Peace Corps Baccalaureate Degree

Individualized B.A. Degree throughFirst College, Metropolitan State University

PC community college recruiting

Students interested in Peace Corps service who have not finished an associate’s degree are advised to finish the associate degree or equivalent during the application process.

Work closely with the Peace Corps recruiter and with the Peace Corps B.A. program (particularly Perspectives instructor) at Metropolitan State for advice on study to enhance your candidacy and fulfill degree requirements.

Peace Corps B.A. partnership

The new Peace Corps Baccalaureate is a five-year pilot partnership between the Peace Corps and Metropolitan State University’s First College.

Students have opportunities to complete an individualized four year degree by earning credits through Peace Corps training and field experience, as well as taking coursework through First College’s Individualized Degree at a Distance.

PCV options for AA grads

Applied agricultural science

Forestry

Agriculture/forestry extension

Animal husbandry

Farm management and agriculture

Water sanitation extension

Environmental and water resources engineering

Business advising

Nongovernmental organization development

Computer/information technology

Youth development

Construction and skilled trades

Dual application processes

Participants in the Peace Corps individualized B.A. must be admitted to Metropolitan State University

Participants in the Peace Corps individualized B.A must be accepted for Peace Corps Volunteer service.

Process steps/timing

Peace Corps Metropolitan State

Initial contact (information

meeting)

Initial contact: email or call to First

College

Application (interview, references,

medical/background)

Application (transcripts

submitted/evaluated)

Nomination as candidate Acceptance/orientation

Perspectives course

Invitation for placement Refine options for efolio

Staging Complete work/capstone

Peace Corps B.A. candidates

Maintain active student status during Peace Corps Volunteer service.

Remain eligible for resident tuition.

Access Metropolitan State University educational resources, including its electronic library.

Apply up to 40 technical credits and all general education college-level credits earned through A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. degrees from accredited higher education institutions towards degree completion.

Peace Corps B.A. expectations

Complete Perspectives 301, assessment and orientation before PCV staging.

Document learning in efolio or other means.

Register and complete evaluation of work while in service or upon return.

Complete Perspectives 499 Capstone course.

Complete required 124 credits (including transferred credits) including 40 upper division, 30 residency credits, GELS and graduation requirements (if necessary).

PCV/PCBA communication keysProvide PCB liaison with contact information for your Peace Corps recruiter

Keep PCB liaison informed of any additional requirements established by your recruiter (language classes, volunteer experience, tutoring, etc.) by providing copy of signed agreement.

Keep your assigned Peace Corps recruiter informed of your Metro State admission progress.

Provide Privacy Act Release to Peace Corps for facilitating the PCB process

Peace Corps/Individualized B.A.Individualized B.A. Peace Corps B.A.

Perspectives/Capstone Perspectives/Capstone

GELS/Graduation reqs. GELS/Graduation reqs.

Mix of classroom, online, ROILs,

independent study

Mix of classroom, online, ROILs,

independent study

Prior learning assessment

(PLA)/internship options

Peace Corps learning assessment

Individualization: core value

Developing the degree plan blueprint during the required Perspectives course will guide Peace Corps volunteer/students to determine what they need to accomplish to earn their degree.

Because potential Peace Corps volunteers lacking baccalaureate degrees are so varied and because the Peace Corps Baccalaureate Degree is highly individualized, there is no simple check-off list of options or requirements.

Education Status Needed to finish degree

MNSCU AA GenEd/grad requirements met 124 credits including Liberal

studies/40 UD/30 resident

Other AA Remaining GenEd/grad reqs. likely

met in PC/study

124 credits including Liberal

studies/40 UD/30 resident

A.S. or A.A.S. Remaining GenEd/grad reqs likely

met in PC/study

124 credits including Liberal

studies, GemEd/40 UD/30

resident

2+ years college study Remaining GenEd/grad reqs likely

met in PC/study

124 credits including Liberal

studies/40 UD/30 resident

Metropolitan State student Remaining GenEd/grad reqs likely

met in PC/study

124 credits including Liberal

studies/40 UD/30 resident

Student scenarios

Peace Corps Competence: Language Competence

Knows structure and vocabulary of essential language(s) at Peace Corps mastery level needed for Peace Corps volunteer placement.

Peace Corps Competence Host country development perspectives

Cooperative development design, implementation and assessment identify desired improvement in people’s lives expected to result from this project, then detail goals, objectives and processes needed to achieve those goals.

Peace Corps Competence Intercultural/cross-cultural communication principles and practices

Applies intercultural and cross-cultural communication principles and practices to understand and respect each others’ cultural differences in field placement.

PCBA Core Competences

Peace Corps Competence: Development impact on people’s lives

Knows principles and strategies of local development and can apply to help participants identify areas for change and their relevant strengths and skills, then build on them to learn new skills to achieve those goals and maintain them from design through implementation and assessment.

Peace Corps Competence: Youth community commitment and citizenship

Knows principles of youth citizenship and can apply to help youth strengthen sense of belonging and develop skills and talents to contribute to their community, while practicing environmental awareness and conservation

Peace Corps Competence: Sustainable development Knows principles of sustainable development and can apply to cooperative development design, implementation and assessment that identifies desired improvement in people’s lives expected to result from this project, then details goals, objectives and processes needed to achieve those goals.

PCBA competence options

Peace Corps Competence: Local capacity building

Knows principles and practices of local capacity building and applies to measure progress toward achieving development project goals and resulting improvement in people’s lives

Peace Corps Competence: Gender and development awareness

Understands gender differences in division of labor, rights, responsibilities and access to resources at the community and national program and policy level and can apply to conscious efforts to attain greater equality in participation and accrued benefits from development programs.

Peace Corps Competence: Urban and regional planning

Knows concepts and strategies of providing technical assistance, accurate data, alternate models, and other resources to infrastructure of specified developing nation and can apply in housing, water systems, sewage disposal, land-use controls or other planning challenges.

PCBA competence options