Since 1961, the Peace Corps has sent dedicated volunteers to more than 140 countries across the world.

Missouri State University students are one step closer to joining the effort with a new Peace Corps Prep Program, sponsored by the Center for Community Engagement (CCE).

Preparing students to go global

As a Peace Corps affiliated institution, Missouri State can suggest curriculum and provide guidance to students preparing to serve internationally.

The Peace Corps Prep Program integrates four key objectives into coursework and service-learning:

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

One of 27

In fall 2018, MSU was one of 27 institutions nationwide invited to apply to host a prep program. The university became a partner school in February 2019.

“Your proposal was thoughtful and sound, and depicted a collaboration that we believe will benefit your institution, our agency and—most importantly—your students,” read the acceptance letter from Peace Corps.

The proposal process began long before the invitation to apply. Dr. George Connor and Dr. Ashley Leinweber, both political science faculty, approached the CCE with the goal of writing a proposal. Leinweber is a returned Peace Corps volunteer.

“They wanted to make the Peace Corps as accessible as possible for MSU students, and ideally house it in a central location,” said Alex Johnson, MSU director of community-engaged learning. “The CCE jumped at the opportunity to house and coordinate a service-oriented career pathway for students.”

Want to join? Here’s how.

Follow the online application process to join the prep program.