Drexel University Diploma Programs: A Comprehensive Overview

Drexel University, a leading private research university located in the heart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers a wide array of diploma programs across its 15 colleges and schools. Founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, the university is committed to providing practical education and hands-on experience, preparing students for success in a rapidly evolving world. Drexel's focus on career preparation is exemplified by its cooperative education program, introduced in 1919, which remains one of the largest and oldest in the United States.

A Legacy of Academic Excellence and Innovation

Drexel University has a rich history of academic excellence and innovation. Originally named the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, the institution has evolved over the years, adapting to the changing needs of its students and the world around it. In 1936, it was renamed the Drexel Institute of Technology, and later, Drexel University. Despite these changes, the university has remained committed to its mission of providing a practical, career-oriented education.

Between 1995 and 2009, under the leadership of President Dr. Constantine Papadakis, Drexel underwent a period of significant expansion and transformation. This included a substantial increase in the university's endowment, student enrollment, and academic rigor. In 2002, Drexel acquired the Medical College of Pennsylvania (MCP) Hahnemann University, creating the Drexel University College of Medicine.

Diverse Academic Programs

Drexel University is comprised of 15 colleges and schools, each offering a diverse range of programs for students at all academic levels. From undergraduate studies to professional departments, Drexel University is committed to higher-learning excellence. Not only are students presented with a curriculum, but they are also provided with real-world experiences that can further enhance their social skills. Undergraduate students can select from more than 80 programs and majors. Drexel University hosts a library of 120 programs and certificate options for graduate and professional students. The university’s state of the art facilities makes for an ideal, intricate learning experience. For students who are interested in online education options, Drexel University has more than 150 programs to select from including certificates. Students can earn their credit hours from anywhere in the world on their own time.

Bennett S. LeBow College of Business

The Bennett S. LeBow College of Business dates back to the founding of the Drexel Institute in 1891. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in business, economics, and related fields. The LeBow College of Business has been ranked as the 38th best private business school in the nation. Its online MBA program is ranked 14th in the world by the Financial Times; the publication also ranks the undergraduate business program at LeBow as 19th in the United States. The part-time MBA program ranks 1st in academic quality in the 2015 edition of Business Insider's rankings. Economics programs at the LeBow College of Business are housed within the School of Economics. In addition to the undergraduate program in economics, the school is home to an M.S. in Economics program as well as a PhD program in economics. Faculty members in the School of Economics have been published in the American Economic Review, RAND Journal of Economics, and Review of Economics and Statistics.

College of Engineering

Drexel's College of Engineering is one of its oldest and largest academic colleges and served as the original focus of the career-oriented school upon its founding in 1891. The College of Engineering is home to several notable alumni, including two astronauts; financier Bennett S. LeBow, for whom the university's College of Business is named; and Paul Baran, inventor of the packet-switched network. In 1988, the program evolved into tDEC (the Drexel Engineering Curriculum) which is composed of two full years of rigorous core engineering courses which encompass the freshman and sophomore years of the engineering student.

College of Computing and Informatics

The College of Computing and Informatics is a recent addition to Drexel University, though its programs have been offered to students for many years. The college was formed by the consolidation of the former College of Information Science & Technology (often called the "iSchool"), the Department of Computer Science, and the Computing and Security Technology program.

Drexel University College of Medicine

The Drexel University College of Medicine was added to the colleges and schools of the university in 2002, having been formed upon the acquisition of MCP Hahnemann University. In addition to its M.D. program, The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional studies offers both Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in fields like biochemistry, biotechnology, clinical research, and forensic science.

School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Founded in 1961 as the United States' first Biomedical Engineering and Science Institute, the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems focuses on the emerging field of biomedical science at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.

College of Nursing and Health Professions

Formed in 2002 along with the College of Medicine, Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions offers more than 25 programs to undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of nursing, nutrition, health sciences, health services, and radiologic technology. The college's research into matters of nutrition and rehabilitation have garnered approximately $2.9 million in external research funding on an annual basis.

Read also: Drexel University Scholarships

Goodwin College of Professional Studies

Established in 1892, the department now known as the College of Professional Studies has focused exclusively on educational programs and pursuits for nontraditional adult learners. Today, the Goodwin College of Professional Studies offers several options designed for adult learners at all stages of career and educational development.

Pennoni Honors College

The Pennoni Honors College recognizes and promotes excellence among Drexel students. Students admitted to the Honors College live together and take many of the same classes; the college provides these students with access to unique cultural and social activities and a unique guest speaker series.

Thomas R. Kline School of Law

Upon its founding in 2006, the Thomas R. Kline School of Law, originally known as the Earle Mack School of Law, was the first law school founded in Philadelphia in more than three decades. The School of Law offers L.L.M. and Master of Legal Studies degrees, in addition to the flagship Juris Doctor program, and uniquely offers cooperative education as part of its curriculum across all programs. For your Drexel Law School graduate, we offer customized law school diploma frames that feature a gold-embossed inscription of the Thomas R. Kline School of Law.

School of Education

One of the oldest schools within Drexel University, the modern School of Education dates back to the 1891 founding of the school. Originally, the Department of Education offered teacher training to women as one of its original, career-focused degree programs. Today, the School of Education offers a coeducational approach to teacher training at the elementary and secondary levels for undergraduates. Other undergraduate programs include those focused on the intersection between learning and technology, teacher certification for non-education majors, and a minor in education for students with an interest in instruction. Graduate degrees offered by the School of Education include those in administration and leadership, special education, higher education, mathematics education, international education, and educational creativity and innovation.

Dornsife School of Public Health

The School of Public Health states that its mission is to "provide education, conduct research, and partner with communities and organizations to improve the health of populations." To that end, the school offers both a B.S. and a minor in public health for undergraduate students as well as several options for students pursuing graduate and doctoral degrees in the field. At the graduate level, the Dornsife School offers both a Master of Public Health and an Executive Master of Public Health, as well as an M.S. in biostatistics and an M.S. in epidemiology. Two Doctor of Public Health degrees are also offered, as is a Doctor of Philosophy in epidemiology.

Center for Hospitality and Sport Management

The Center for Hospitality and Sport Management was formed in 2013, in an effort to house and consolidate academic programs in hospitality, tourism management, the culinary arts, and sport management.

Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship

Focusing specifically on the skills required to successfully start and launch a business, The Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship is the first and only freestanding school of entrepreneurship in the United States. Undergraduate students take part in a B.A. program in entrepreneurship and innovation, while graduate students a combined Master of Science degree in biomedicine and entrepreneurship. Housed within the Close School is the Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship.

College of Media Arts and Design

The College of Media Arts and Design "fosters the study, exploration and management of the arts: media, design, the performing and visual". The college offers 18 undergraduate programs and nine graduate programs, in modern art and design fields that range from architecture, graphic design and dance to fashion design and television management.

Cooperative Education Program

Drexel's longstanding cooperative education, or "co-op" program is one of the largest and oldest in the United States. Drexel has a fully internet-based job database, where students can submit résumés and request interviews with any of the thousands of companies that offer positions. Students also have the option of obtaining a co-op via independent search. A student graduating from Drexel's 5-year degree program typically has a total of 18 months of co-op with up to three different companies.

Campus Locations and Resources

The 77-acre (31 ha) University City Main Campus of Drexel University is located just west of the Schuylkill River in the University City district of Philadelphia. It is Drexel's largest and oldest campus; the campus contains the university's administrative offices and serves as the main academic center for students. The northern, residential portion of the main campus is located in the Powelton Village section of West Philadelphia.

The two prominent performing stages at Drexel University are the Mandell Theater and the Main Auditorium. The Main Auditorium dates back to the founding of Drexel and construction of its main hall. It features over 1000 seats, and a pipe organ installed in 1928. The 424-seat Mandell Theater was built in 1973 and features a more performance-oriented stage, including a full fly system, modern stage lighting facilities, stadium seating, and accommodations for wheelchairs.

The Queen Lane Campus was purchased by Drexel University as part of its acquisition of MCP Hahnemann University. It is located in the East Falls neighborhood of northwest Philadelphia and is primarily utilized by first- and second-year medical students, and researchers. The Center City Campus is in the middle of Philadelphia, straddling the Vine Street Expressway between Broad and 15th Streets. In 2011, The Academy of Natural Sciences entered into an agreement to become a subsidiary of Drexel University. On January 5, 2009, Drexel University opened the Center for Graduate Studies in Sacramento, California. Eventually renamed Drexel University Sacramento upon the addition of an undergraduate program in business administration, the campus also offered an Ed.D.

Drexel has an approximate Jewish population of 5% and has both a Chabad House and a Hillel. Both provide services to Jewish and non-Jewish students at Drexel.

DUTV is Drexel's Philadelphia cable television station. The student operated station is part of the Paul F. Harron Studios at Drexel University. The purpose of DUTV is to provide "the people of Philadelphia with quality educational television, and providing Drexel students the opportunity to gain experience in television management and production". The Programing includes an eclectic variety of shows from a bi-monthly news show, DNews, to old films, talk shows dealing with important current issues and music appreciation shows.

The Triangle has been the university's newspaper since 1926 and currently publishes on a biweekly basis every Friday of the academic term. The Triangle has won several Mark of Excellence Awards which honor the best in Student Journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists.

Second-year students have the option of living in a residence hall designated for upperclassmen, or "university approved housing". The residence halls for upperclassmen are North and Caneris Halls. North Hall operates under the For Students By Students Residential Experience Engagement Model, developed by the Residential Living Office. There are many apartments that are university approved that second-year students can choose to live in. Three of the largest apartment buildings that fit this description are Chestnut Square, University Crossings, and The Summit, all owned by American Campus Communities. Many other students live in smaller apartment buildings or individual townhouse-style apartments in Powelton Village.

Approximately 12 percent of Drexel's undergraduate population are members of a social fraternities and sororities. Drexel's school mascot is a dragon known as "Mario the Magnificent", named in honor of alumnus and Board of Trustees member Mario V. Mascioli after he attended every Drexel basketball for over 20 years. The Dragon has been the mascot of the school since around the mid-1920s; the first written reference to the Dragons occurred in 1928, when the football team was called "The Dragons in The Triangle". In addition to its NCAA Division I teams, Drexel University is home to 33 active club teams including men's ice hockey, lacrosse, water polo, squash, triathlon, and cycling. Other club teams include soccer, baseball, rugby, field hockey, and roller hockey.

Alumni Network

Since its founding the university has graduated over 100,000 alumni. Certificate-earning alumni such as artist Violet Oakley and illustrator Frank Schoonover reflect the early emphasis on art as part of the university's curriculum. With World War II, the university's technical programs swelled, and as a result Drexel graduated alumni such as Paul Baran, one of the founding fathers of the Internet and one of the inventors of the packet switching network, and Norman Joseph Woodland, the inventor of barcode technology. In addition to its emphasis on technology Drexel has graduated several notable athletes such as National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball players Michael Anderson, Damion Lee, and Malik Rose, and several notable business people s…

Admissions and Tuition

Students who are seeking first-year undergraduate or online admissions should submit a completed virtual application. Graduate programs have their own unique application requirements. Prospective students should follow the online instructions for submitting a completed virtual form. Undergraduate students who are enrolled in full-time programs will pay a tuition of $53,868. This price includes the cost of housing and miscellaneous fees. Graduate tuition ranges depending on the program of choice but the foundational price per credit hour is $1,303. Students can receive financial aid by applying for loans, grants or scholarships. In 2024, Drexel University accepted 77.5% of undergraduate applicants, the 47th highest acceptance rate of Pennsylvania schools, with applicant competition considered very low. Those enrolled had an average 3.67 high school GPA. The university does not require submission of standardized test scores, but they will be considered when submitted.

Graduation and Recognition

Graduating from Drexel University is a significant accomplishment. As one of the top-rated research universities in the country, Drexel academics are no walk in the park, and earning a degree is no small feat. Drexel's graduation ceremonies take place once a year in spring across several days, depending on the specific school your graduate attended.

To commemorate this achievement, many choose to preserve their Drexel University degrees in custom diploma frames. These frames, available through the Drexel gift shop at Church Hill Classics, come in different mat colors and textures and wood moulding styles. Each frame features a minted or engraved Drexel University seal that rests above your diploma. Below, the Drexel institution name is embossed in gold for an elegant, timeless look. The frames are designed to perfectly fit any Drexel PhD, master's and bachelor's degrees.

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