Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university in Philadelphia's University City neighborhood, founded in 1891 by financier Anthony J. Drexel to provide practical education preparing students for careers in industry and business. The university's cooperative education program, established in 1919 as one of the nation's first, remains central to Drexel's identity, integrating classroom learning with professional work experience. With approximately 24,000 students across fifteen colleges and schools, Drexel combines technical education traditions with comprehensive university offerings spanning medicine, law, arts, and sciences.[1]
History
[edit | edit source]Anthony J. Drexel, partner of J.P. Morgan and one of the nineteenth century's most successful financiers, founded the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry in 1891 to provide practical education for working-class Philadelphians. The institution opened in the Main Building, whose Victorian Gothic architecture still anchors campus, offering programs in commerce, engineering, library science, and domestic arts. Drexel's vision combined technical training with broader education, preparing graduates for productive careers while developing their full capacities as citizens.[2]
The institute evolved through the twentieth century, gaining university status in 1970 and expanding into fields beyond its technical origins. Mergers with MCP Hahnemann University (2002) and the Academy of Natural Sciences (2011) added medical education and natural history collections that diversified Drexel's portfolio. The university's growth transformed it from regional technical institute to comprehensive research university while maintaining cooperative education traditions that distinguish it from peer institutions.[1]
Cooperative Education
[edit | edit source]Drexel's cooperative education program requires most undergraduates to complete multiple six-month work experiences integrated into their academic programs. Students alternate between classroom study and professional employment, typically completing three co-op cycles over five years of undergraduate education. This integration of academic and professional learning produces graduates with substantial work experience before they receive their degrees, providing advantages in job markets and professional networks.[1]
The co-op program connects Drexel students with employers ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups, government agencies, and nonprofits. Over 1,700 employers in 38 countries participate, providing paid professional experiences that allow students to explore career paths while building resumes. Many students receive job offers from co-op employers, demonstrating how experiential education can facilitate career transitions that classroom learning alone cannot provide.[1]
Academic Programs
[edit | edit source]Drexel's fifteen colleges and schools offer over 200 degree programs with traditional strengths in engineering, business, and information science complemented by newer programs in medicine, law, and arts. The College of Engineering, founding program, maintains strong reputation in areas from biomedical engineering to computer science. The LeBow College of Business emphasizes experiential learning consistent with Drexel's overall approach, while the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design prepares students for creative careers in media, entertainment, and design.[1]
The College of Medicine, acquired through merger, operates Drexel University College of Medicine with clinical affiliations across the Philadelphia region. The Kline School of Law offers legal education emphasizing practical skills alongside doctrinal instruction. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University combines natural history museum with academic programs in biodiversity, environmental science, and museum studies, creating unique educational opportunities at the intersection of research, collections, and public engagement.[1]
Campus
[edit | edit source]Drexel's University City campus occupies 96 acres adjacent to the University of Pennsylvania and near 30th Street Station, Philadelphia's major rail hub. The campus combines historic structures from the institute's early years with contemporary buildings supporting modern research and teaching. The Main Building, Drexel's original 1891 structure, anchors a campus that has expanded eastward toward the Schuylkill River and northward into formerly industrial areas transformed into academic and residential facilities.[2]
Major facilities include the Daskalakis Athletic Center, URBN Center (housing arts and design programs in a renovated industrial building), and Gerri C. LeBow Hall (business school). The university has invested significantly in campus development, adding residence halls, academic buildings, and student amenities that support transition from commuter institution to residential university. The Schuylkill Yards development promises continued transformation of areas adjacent to campus.[1]
Research
[edit | edit source]Drexel's research enterprise generates over $130 million annually across areas from engineering and medicine to arts and humanities. Research strengths include materials science, biomedical engineering, infectious disease, and information science. The university's applied orientation shapes research that addresses practical problems while advancing fundamental knowledge, consistent with founding principles emphasizing useful education.[1]
Research centers and institutes focus efforts in areas from cybersecurity to autism treatment to advanced materials. Industry partnerships support research while providing co-op and employment opportunities for students. The university's urban location facilitates research partnerships with companies, hospitals, and organizations throughout the Philadelphia region, making the city a laboratory for applied research addressing real-world challenges.[1]
See Also
[edit | edit source]- University City
- Anthony J. Drexel
- Academy of Natural Sciences
- Drexel University College of Medicine
- 30th Street Station