Peace Corps Prep students begin by taking Prac 103: Intercultural Engagement Prep and Peace Corps Prep. This is a no-cost non-credit course offered each Spring semester at UMBC (only for UMBC students). Through a mixture of online and in-person lessons and activities, students reflect and learn about their own cultural perspectives and increase their understanding of others.
Prac 103 students earn micro-credential badges in “cultural Self-Awareness” and “Intercultural Dialogue.” At the conclusion of the course, students will be supported to submit their full peace Corps Prep Application and Program Plan.
Once that application and program plan have been submitted, each PC Prep student will take three courses in a discipline that helps the student to develop their intercultural competence and humility.
Peace Corps Prep is inclusive of all majors offered at UMBC. Below is a list of Majors that generally offer courses that align with Peace Corps Prep’s education requirements, however students of any major are invited to apply for PC Prep and meet individually with a Peace Corps Prep advisor to discuss how the program could fit into their academic career.
- Africana Studies
- American Studies
- Anthropology
- Asian Studies
- Economics
- English Language Institute (Education Sector)
- English
- Geography and Environmental Studies
- Gender and Womens Studies
- Global Studies
- Language Literature and Culture
- Modern Languages & Linguistics
- Political Science
- Public Policy
- TESOL
This academic requirement aims to develop an applicable knowledge base of cross cultural competency in all Prep students. This knowledge will facilitate their International service endeavor.
NOTE: only one course may count for both Intercultural Competence and for the Work Sector course requirements
A more complete list of courses which are known to fit the Peace Corps Prep requirements can be found here: PCP Classes. Due to the ever evolving nature of the courses offered by UMBC, no list can be 100% complete, so please feel free to check with Peace Corps Prep staff or your adviser to see if a class you would like to take would qualify.