Clarke University

Clarke University is a four year college with Roman Catholic affiliation, focusing on undergraduate liberal arts programmes but also offering graduate and later adult courses.

Clarke is based in the town of Dubuque in eastern Iowa, which is located in a tristate area, with the borders of Illinois and Wisconsin nearby. It is known for being a cultural centre in the region and having a high student population, with five separate higher learning institutions in the city.

Although Clarke is a relatively small institution with around 1,200 students studying at any one time, there are still over thirty courses on offer. Study in the arts is a centrepiece of education at Clarke, and both a BA and BFA are offered in a variety of subjects. Art students will take the same courses in a foundation year before choosing a specialist course of study. In the study of art education, students will get the opportunity of regular practical experience, as Clarke has a working relationship with many elementary and high schools in Dubuque.

Nursing is a highly popular and well renowned course of study at Clarke, offered at all stages of study under approval by the Iowa Board of Nursing. Within the doctoral programme students will receive opportunities to train as a Family Nurse Practitioner or in Health Leadership & Practice.

Sports teams at Clarke are known as the Crusaders. There are nine men’s and ten women’s teams available, with Clarke taking part in varsity competition through the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Computer scientist Mary Keller, journalist Nancy Dickerson, and musical actress Karen Morrow are all alumni of Clarke. The most famous former faculty member is George R.R. Martin, who went on to pen the A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series.