Experiential Learning at the School of Education
Teach. Research. Lead.
Theory forms the core of every lesson, milestone, and assessment. As a student in Drake University’s School of Education, you’ll explore these foundational ideas and strategies through a hands-on, in the field approach that shapes every year of your studies.
But even more important is the ability to see how that knowledge applies in the community and beyond. You'll learn how to teach, counsel, or lead through dynamic experiences relevant to your future responsibilities.
Grow in a supportive environment where you can reflect on your progress with peers, mentors, professors, and practitioners to refine your skills and build confidence in your abilities. Discover how to empower yourself and others as a Drake student.
Education Students
The School of Education immediately immerses you in real-world experiences where you observe practicing teachers and counselors before practicing lesson planning, classroom leadership, or building client rapport. Your initial on-site experience in your first year lets you experience leading a classroom or working with clients.
Classroom Observations and Practicum
Teaching experience is integrated throughout our bachelor’s education programs. You’ll take in multiple settings during your 40-hour practicum your first year, which provides in-depth exposure in local classrooms.
Student Teaching
In your final semester, use your knowledge in a student teaching placement. This 15-week assignment places you in an area school’s classroom, where you’ll hone your skills under the mentorship of a seasoned teacher and faculty supervisor.
Partnering With Local Schools
We’re not just preparing the next generation of teachers—we partner with area schools to offer practicing educators affordable master’s degree options. We partner with Des Moines Public Schools, West Des Moines Community Schools, and Waukee Community School District to offer our MSE: Instructional Leadership & Teaching Practices program to district educators so they can lead and serve their classrooms in a constantly changing world.
Student Organizations
Build community and strengthen your professional preparation through groups like the Drake Education Association (DEA) and Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society for undergraduate and pre-service graduate students that recognizes and promotes scholarship and excellence in our field.
Masters Students
Masters students venture beyond their coursework for in-depth experiences through intentional professional development and mentorship, strengthening the skills and confidence to advance in their careers.
Counseling Practicum and Clinical Experiences
Counseling students prepare for professional service and licensure through extensive hands-on training, including a practicum and hundreds of hours of supervised clinical practice settings aligned with their specializations.
Sponsored Projects
Drake students can work with professors on research grants to further their theoretical and practical knowledge. Participate in projects sponsored by organizations like NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the William G. Stowe Foundation, and the Slay Fund for Social Justice, where you can fuse educational innovation and social impact.
Professional Development
Grow as a professional and expand your ties within the education community as you network with colleagues and engage in events like the Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavioral Disorders, the Women Lead Change Conference, The Iowa Talented and Gifted Conference, and more.
Doctoral Students
Our doctoral students embrace the highest levels of leadership and responsibility. Mentored research and administrative practice experiences allow you to develop key competencies in a supportive environment with constructive feedback promoting your growth.
Clinical Experiences
Candidates pursuing principal or superintendent licensure complete a sequence of carefully designed clinical experiences, where they’ll explore advanced course content applications in educational settings with the support of trained mentors.
PhD Mentorship
Our professors are seasoned professionals eager to invest in your success. In the final year of the doctoral program, you’ll work closely with a faculty mentor in an apprenticeship, gaining vital experience in career-aligned activities that range from curriculum development, to research, to grant writing.
Capstone and Dissertation
Conduct an in-depth, scholarly research project, surfacing novel insights for a discipline-enriching dissertation. Or, in the EdD in Leadership program, choose a capstone project to tackle an applied problem within your organization.
Take the Next Step
Access comprehensive professional training, where real-world experience compliments classroom learning to prepare you to excel as a teacher, counselor, leader, or administrator.
