Endorsements
Drake’s endorsement-only programs are designed for licensed educators looking to add new areas of expertise. Expand your credentials with State of Iowa endorsements in areas like ESL, STEM, special education, and reading, available at both the elementary (K–8) and secondary (5–12) levels.
Courses are offered in flexible formats—including on campus, at locations across the state, and online or in blended options—so you can continue your professional growth while working.
Program Options
All endorsements vary in the number of credits and requirements. In most cases, completed endorsement credits can be rolled into a master's degree in Effective Teaching (online).
- ESL
- Middle School (second endorsement only)
- Reading (K-8, 5-12)
- Reading Specialist (K-12, graduate endorsement)
- Talented and Gifted Endorsement (K-12)
- Art (K-8, 5-12)
- Computer Science (K-8, 5-12)
- Early Childhood (Pre-K-K)
- English/Language Arts (K-8, 5-12)
- Journalism (5-12)
- Mathematics (K-8, 5-12)
- Music (K-8, 5-12)
- Science (K-8, 5-12)
- Social Sciences (K-8, 5-12)
- Special Education (K-8, 5-12)
- STEM (K-8, 5-12)
- Speech, Communication, & Theater (5-12)
- World Languages
Ready to Apply?
Applications are reviewed on an on-going basis. Therefore, it is requested that all materials be submitted approximately 8 weeks prior to the beginning of the intended start term. Application materials required for an admission review include:
A current professional résumé or curriculum vitae is required. Please include information regarding current and/or past employment history as well as professional development, internships completed, and volunteer experiences.
A brief statement of interest is required with a suggested word limit of approximately 500-1000 words.
This personal statement is a request for admission and should include:
- Reasons for pursuing the endorsement
- Overview of professional background and goals
- Discussion of professional philosophy
We require official transcripts from:
- Any institution where you earned (or will earn) a bachelor’s degree.
- Any institution where you earned a post-bachelor’s (graduate) degree.
- Any institution where you earned credit you would like considered toward an endorsement or graduate degree.
Upon application review, you may be required to provide additional transcripts, including those with courses taken while in high school or at a community college.
Those with college credit from non-U.S. institutions are required to submit an official International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) Course-by-Course Evaluation (preferred) or a Basic Course-by-Course Evaluation from World Education Services (WES). The evaluation must come directly from WES to Drake. If you submit an official ICAP Course-by-Course Evaluation, you do NOT need to submit transcripts from non-U.S. institutions to Drake.
Official transcripts are designated as those coming directly from the university or college of attendance to Drake University.
Official transcripts may be sent via secure electronic transmission from the issuing institution to soegradadmission@drake.edu. This is preferred and will expedite the admission process.
Official transcripts may also be sent via postal mail to:
Graduate Admission Coordinator
School of Education Drake University
Collier-Scripps Hall Room 221
2702 Forest Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa 50311-4505
Transcripts and other supporting materials are not returned to the applicant and become the property of Drake University.
International applicants follow the standard application process with four additional non-negotiable requirements:
- Application Fee: Applicants must pay the non-negotiable $100 application fee.
- Language Proficiency: Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a valid language proficiency test score. The minimum accepted scores are:
- TOEFL iBT: 79
- IELTS: 6.5
- Duolingo English Test: 110
- Test scores must be from within the last two years and reported directly by the testing agency. Exemptions are granted to those who hold a U.S. bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, or an equivalent degree from a university in a country where all instruction is in English.
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Credential Evaluation: Those with college credit from non-U.S. institutions are required to submit an official International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) Course-by-Course Evaluation (preferred) or a Basic Course-by-Course Evaluation from World Education Services (WES). The evaluation must come directly from WES to Drake. If you submit an official ICAP Course-by-Course Evaluation, you do NOT need to submit transcripts from non-U.S. institutions to Drake.
- Financial Information: Applicants must submit a financial information form indicating the source and amount of anticipated funding for educational expenses. To ensure visa approval by the U.S. Department of State, a minimum of $25,000 in self or sponsor funding must be demonstrated.