Harness 21st-century tools to help communities lift themselves. Volunteers work with development banks, nongovernmental organizations, and municipalities to strengthen infrastructure and encourage economic opportunities in communities. They frequently teach in classroom settings and work with entrepreneurs and business owners to develop and market their products. Some Volunteers also teach basic computer skills and help communities take advantage of technologies such as e-commerce, distance learning, and more.
If you choose Community Economic Development, take three courses from one of the following areas:
- Business Administration
- Advertising and Public Relations
- Agribusiness
- Accounting or Finance
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Graphic Design
- Mass Communications
- International Business
- Economics
- Entrepreneurship
- Global Studies
Recommended courses:
• ANTH/GLST 474: Development in Theory and Practice
• AECN 367: Agricultural Development in Developing Countries
• CRPL 480: Economic Development Planning
• CRPL 481: Planning in Developing Countries
• ECON 423: Economics of the Less Developed Countries
• ECON 440: Regional Development
• ENTR 421: Identifying and Exploring Entrepreneurial Opportunity
• ENTR 423: Business Plan Development and Decision Making
• GIST 211: Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• GLST 415: Grant Writing and Fundraising for Social Good
• HRHA 440: Human Rights, Conflict and Community Changemaking
• MNGT 398: Fostering Entrepreneurial Creativity
• MNGT 411: Leading People and Projects
• POLS 375: Conflict and Development in Africa
And build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:
- Working with businesses, organizations, or cooperatives in accounting, finance, microfinance, management, project management, budgeting, or marketing
- Starting and running your own business or other entrepreneurial activity
- Training others in computer literacy, maintenance, and repair
- Website design or online marketing
- Founding or leading a community- or school-based organization
- Interning or volunteering at a nonprofit organization focused on economic opportunity, such as Center for People, Community Action, ECHO Collective, Ten Thousand Villages, SCORE, or Junior Achievement
- Engaging with the Center for Entrepreneurship or Engler Entrepreneurship Program
- Joining Jacht, a student-run Ad Agency, to gain valuable experience managing advertising campaigns and projects for clients
Peace Corps Tip! Nearly two-thirds of Peace Corps Volunteers serve in Education or Health. Coursework and meaningful experience in one of these areas—especially teaching English as a second/foreign language—produce some of the strongest candidates.