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Social Justice in Urban Education Concentration

Become a culturally responsive teacher, educator, and thinker, building on your core training with the understanding and skills to effectively serve all students in urban settings.

School of Education | On-Campus

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What You'll Learn

You will learn a variety of skills in the Social Justice in Urban Education (SJUE) program by engaging in collaborative learning, continuous self-reflection, and analyzing the historical, political, social, and cultural contexts of the “urban” notion.

You’ll learn how to use difference as an educational asset when creating pedagogical strategies for students of color, working-class students, immigrant students, and students from other historically marginalized populations through research and data. Become a culturally responsive educator who works with students, teachers, and local communities with the SJUE concentration.

About the Social Justice in Urban Education Concentration

Drake University’s SJUE concentration is designed to train culturally responsive teachers and educators to work effectively with all students in urban settings—particularly students of color, working-class students, immigrant students, and students from historically marginalized populations and dispossessed communities.

Aligned with the School of Education’s guiding principles of social justice, reflective practice, and collaboration, the concentration seeks to help educators critically examine urban contexts, so that they may develop the pedagogical knowledge and tools to help students in these settings succeed.

Program Facts

  • On campus
  • 15 credits

Program Options

This is a 15-credit-hour program. Undergraduate and graduate students can receive their degree in Elementary Education (K-6), Secondary Education (7-12), and other majors with an SJUE concentration.

Note: A “Social Justice in Urban Education” concentration designation will appear on your official Drake University transcript.

Social Justice in Urban Education Concentration

Acquire the knowledge and tools to foster success in urban settings and other cultural spaces. As you examine various contexts and reflect on your practice, you will learn to use data to design pedagogical assessments that help students see difference as an asset.

Complementary Majors

The SJUE concentration equips students to teach effectively and think critically in any setting. The program’s content benefits undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in classroom instruction, educational leadership, the liberal arts, and all areas of study that foster compassion, reflexivity, and consciousness.

Meet the Faculty

You will learn and grow with faculty mentors who are passionate about social justice by tackling social problems through research and pedagogy while developing concrete skills in writing and analysis.

Kevin Lam, Ph.D.

Kevin Lam, Ph.D.

Professor, Urban & Diversity Education; Director of Social Justice in Urban Education Concentration

Jennifer Chung, Ph.D.

Jennifer Chung, Ph.D.

Adjunct Instructor, Teaching and Learning

All Faculty Members

Outside the Classroom

Develop your perspective and professional competence through experiences including research, pedagogical and youth development, and community organizing.

Students visiting Urban Dreams

Research

Engage with faculty in research projects related to curriculum theory, immigration, youth studies, and more at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Or make a notable contribution through your own research.

Careers & Skills

Most of the U.S. population resides in urban areas. Drake’s SJUE concentration builds on your educator training to give you specialized tools and a unique vantage point to create effective learning environments for students in our cities. The concentration will provide the skills to work in any context and career choice you might be considering.

Prepare yourself for your future with coursework focused on cultural understanding, social analysis, and reflective teaching practices—qualities that not only set you apart in your job search but also allow you to lead initiatives for more inclusive and equitable schools.

Opportunities

  • School administrator
  • K-12 teacher
  • Graduate programs
  • Law school
  • International relations

Skills

  • Understand the historical, political, social, and cultural contexts of urban settings
  • Use research and data for pedagogical improvement
  • Adopt a collaborative learning style
  • Engage in continuous self-reflection
  • Leverage cultural awareness and responsiveness
A student teaching in a classroom

Salary Growth and Outlook

$

The median salary for high school teachers in 2024. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Related Programs

Strengthen your qualifications to become an impactful educator with the following minors, concentrations, and programs:

Educational Studies, Minor

The Educational Studies minor is designed for any Drake student who has an interest in education but does not plan to be a teacher.

Behavior Analysis of Developmental Disabilities, Concentration

Specializes in behavioral interventions for individuals with developmental disabilities, emphasizing applied research and clinical practice.

Leadership Education and Development, Minor

Grow into a transformational leader ready to multiply your impact and inspire positive change on campus, in your community, and in your career.

International Education, Minor

In the International Education minor, you’ll explore how education works across cultures and national contexts—gaining the knowledge and skills to think critically about education from a global perspective.

Take the Next Step

Prepare for culturally responsive, impactful teaching and learning in urban environments and other social and cultural spaces through Drake’s concentration.

Contact

Kevin Lam, Ph.D.
Professor, Urban and Diversity Education
kevin.lam@drake.edu
1-800-44-DRAKE x2324
515-271-2324

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