Environment
Teach lessons that last a lifetime. Environment 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.
If you choose the Environment sector as your Peace Corps Prep focus you will need to take three courses from one of the following areas (the courses must all be in the same area; see list below):
- Environmental Science or related field
Biology
Geology
You will also need to complete 50 hours of related experience such as teaching or significant outreach and mentoring in a classroom, a community outreach organization, or in a formal tutoring capacity.
Examples of field experiences include student observation, student teaching, tutoring at the K-12 levels, or teaching in a youth outreach program. You may be able to complete this through your practicum coursework (Education, Social Work, etc.) or you may choose to arrange this on your own. Other volunteer opportunities for teaching exist through organizations such as the Department of Youth and Community Development, South Bronx United Boys Prep, Goddard Riverside Community Center, City Tutors, and Imani House, Inc. Both your PC Prep advisor and the Center for Professional Development can assist you in finding an appropriate opportunity.
Courses particularly relevant to service-oriented fieldwork are listed below. Students are encouraged to choose at least one course from the list below for inclusion in the three-course requirement.
o BIO 180 General Biology II
o BIO 213 Vertebrate Zoology
o BIO 230 Marine Biology and Oceanography
o BIO 321 Conservation Biology
o BIO 322 Evolution
o BIO 324 Developmental Biology
o BIO 360 Ecology
o COM 425 Media Regulations on Electronic Waste
o ESC 302 Hydrology
o ESC 402 The Science of Global Warming
o GEG 250 Conservation and Humanity
o GEO 102 Earth Systems History
o GEO 315 Residential Field Course
o GEO 410 Geospatial Data Analysis
o POL 261 International Organizations
o POL 364 International Negotiations and Conflict Management
o POL 323 Public Policy Analysis