The College of Charleston is one of the top volunteer-producing universities according to the Peace Corps’ 2012 rankings. The College of Charleston is ranked second in the Southeast among medium-sized colleges and universities, with 35 undergraduate alumni volunteers. Nationwide, the College is ranked number 10, shared with the University of Notre Dame and Georgetown University. In 2010 and 2011, the College was in the number 11 position.

Other prominent universities on the top-producer list include George Washington University, Cornell University, and Boston College.

Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams says, “Colleges and universities prepare thousands of talented undergraduate and graduate alumni for Peace Corps service every year.  These alumni go on to serve as Peace Corps volunteers, applying the skills and knowledge they acquired during their studies to promote world peace and friendship and improve the lives of people around the world.”

The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing schools annually according to the size of the student body. Small schools have less than 5,000 undergraduates, medium-sized schools have between 5,001 and 15,000 undergraduates and large schools have more than 15,000 undergraduates. The rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2011 data as of September 30, 2011 as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.

The College of Charleston is in its second year of the Peace Corps Master’s International program.  The College’s MI program focuses on environmental and natural resources.  Students in the MI program take the majority of their classes prior to leaving for their Peace Corps experience, and then, complete the final degree requirements after they return to the College.

For more information about the Peace Corps Master’s Program contact MI Coordinator, David Owens, at 843.953.5614.

Since 1961, the Peace Corps has been a service that focuses on helping people, promoting a better understanding of Americans, and helping promote a better understanding of other peoples.  Peace Corps volunteers live, learn, and work with a community overseas for 27 months, providing technical assistance in six program areas: education, youth and community development, health, business and information and communications technology, agriculture, and environment.