a mock interview in the Career Services.
  • Develop at least one significant leadership experience, and be prepared to discuss it thoughtfully. Some examples include organizing a campus event, leading a work or volunteer project or serving on the executive board of a student organization.

Learn more about the services in the Career Services and explore ways to Get Involved on campus.