Education Sector

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.

Training and Experience for the Education Work Sector

Leveraging concrete knowledge and skills is central to on-the-ground international development work. Through this PC Prep program, you will begin to build a professional specialty, which should serve your career well whether or not you become a Peace Corps Volunteer.

For PC Prep, you need to complete at least 3 courses that align with a specific work sector (they can but do not need to come from your academic major or minor). You also must accumulate a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer or work experience in that same sector, preferably in a teaching or outreach capacity.

If you choose Education, take 3 courses from one of the following areas:

1. Elementary, Secondary of Special Education
2. English or Linguistics
3. TEFL/TESL
4. Math
5. Computer Science
6. Engineering
7. Any Physical or Biological Science

Recommended courses include (if there is another course in the catalog that you feel meets this requirement, please discuss it with your PC Prep Coordinator):

• EDST 2450: Foundations of Development and Learning
• ITEC 2360: Teaching with Technology
• FCSC 2121: Child Development
• CNSL 4520: Fundamentals of Counseling
• EDEC 1020: Early Childhood Education
• EDEL 2280: Literature for Children

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

• Teaching in one of these or a similar form: in a classroom, with a community outreach organization, or in a formal tutoring capacity
  • The subject of teaching may be English as a Foreign/Second Language, special education, drama, or a STEM subject
• Volunteer or work in a local school as a para, substitute teacher, coach or technology aid
• Have an AmeriCorps placement in a related setting
• Complete your student teaching practicum
• Complete your student teaching experience
• Participate in an Alternative Spring Break topic specific program
• Volunteer or work at either the Albany County or the UW libraries.

Read the Peace Corps Prep Student Guide for more information or to answer any questions.