Urban Education Endorsement

Program Details

The mission Drake's Urban Education program is to seek to provide culturally responsive educators (both per-service and in-service) who utilize pedagogical approaches and practices that promote success for all students, but particularly those in urban* areas.

Goals:

  • Establish mutually beneficial partnerships with schools in urban areas around locale, state, regionally, and internationally
  • Establish an educational program that provides educators with cultural competency skills that facilitate success in diverse environments.
  • Facilitate and participate in educational programming that both encourages and promotes the success of students in urban areas

Strategies:

  • Promote professional development activities and courses that facilitate both improved academic achievement/performance and cultural responsiveness in partnership schools.
  • Develop and publish collaborative research projects and curriculum development with educators within partnership schools.
  • Seek out and engage various educational communities and organizations that serve children in urban areas.

*The use of the word urban refers to three characteristics: population density, geographical importance, and demographic diversity.

Program Options

Undergraduate students can receive their degree in Elementary Education k-6 or Secondary Education 7-12 with an Urban Education Concentration.

At the graduate level, Urban Education is a concentration of courses within the Master of Science in Education in Effective Teaching.

Special Opportunities

Undergraduate

Undergraduate students engage in service learning components which consist of interacting with students outside of the school setting. This provides an appreciation for what the children experience on a daily basis. They also have the opportunity to interact with partner international partner schools.

Graduate

Students in the masters program enroll in a cross disciplinary course with social workers and lawyers from the Drake Legal Clinic. This course allows students from the three different disciplines to share experiences and work together on current juvenile cases in the Des Moines judicial system.

A scholarship for current educators is provided by Lyle and Joan Middleton. The scholarship pays for the twelve urban education credits for students who are pursuing a Master of Science in Education in Effective Teaching with an Urban Education concentration.

Related Organizations

The Urban Education program works with the Des Moines Public Schools though our partner schools and PACE to provide hands-on experience for students. The program also works closely with community organizations such as Save Village, Latino Affairs, and Asia Pacific Islanders.

Program Contacts

Dr. Eric Johnson
eric.johnson@drake.edu
515-271-1852

Venie McCowen
vmccown@drake.edu
515-271-3005