UF Majors Beneficial to Peace Corps
Peace Corps accepts all majors provided that you also have work and volunteer experiences in areas that are needed by the countries we serve. This means that an applicant who is majoring in journalism can be just as competitive as an applicant majoring in agribusiness.
Having said this, the University of Florida has a wide range of colleges and departments that provide majors in areas that Peace Corps needs. If you are undecided about your major but know that volunteering after graduation is what you want to do, or if you have declared your major and want to learn how it may fit into the needs of the countries we serve, please see your recruiter.
Peace Corps does have work sectors that are in high demand by the countries we serve but difficult to find appropriate Americans to fill positions. Agriculture, environment, and youth development are particularly difficult sectors to find qualified Americans to serve. If you are interested in any of these sectors, visit the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to see if there are any majors that may be of interest to you.
Again, all majors and experiences are eligible for Peace Corps service. All work sectors are extremely important to Peace Corps and the countries we serve. Your skill sets, experience, and willingness to work in another culture and community are needed anywhere.
UF Courses Beneficial to Peace Corps
What courses should you take to be competitive? The University of Florida has thousands of courses that are offered any given semester, which can make it stressful to know what is advantageous to take.
Follow your gut. When it comes to your major, take all your requirements but also integrate courses that have an international component. The Center for African Studies and the Center for Latin American Studies and the Center for European Studies offer courses focused in these regions. Further, if you are interested in gaining experience in a particular assignment area of Peace Corps, some departments offer courses for non-majors in particular fields. See their undergraduate advisor for details on these courses. Finally, consider a minor. UF has many options for minors—some of which may be useful in making yourself more competitive for Peace Corps.
See your recruiter if you have any questions or need guidance in where to look for particular contacts in your field of interest.
What if I want to serve in an area unrelated to my major?
Sometimes your major just doesn’t fit into the assignment areas that Peace Corps countries are requesting. Sometimes you are just looking to do something different from what you have been studying. You are not alone! There are many applicants whose majors don’t have a direct link to their assignment area. Others may be so close to finishing their major requirements that it’s too late to back out. Others may be looking to make a career change. Great! Now what do you do?
Talk to your recruiter about what you may be interested in doing in Peace Corps. Your recruiter can discuss with you the options available to you. Some assignment areas have more rigid requirements such as possessing particular degrees while other assignment areas have more flexibility in how one may achieve appropriate experience in that area. For many assignment areas, volunteering and/or working in that sector for a solid amount of time will allow an applicant to become competitive for some assignment areas.