Special Programs
Air Force Reserve Officer's Training Corps
Air Force ROTC courses are taught on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, Iowa, 30 miles north of Des Moines. Students must arrange their own transport to Ames if required. Classes are held one day each week, during the first two years of the program and two days per week for the last two years of the program. Upon request, Air Force ROTC classes may be taught using standard distance-learning technology. In addition a two-hour leadership laboratory is required once a week. Students take the courses as Drake courses, and no additional tuition fees are assessed for full-time students.
The Air Force ROTC curriculum is divided into two basic phases: The General Military Course (GMC) and the Professional Officer Course (POC). The GMC is introductory and consists of four consecutive one-hour courses normally taken during the freshman and sophomore years. GMC completion is not a prerequisite to entry into the POC, although the department recommends it.
Prior to entry into the POC, all students must complete field training at an Air Force base. Students who have completed the GMC phase participate in a four-week program that provides a concentrated experience in the Air Force environment. The training program includes junior officer training, aircraft and aircrew orientation, survival training, base functions and physical training.
Selection for the professional officer course is on a competitive basis, and cadets enrolling in this course must meet certain academic, mental, physical and moral standards. Qualified cadets may compete for classification as flight candidates and receive flight instruction during their final years in the POC phase. Upon enrollment in the POC, all cadets are required to complete a contractual agreement with the Air Force, which obligates them to four years of active duty in the United States Air Force if in a nonflying category; 10 years of active duty in the United States Air Force if a pilot; or 6 years as a navigator. Uniforms and texts are supplied to the cadets, and those in the POC receive a subsistence allowance from $450 to $500 per month. Entry into the program is not dependent on departmental major or year in Drake University.
AFROTC offers a Graduate Law Program, which guarantees duty as a legal officer following successful completion of all law school, AFROTC and bar requirements. Interested students should contact the AFROTC department for more information. Air Force ROTC may be taken in conjunction with nursing programs leading to a bachelor's degree.
Additional information regarding Air Force Officer Education may be obtained from the Air Force Aerospace Studies Department at Iowa State University. Call 515-294-1716 or view the Web site at www.airforce.iastate.edu/.
The Honors Program
Program Overview
The Honors Program at Drake University offers undergraduates and Pharmacy students a unique classroom and program experience centered around interesting and wide-ranging topics. Courses are interdisciplinary, discussion-based, and reading and writing intensive. The Honors Program's participatory and challenging seminar format is designed for students motivated by curiosity and a desire to engage in an alternative to the traditional classroom experience.
Students at Drake University may use the Honors Track as a way to fulfill their general education requirements. Instead of taking all nine Areas of Inquiry (AOI) courses, students may complete three AOI courses and six Honors courses. First-Year Honors students may also take Honors Foundations, designed as an introduction to the Honors Program's goals and approach to teaching and learning.
Program Options
Honors Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One Quantitative Literacy AOI course | 3 | |
| One Artistic Experience AOI course | 3 | |
| One Physical or Life Science AOI course | 4 | |
| HONR 100 | PATHS TO KNOWLEDGE | 4 |
| Additional HONR electives | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 29 | |
University Honors
Students may earn the "University Honors" distinction on their Drake transcript and diploma by meeting the following requirements:
- Complete the Honors Track
- Completing the Honors Senior Thesis capstone project with a grade of “B” or better
- Graduating with a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA
Other Requirements
- No more than three Honors or Honors cross-listed courses from the same department or school may count toward the five Honors elective courses.
- No more than two study abroad or travel seminar courses/experiences (6 credit hours total) may count for the Honors Track.
- A student may apply only one summer web course (cross-listed with Honors) for Honors Track requirements.
- Courses satisfying the required Areas of Inquiry (AOIs) for Artistic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy, and Life/Physical Lab Science are required for the Honors Track. Post-secondary degree options (college credit, AP and IB approved courses) also may meet these requirements.
Cross-Enrollment
Program Overview
The cross-enrollment allows full-time students from one participating institution to enroll in one course from another participating institution without having to pay the host institution's tuition. Guidelines were originally adopted by the Des Moines Area Consortium for Higher Education (DMACHE) in 1975 and amended in 1992, 2003, and 2009 to reflect changes in the cross-enrollment program. The agreement has received approval of the presidents of the three DMACHE institutions: Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Drake University, and Grand View University.
Regulations
- The DMACHE cross-enrollment program is available only for the fall and spring semesters.
- Only full-time undergraduate students enrolled at one of the three Consortium institutions will be allowed to participate. Full-time status will be determined by the home institution.
- A maximum of 75 students from each home institution will be allowed to enroll at each host institution during each semester.
- Participating students will be allowed to take only one course under the program at only one of the other two institutions.
- Students must establish their eligibility to participate in the program through the registrar's office at their home institution.
- Students wishing to cross-enroll may not register as a regular student and then later request to be switched over to be considered a cross-enrolled student.
- Cross-enrolled students must abide by the start and end dates, policies, and procedures set by the host institution.
- Each institution will determine which classes will be available for cross-enrollment. A list of excluded courses will be available in each institution's registrar's office and on their cross-enrollment web pages.
- Each home institution will verify students' eligibility on a tuition waiver form. The waiver must be delivered to the host institution where the registration process will be completed.
- Students participating in the cross-enrollment program will obtain approval for course enrollment and prerequisites using appropriate procedures of their home institutions.
- No change to cross-enrollment (other than drops) may occur later than five business days prior to the start of the semester at the host institution.
- There will be no tuition charges. The students will be allowed to take the course based on the full-time tuition they paid at their home institution. However, the student is responsible for fees associated with the course.
- Grades will be assigned according to the host institution's grading policies.
- Each host institution will generate an academic transcript of each participant and will automatically send the transcript to the home institution at the end of each term.
- Credits will be transferred back to the home institution and may be applicable toward the student's program of study. Advisors should consult with the appropriate registrar or departmental representative if transferability is questionable.
- This cross-enrollment agreement will be reviewed and renewed/revised no later than December 31 of each year for the coming academic year by the registrars of the participating institutions.
The Washington Semester
12-15 credits
An intensive semester-long experience in Washington, D.C. with American University’s Washington Semester Program. All students participate in one of 12 unique topical seminars, complete a part-time internship, and engage in an academic experience (either a course at American University or an independent research paper). Some seminars include travel abroad for 2-3 weeks. To attend the Washington Semester, students must consult with Drake’s Faculty Representative, Rachel Paine Caufield, and must gain admittance to the program. Instructor permission required.
The Washington Center
12 credits
An intensive semester-long experience in Washington, D.C. with the Washington Center ( www.twc.edu ). All students complete an internship (30-35 hours/week), take one chosen academic course (one night/week), and complete the program’s Leadership Seminar (4-5 hours/week). To attend the Washington Center, students must consult with Drake’s Faculty Representative and gain admittance to the program. Instructor permission required.