Community Centered Professional Preparation
Bulldogs don’t face the world alone. They look for the things that unite us—and then strive to connect even more deeply. From small classes that encourage meaningful conversations to the projects we undertake within Des Moines, collaboration underlines so much of what we do at Drake University.
We’re spurred by the conviction that people and communities thrive when everyone contributes. Each of us brings different experiences and values to Drake, and the best ideas are sparked when they come together. So whether you’re adding your talents to a research team or a local business, you’ll learn how success is amplified when we work together.
A People-Powered Education
Drake University is small enough that you’ll benefit from meaningful links with faculty, employers, and other alumni—but big enough to bring the world, and all that it offers, to your doorstep.
Our Faculty
All of our full-time professors and instructors are practitioners as well as educators. As they get to know you and your goals, their network becomes your own.
Our Alumni
They say it’s “who you know,” and as a Bulldog, you’ll have lots of friends looking out for you: our loyal alumni, who live down the street and around the world.
Des Moines
Iowa’s capital city is more than a great place to live. It’s also a hotbed for opportunities in insurance, government, financial services, and dozens of other industries looking for someone as innovative and ambitious as you.
Career Development
You’re ready to blaze a future all your own. Our Career Services staff are eager to help, starting you down the right path. Find internships, build job-ready skills, and meet employers at job fairs.
Academic Support
Bulldogs draw strength from working together. Our Academic Support team is ready to help when you need it. (Your professors are, too: over 80% of students say they have at least one faculty mentor.)
Health and Well-Being
Bulldogs care for each other. Your health, safety, and security are our top concern—these resources ensure we’re all at our best.
Opportunities for Involvement
Engagement is one of the most important parts of the Drake experience. Here, learning is active: you’ll test ideas through discussions with peers, see how small acts of service can have long-lasting impacts, and put lessons learned to the test in Des Moines and far beyond.
First-Year Seminar
These small classes (no more than 20 students each) set the tone for your years at Drake, as you discuss, debate, and explore out-of-the-ordinary topics with classmates who often become friends.
Leadership and Service
You don’t just go to school here—you live here. Give back to campus and our surrounding community by participating in student government, service groups, a fraternity or sorority, or one of our 170+ student organizations.
Global Experiences
Technology has made our world smaller. And cultural understanding has the power to bring us closer. Whether you attend a global forum or study abroad, we’ll help you build bonds wherever you go.
Senior Capstones
Before graduating, you’ll pull the lessons and experiences you’ve gained into an encompassing project. It may be an internship, fieldwork, exhibition, or something else entirely—your capstone will represent your passion with purpose.
January-Term
Imagine having three weeks to focus on just one thing. Would you take a deep dive into your field? Or try something completely new? J-Term opens the door to an immersive, focused learning experience.
Bucksbaum Lectureship Series and More
Wrestle with new ideas through our Bucksbaum Lectureship series, which has included guests as diverse as Maya Angelou, Megan Rapinoe, and Bob Woodward. Other lecture series focus on constitutional law, public affairs, and global issues.
Presidential Debates
Drake has hosted a presidential debate for five election cycles in a row. Our students play a big part in the process, from working with CNN producers to asking questions of candidates.
Support After Graduation
Planning for your career begins the moment you arrive on campus. And it doesn’t stop when you leave. While our counselors can help you build job-ready skills and find opportunities while you’re a student, you can also turn to us as a resource after you graduate. After all: once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.
Résumé
Your knowledge coupled with your tenacity becomes an unstoppable force for good at Drake. By the time you graduate, your résumé and cover letter will reflect your accomplishments and goals and show how you can lead and transform your chosen field.
Network
It takes a Bulldog to know a Bulldog. When you graduate from Drake, you’ll become part of a family of 90,000 alumni—people you can turn to for advice and job opportunities.
Real-World Experience
Your education starts in class—but internships, service learning, and other real-world endeavors make those lessons come to life and result in a colorful, storied résumé that stands above the crowd.
Enriching Our Own Community
Aspire to change the world? You’ll start right here. Every year, students in Community Engaged Learning courses turn classroom lessons into real-life results. In the past, students have developed a bike library, stopped the sale of plastic water bottles on campus, and completed marketing projects for nonprofit groups.
Take the Next Step
Community is about connection. At Drake, you’ll learn what the power of community can do for you—while experiencing the joy of giving back.
