Academic Information
Special Programs
The Honors Program
Program Overview
The unique Honors Program at Drake University offers undergraduate and Pharmacy students discussion-based, reading- and writing-intensive courses on interdisciplinary and ever-changing topical issues. It is designed for motivated students who want to actively participate in challenging seminar courses.
Students at Drake University may use the Honors Track as a way to fulfill their general education requirements. Instead of taking Areas of Inquiry (AOI) coursework, students can take six Honors courses as an alternative to AOIs. The one-hour Honors Practicum, while not counting towards the Honors Track, is a good introduction to the Honors Program goals and vision.
Program Options
Honors Track
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Requirement
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Credits
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One Quantitative Literacy AOI course
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3
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One Artistic Experience AOI course
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3
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One Physical or Life Science AOI course
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4
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HONR 100 - Paths to Knowledge
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4
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15 additional HONR electives
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15
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Total
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29
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University Honors
Students may earn the "University Honors" distinction on their Drake transcript and diploma by meeting the following requirements:
- Complete the Honors Track
- Earn a “B” or better in an Honors Senior Thesis capstone project
- Graduate with a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA
Other Requirements
- No more than two 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-away experiences (3 credit hours each) may count towards the Honors Track.
- A student may apply only one summer web course (cross-listed with Honors) toward Honors Track requirements.
- Courses satisfying the required Areas of Inquiry (AOIs) for Artistic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy, and Life/Physical Lab Science also meet the required Honors Track AOIs. Post-secondary degree options (college credit, AP and IB approved courses) also may meet these requirements.
Honors Program web site
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.
Cross-Enrollment web site
Global Ambassador Certificate Program
Program Overview
Offered through the Drake University Center for Global Citizenship (CGC), the Global Ambassador Program is a certificate program designed to complement a student’s central program of academic study. Students who complete the program will receive a certificate and a notation on their university transcript. Undergraduate students from any school or college are eligible to apply. The purposes of the Global Ambassador Program are to:
- provide students with a combination of concentrated study, personal experience and reflection that will inform their understanding of global issues and perspectives,
- provide students with the intercultural skills that will allow them to make the most of future international opportunities in business, the professions or public service.
Requirements
To qualify for a Global Ambassador certificate, a student must complete the following requirements:
- Take WLC 148 Intercultural Communication. An equivalent course from study abroad may be substituted.
- Complete two semesters of language study through World Languages and Cultures or an equivalent amount of training through study abroad or college transfer credits. Pre-college training (e.g. high school) in a second language other than English may not be substituted for this requirement.
- Complete any credit-bearing study abroad experience. This may include semester- or year-long programs, summer international study seminars or an internship experience abroad that has been accepted for Drake credit.
- A minimum of 50 work hours (not credit hours) of service learning. This requirement will most often be met by volunteering for a local community group or organization that has an international focus. The center director will make available a pre-approved list of such organizations. Students may also propose their own volunteer or internship experience. These may include experiences in other cities or countries (internship or volunteer experiences connected to study abroad may also count).
- Regular attendance at CGC-sponsored events, other internationally oriented events on campus or in the community and regular participation in the activities of the Global Ambassador Program. Students must attend at least four events each semester that they are enrolled as a Global Ambassador.
- Global Ambassador Capstone Experience (2 credits) As a culmination of the Global Ambassador Program, students will participate in a group learning experience that is designed to put the concept of global citizenship into practice by educating the campus and/or community about a global issue or a cultural perspective. The capstone should be completed in a student's senior year. Students will register for the capstone as independent study credit (2 credits). As an alternative to the group project, students may fulfill the senior capstone requirement by taking (when available) one of the following courses: SCSS 173 Global Citizenship; POLS 123 Grassroots Globalism.
Application Process
Students must apply for the Global Ambassadors Program. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. The number of students accepted will vary depending on availability of staff and instructional resources. Applications may be downloaded from the Center for Global Citizenship website. Completed application forms should be submitted to the CGC director.
The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship web site
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.
